THE FRONT ROW

Future Theory have always been a band unafraid to evolve. Hailing from the wide horizons of Lincolnshire, they first caught our attention back in 2016 when The Front Row reviewed their debut EP Fool’s Dream, a release that blended hazy psychedelia with understated grunge. Nearly a decade later, they return with Reality Buzz, a single that marks a confident stride into more vibrant territory without losing the introspective streak that’s long defined them.

This track feels like a clear statement of intent. It opens with a bright, jangly guitar riff that immediately lifts the atmosphere, signalling that this is no brooding wallow. When the vocals arrive, they carry the kind of sharp, self-assured delivery that recalls prime Alex Turner. The tone is playful but focused, weaving observations about overstimulated modern life into lines that stick in your head long after the song ends.

While the verses have a distinctly Strokes-esque character, the chorus shifts into something more buoyant, calling to mind the best of Two Door Cinema Club and Bombay Bicycle Club. Shimmering guitar lines dance above a persistent, low-slung bassline that acts almost like a second voice, an undercurrent of tension that grounds all the brightness. It’s this contrast between the punchy rhythm section and the lighter melodic touches that gives Reality Buzz its infectious energy.

Lyrically, the song captures the feeling of being overwhelmed by constant digital noise, of drifting through days where everything seems urgent and nothing feels truly important. As the track progresses, the arrangement steadily ramps up. Guitars grow more insistent, vocals gather urgency, and the whole production swells toward a point of release. But rather than dropping back into a final chorus or winding down into silence, the song pushes through into a full-blown, unbroken climax.

In this final stretch, the guitars explode into a frenzy of huge, saturated riffs. A lead line soars across the top of the mix in a restless, almost euphoric solo that feels engineered to flood a venue. The bassline never lets up, staying locked in place like a heartbeat, pulsing and prowling beneath all the distortion and chaos. It’s an extended, exhilarating release of energy that doesn’t pause for breath, driving straight through to the conclusion with complete commitment.

It’s a satisfying payoff to the track’s build and a clear signal of just how confident the band have become in their dynamic range. This balance, between clarity and chaos, melody and menace, is something Future Theory have always hinted at but never realised as decisively as they do here.

Nearly nine years after we first featured them, Future Theory are proving that they’re still capable of reinvention, and still well worth your attention. Reality Buzz is a vivid reminder of their talent and ambition as they step into their next chapter.