Fire The Driver – Future Past (Single Review)

Miss some true rough and raw rock performances? I believe Fire The Driver would give you something that you have been missing. Formed in San Diego, CA, in 2023, Fire The Driver draws comparisons to powerhouse pop-punk trios such as Green Day, Blink-182, and Alkaline Trio. The band has not been around for long, but during this last year, they have already released their first two EPs, Some Days and Future Past, consisting mostly of initial demos featuring upbeat tempos combined with catchy melodies and choruses that invite maximum participation with an immersive atmosphere.

Before we get into their new track, I would love to introduce you to the band, member by member. On vocals and guitar, we have Tony Benelli, with Dusan Rakic taking on bass and backups, and Paul Donnell doing a captivating job on drums and backups as well. Before delving into the band’s material, as always, my expectations were kept moderate and more on the neutral side. However, after hearing the newest single, “Future Past,” it is hard not to feel a bias toward the band.

“Future Past” accurately describes how this track feels. It propels you so far into the future that you become reminiscent of your past, striking you with memorable and breathtaking melodies. From the first seconds, the band dives into a ridiculously dynamic and captivating soundscape, with ferocious guitars and wicked drums creating a haunting and theatrical effect.

The execution of the track is nothing short of immaculate; the main vocalist performs so elegantly that his voice feels born from the menacing sound of these guitar chords. Additionally, the track never becomes stale, constantly revealing more of itself with its vivid and evolving sound.

Truthfully, I am impressed that the band has combined such a great mix of post-punk and psychedelic elements on the track, delivering not only a good song but also rawness and soul in their performance.

With their main chorus opening line, “It’s complicated; it goes on and on forever,” which we hear throughout the track, the vocalist transitions seamlessly through the heftiness of his emotions, strengthening the message with such a direct and powerful performance. The emotional delivery of his vocals might be one of the best elements of the song, as it is not only the most mind-blowing part of the track but the most emphasized too. I believe Tony did an immaculate job here that certainly deserves recognition.

As I mentioned before, I quite frankly dig this song’s progression and the moments when it transitions into something epic. The whole track truthfully sounds purely epic and cinematic. Whether it is the raw vocals that add to the atmosphere or the pauses with guitars building up the tension, the entire song reaches a truly impressive level.

Overall Score/Excellent. Fire The Driver is a great group with strong potential, and I truly look forward to hearing more. “Future Past” not only left me captivated during the whole listening process but also made me eager to hear new tracks from the band.

[We rank singles, EPs, and albums on a scale of Poor, Mediocre, Good, Excellent, and Outstanding]

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