Misgiving - Avoidance Single Review

Review by Brittany Swigert

If you think you know Misgiving, their upcoming single "Avoidance" may just prove you wrong. Everything about it is fresh and updated from what I had come to expect, and despite being a bit of a purist at times, it was exactly what they needed. I have been following the band for quite some time and have never heard them lay down a track like this in the past. Reading through comments on their previous works I saw things that pointed to the fact that their sound was reminiscent of the good old days of this genre. They lived in the nostalgia of all of their fans and it was comforting. With "Avoidance" they break though that gap and bring out a much more modernized sound.

A lot of bands have started to incorporate electronic elements and Emo Rap is catching like wildfire, but not everyone can make those changes and still remain true to their essential sound. Misgiving is not one of these bands. It feels less like listening to a new band and more like seeing an old friend come in to their own and move forward in a positive way. While I certainly didn't expect to hear any rapping coming out of this outfit, I probably should have. In a video interview on New Years Eve, vocalist Tyler Morris was dared to rap. It was on the spot and he had no time to prepare, but I have to admit I liked what I heard. That should have been a clue that it may come up later in one of their songs. As strange as it may sound, with their use of spoken word in the past, rapping isn't that far fetched.

While I'm not the biggest fan of Rap music myself, I warmed to the idea pretty quickly as I listened to the single. Tyler's method of delivery is unique and makes quite an impact. At point it's very punchy, and others he comes across with a much more aggressive e tone. I believe it's the aggressive style he takes through portions that helps keep it rooted in what is and will always be the spirit of the original sound. Things will change over time, but that raw emotion and energy is still there. The rapping mixes really well with his high clean vocals and deeper growls making for a great balance of catchy and hard hitting. It helps that Joseph Sauret wrote the instrumentals so well. The Hip-Hop beats are fantastic. I have been listening to the track for days and those sections always pull me in. The heavier instrumentals show a more developed and creative approach to music that I hadn't heard before from Misgiving.

Nestled gently among the heavy instrumentals and the catchy Hip-Hop beats is a dreamy undertone that brings so much emotion on to the track. This band doesn't make music just to sound good. There always seems to be some underlying emotion force in each of the songs they put out. In this case lyrics like "Shy away and hide my face, from everyone in the room, cause if our eyes don't meet then we won't speak" speak to me so much. So many of us have a hard time connecting with others. You see it everywhere you look. The internet is full of relatable memes about cancelling plans or leaving parties, or being uncomfortable in social situations. As connected as we are, there is so much pressure and so many expectations put upon us all that it's hard to get out there and really connect for fear of failure or disappointment. This song certainly speaks to me in that regard.

Misgiving has come so far from the Beg For Forgiveness EP. They are constantly evolving as they grow their sound, and I'm here for the ride. From EPs, house shows, singles, and venue bookings, I don't want to miss a thing. When I saw that we got our hands on "Avoidance", I couldn't wait to get my hands on it and do the write up. I'm glad that I did. The song is incredible.

Check out the Avoidance on Spotify HERE