SOTW372026 Movements "Dissolve me"

Iʟʟᴜsᴛʀᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ʙʏ ᴜɴDʀᴀᴡ, ᴄᴏʟᴏʀᴇᴅ ʙʏ ᴍᴇ.

I became a Movements fan ever since the first time I heard "Daylily" because of all the emotions the song managed to capture in those brief three and a half minutes. And ever since I have eagerly waited for every next thing they release, but I have to say that this last album feels like the best yet.

Released on September 4th, their new album "Happier Now" feels, soundwise, like the bands' homecoming. Their past releases felt like exploration, where the band left their post-hardcore roots of their debut to explore a more pop-fueled vibe. With this release, they've returned home more mature, more confident in their skin and still packing a punch. Their intention of blending the hard drumming and the heavy, distorted guitars they excel at with their exploration of something more electronic and dancy has resulted in an album that, in my opinion, is easily one of the best releases of the year for the genre.

On the lyric side, their vocalist has made pretty clear in interviews that this album is an admission to himself that he's not where he thought he was in regards of his mental health. While thinking he was doing better after their 2023 release "RUCKUS!", he was faced with the realization that his struggles where still there, waiting for him, and hadn't vanished. To the point of naming the album "Happier Now" in aspirational fashion, but also being sarcastic, as it contains what he calls some of the saddest songs they've ever written.

I'm pretty sure this is their breakthrough album and will for sure bring them more listeners and recognition.

I leave you with "Dissolve me", the second track of the album, which in my opinion balances perfectly their musical evolution and improvement, but also contains the strong lyrics you'd expect from them. To me, hearing this song for the first time felt like a betrayal. The guitars and drums felt upbeat and alive, making me want to jump and dance; while the words being sung struck me down and returned me to the dirt.

Lyrics (via Genius):

[Verse 1]
I wish I had a little more patience
With everything that's on my mind
I'm always getting lost in translation
Nothing ever comes out right
And I'll dwell all night like
Why'd I have to go and make it complicated?
Still replaying every single conversation
All the little things I could’ve changed to make it right

[Chorus]
Til I go head first into the concrete
And let it dissolve me
Let me pretend
Like I'm getting better and nothing could harm me
Invincible body, desperate to end
This noise in my head

[Verse 2]
I'm tired of trying to tie up all the pieces
I'm just tired all the time
Learning every inch of my ceiling
The holes I'm burning with my eyes
And that fire rages on
I'll dig a trench til dawn
You couldn't burn me if I'm gone

[Chorus]
Til I go head first into the concrete
And let it dissolve me
Let me pretend
Like I'm getting better and nothing could harm me
Invincible body, desperate to end
This noise in my head

[Bridge]
Noise in my head
Noise in my head
Got no place in the river
Noise in my head
I'm a moth to the flame
Noise in my head
It's the frame in my figure
Noise in my head
Just the way I was made
Noise in my—

[Chorus]
Til I go head first into the concrete
And let it dissolve me
Let me pretend
Like I'm getting better and nothing could harm me
Invincible body, desperate to end
This noise in my head