SINGLE REVIEW: MOVEMENTS -"AFRAID TO DIE"

“Afraid to Die” released by Movements on June 21, 2024 has had nothing but outstanding reactions from everywhere across the world. The band’s promo was featured in New York City’s Time Square. People all over were in amazement of not only the pure raw feeling in this song but the video that came along with it. 

This song definitely pulls heart strings; which is a usual for Movements. Their growth from their demo “Protection" in 2015, and formal EP, "Outgrown Things" in 2016 picked up traction after their performances with Pierce the Veil in 2016 on the Misadventures tour. Movements fan base grew a considerable amount after the release of Feel Something in 2017, deservingly so, as it being their first full album, peaking at 21 on the US Alternative Albums chart and 191 on the Billboard 200. 

The entirety of this project highlights the feelings of hopelessness, loneliness, and despair. It speaks on knowingly going down a road that will lead to death but terrified of what comes after. “Can somebody stop the ride? I think I’m afraid to die” Somehow in a miraculous musical collaboration the artists put together a provoking, energetic piece together with “Afraid to Die”. 

Every project Movements puts out is full of real life problems people are facing. This alone gives a resource to so many fans to find comfort in their music, if nothing else.

In this song in particular it starts off slowly, with feelings of concern and weariness of everything. The beat starts to pick up in the chorus “So tell me I’m alright Tell me it’s okay, everything’ll be fine” giving a bouncier feel to the rest of the chorus. In the second verse it starts to slow down again, where I think older fans can find comfort in the similarities in that verse and pre-chorus having similar feels to their older projects.

Lead singer Patrick (Pat) Miranda continues to show off his vocal capabilities with every new project pushing and satisfying expectations beyond belief. To highlight the rest of the band too, the drummer, Spencer York did an absolutely outstanding job at really giving this song its energetic aura. He stays steady throughout the whole song, pairing so well with the guitarist’s (Ira George) and bassist’s (Austin Cressey) dark tones. 

The only “downside” Movements fans may have to this song is that it is more up-beat, pop-like more than emo, like their previous works. After the release of RUCKUS! a lot of Movements fans didn't know what to expect to hear from the band next, but they truly delivered a raw, heart wrenching song yet again. Afraid to Die is likely foreshadowing the direction the band is heading in at this time, but overall fans and critics have been nothing but supportive all across the globe.

“Afraid to Die” is inching close to 130,000 Spotify streams in just three days and the music video is already over 30,000 views in less than a week. It’s safe to say people are responding well to Movements’ new single. With every new project released, the Californian based alternative rock band gains more and more traction.

Review by: Allie Loven / June 24, 2024