Ian Blurton's FUTURE NOW is set to release their highly anticipated new album Crimes of the City this fall, bringing their raw, live energy to a brand-new collection of heavy, guitar-driven rock. The album is out today digitally, with a limited vinyl and cassette release to follow on November 15 via Toronto’s Pajama Party Records. A run of 300 vinyl records—150 black and 150 blood splatter editions—will be available alongside a super-limited cassette release from Northern Haze.
Produced and recorded by Blurton and FUTURE NOW at Toronto’s ProGold Studios, Crimes of the City strips rock back to its primal roots: Marshall amps, roaring Gibsons, and double-kick drumming. The album's 10 tracks, spanning just 33 minutes, were recorded to capture the raw power of a live performance, with no autotune, no samples, and no studio tricks. According to Blurton, the goal was to create something “real, human, and visceral.”
“We spent a lot of time on the songs, but once we’d narrowed 20 demos down to 10, we just put them down,” says Blurton. “This time we didn’t want to go crazy with too many mics on everything or get too caught up in editing or overworking things. We just wanted a record that felt really human. We don’t use backing tracks, or any kind of ‘tricks,’ live. It’s just the band. Four people with a lot of very unique and disparate musical experience and some trusty tube amps. And that’s what this record is about.”
Described as a blend of influences like DANZIG, CHEAP TRICK, BUDGIE, and BLUE ÖYSTER CULT, Crimes of the City promises to deliver an unrelenting wave of heavy riffs, soaring harmonies, and hook-laden choruses. Fans of FUTURE NOW’s 2022 album Second Skin will find a leaner, more direct approach on this new release, with a focus on capturing the essence of rock stripped of its excesses.
Also joining the band on Crimes of the City is guest vocalist Gregory Macdonald (SLOAN), who adds lush, Queen-inspired harmonies to the record’s hard-hitting tracks.
Blurton and FUTURE NOW will hit the road in November to support the release, with a series of shows across Ontario and Quebec, culminating in an official album release party at Toronto’s The Garrison on November 23.