Pet Fox

Boston indie-rock trio Pet Fox — featuring members of Ovlov and Gouge Away — have announced their fourth album, Balance, due October 23 via Exploding In Sound Records. The nine-song LP was recorded over seven days at Drop of Sun Studios with producer Alex Farrar (Wednesday, MJ Lenderman, Squirrel Flower), capturing the band’s textured, melodic songwriting with a more immediate live-band energy.

Along with the announcement, Pet Fox have shared the album’s title track, a restless opener built around jangling, distorted angular guitars, big melodies and a driving rhythm that pushes the song from a melodic mid-tempo start into an upbeat rocker. Vocalist/guitarist Theo Hartlett says the song comes from “fighting the balance of impulsivity versus indecision,” a theme that ties into the album’s broader focus on anxiety, self-care and learning to trust your instincts.

Balance arrives October 23, 2026 via Exploding In Sound Records.

FFO: Pinback, Sunny Day Real Estate, No Knife, Built to Spill, Dinosaur Jr.

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 a wistful, introspective quality running through it, with Hartlett’s heartfelt vocal delivery and the band’s intricate guitar interplay giving the song its emotional 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.

Boston indie rock trio Pet Fox have shared the video for “Moving Along,” the latest single from their forthcoming fourth album, Balance, arriving October 23 via Exploding In Sound Records.

Featuring members of Ovlov and Gouge Away, Pet Fox continue to refine their distinctive blend of melodic, guitar-driven indie rock, drawing from the angular textures of Pinback, the atmospheric experimentation of Autolux and the intimate songwriting of Alex G. “Moving Along” is one of the album's breezier moments, pairing playful percussion and understated melodies with the band's characteristic warmth and emotional honesty.

Vocalist and guitarist Theo Hartlett describes the track as a simple love song about discovering that a crush feels the same way, only to find that the mutual attraction makes the nerves even stronger.

The nine-track Balance was recorded at Asheville's Drop of Sun Studios with producer Alex Farrar (Wednesday, MJ Lenderman, Squirrel Flower). It marks the band's first fully studio-produced album, capturing their intricate guitar interplay and natural chemistry with a fuller, more expansive sound while retaining the immediacy of their earlier work.

“Moving Along” follows previously released singles including the title track and “Avoidant,” offering another glimpse of an album that explores relationships, personal growth and the sometimes difficult process of finding balance between your own needs and those of others.

Watch the new video below, and visit the Balance album page for more information.