Boston indie rock trio Pet Fox, featuring members of Ovlov and Gouge Away, have shared “Avoidant,” a new track from their fourth album, Balance, out October 23 via Exploding In Sound Records.
Where the album’s title track surges forward, “Avoidant” settles into a slower, more introspective groove, with angular, interlocking guitars that recall Pinback and a melancholy, melodic pull reminiscent of Alex G. There’s an understated emo sensibility running through it, with Hartlett’s emotionally charged vocals and the band’s signature guitar textures giving the song its weight.
Vocalist and guitarist Theo Hartlett explains the song’s anxious push and pull between communication and confrontation:
“First line says it all: ‘I’m meant to overthink, I’m constantly avoidant’. I’ll find myself in a constant loop of thoughts, and with this song in particular, I was referencing how I tend to be so worried about upsetting someone over what would normally just be a simple conversation. Lack of communication in order to avoid confrontation usually just makes things even worse.”
Recorded largely live over seven days at Asheville’s Drop of Sun Studios with producer Alex Farrar (Wednesday, MJ Lenderman, Squirrel Flower), Balance is the band’s first fully studio-produced album. Its nine songs explore people-pleasing, personal boundaries and the sometimes messy work of finding equilibrium. Watch “Avoidant” below and stream or pre-order Balance.
