If Locked In Time was Restraining Order’s raw, unfiltered handshake with punk and hardcore—a sweaty, fast-talking introduction that wore its abrasiveness like a badge—Future Fortune feels like the band exhaling, tightening their stance, and stepping into a room with quiet confidence. The urgency is still there; the energy still snaps and bites. But beneath that familiar chaos lies a new sense of precision and awareness. This is a band that has learned to control its fire without smothering it.
Back when I first reviewed Locked In Time, I praised how the band’s strength came from their simplicity: bass grooves, drum punches, and shouted hooks that hit hard without overthinking a note. Future Fortune builds on that same foundation but with a newfound understanding of space and pacing. Everything feels intentional—moments of explosion balanced by deliberate breaths, giving the album a depth that its predecessor only hinted at. The energy hasn’t diminished; it’s been refined. It hits harder not because it’s louder, but because it’s smarter, more measured, and undeniably mature.
The bass remains the not-so-secret weapon of the band. Thick, heavy, and endlessly dynamic, it often becomes the heartbeat of the record. On tracks like Free Ride and the title track, it buzzes and hums beneath the guitars, anchoring the songs with warmth and vitality. The guitars retain their old-school punk grit—slightly distorted, endlessly groovy—but it’s the bass that ties everything together, giving the tracks swing, personality, and life.
Vocally, the band leans into its strengths: emotionally raw shouting that lands with clarity and power. On Know Not, the screams are intense yet intelligible, letting the emotion cut through cleanly. As the album progresses into Future Fortune and The Suffer, the vocal approach shifts subtly toward a punk and Oi-inspired style—less hardcore screaming, more controlled, precise yelling. This evolution adds texture and tonal variety without straying from the band’s identity. Layered vocals on select tracks further thicken the sound, offering something fresh while remaining unmistakably Restraining Order.
One of the album’s most striking qualities is its dynamic balance. Tracks like Adapt and Shame Game burn with full-throttle speed and urgency—classic Restraining Order energy—while songs such as Free Ride and Journeyman take the opposite approach, slowing down to let space and atmosphere dominate. These moments of reflection give Future Fortune dimension, contrasting adrenaline with introspection and preventing the album from feeling one-note.
That said, the band occasionally leans a little too comfortably on familiar patterns. A few tracks follow the classic blueprint—fast verse, heavy chorus, back-end guitar solo. While effective, it sometimes feels predictable. Transitions between clean and distorted sections can feel abrupt, more like adherence to structure than natural energy flow. Yet even in these moments, there’s a charm to the rough edges; the imperfections feel like character rather than mistakes.
Production-wise, Future Fortune is tighter and cleaner than its predecessor. The mix gives each instrument room to breathe, making the interplay between players more audible. Occasionally, the guitars sit slightly lower than one might hope—particularly on The Suffer and Used Love—but the overall warmth and cohesion make up for it. The rough edges that remain feel intentional, giving the record an organic, lived-in energy.
What sets Future Fortune apart is its humanity. There’s a looseness here, a sense of a band thriving in their own skin. Every hit, shout, and chord feels alive and real. The album swings between punk ferocity and garage rock swagger but never loses its sincerity. Even in stripped-back, groovy sections that linger in your head, the band feels grounded, approachable, and authentic.
By the time we reach Journeyman and Were You There, Restraining Order sound like a band winding down after a long, sweaty set. The energy remains, but it’s tempered—reflective, almost grateful. These tracks don’t explode; they exhale, letting the intensity settle after the chaos. If Locked In Time was punk yelling at you, Future Fortune is punk standing beside you, shoulder to shoulder, grinning and saying, “We’re still here.”
It’s raw but refined, loud but thoughtful. Restraining Order haven’t reinvented themselves; they’ve sharpened their edges, learned restraint, and mastered the balance between ferocity and finesse. Future Fortune isn’t just a statement of survival—it’s proof of growth, a record where fire and focus coexist seamlessly.
NOTABLE TRACKS:
Shame Game
Free Ride
Used Love
Time To Go