Future Now
The bastard sons of Dream Theater are back in full force. Progressive Metal band Future Now has returned with their latest album, dropping February 17th, 2026—only a small wait since their last album, Utopia Awaits, which came out in 2019. However, with time comes greatness, and the new album, titled Point Five – Instrumental Collection, is definitely that greatness worth waiting for.
Did I Say Instrumental?
Normally, I stay away from instrumental albums. I believe each song should have a story that needs to be told with it. Future Now had a vocalist on the first release, so why not the second? Who knows, and to be honest, once this album begins to play, you can understand why it’s not really needed.
That is not to say that I still wouldn’t love to hear vocals on this. With each track, I could almost envision great prog vocalists like James LaBrie adding his harmonics to each part of the song as it played.
Progressive Lengths
As with most Progressive Metal these days, the songs also have some length to them, but you won’t find any 18-20 minute epics here. Instead, you just get epic tracks that go from anywhere from 4 minutes up to 9 minutes. Another thing about Point Five is the journey it takes you on.
Beginning with the shortest track on the album, simply titled “Tension”. Jaz Hunter, the man who plays all the guitars, creative writer, graphic designer and their own video editor begins with a fantastic intro track that just sets up everything. To be honest, this listener swears there is a theremin being played in one part (But that is unconfirmed!)
Journey Into The Deep
The following track, “Challenger Deep”, is without a doubt a true masterpiece on this album. It takes the listener’s mind to places, and before you know it, one minute you’re in space, then suddenly you’re back in the 1920s speakeasy with a Pink Panther vibe. This is truly a rollercoaster of a song, and you can tell by listening to it that this track has been in the works a long time as the creators strived for that perfect sound.
The second part of the Future Now sound is Charlie McKenzie-Stewart, who did the drums, was the synth programmer, engineer, and composer, and also did the mixing (All that just sounds tiring, doesn’t it?). This track cannot honestly be described properly. All I can say is listen to it multiple times until you hear all the nuances within.
Revving Up
One more important part of this Prog Metal Masterpiece is Mr. Paul Bone! He is the man behind that thick bass sound you hear throughout. He rounds out the band Future Now, and I don’t know who owns the motorbike that is revving up at the beginning of the third track, Lone Rider, but one can be seriously jealous of the talent in this band, AND they ride Motorcycles as well!
Area Code Maybe?
The next song is “915″. Here is where vocals could help. Is it an area code, and a futuristic take on 911? Who knows! However, I can attest that 915 is in your face and giving the world the big middle finger.
Isn’t it great when an instrumental album can be heard by different folks, and each can interpret it in their own way? “915″ is aggressive and in your face. Nothing else to be said…until the church bells ring, and the song slows to a completely different direction, leading you down yet another path on this album’s journey, only to return to its true form.
Triangular Points
Heading into the album’s last three tracks, “Drop Zone”, the album’s 5th track, is something straight out of the Dream Theater playbook with its timing changes and diverse sound. Honestly, I think that the album could be the DT guys without their singer under a different name too be able to try some new sounds on the fans of the genre!
You end the album with tracks “Triangular” and “Last Shout to Prog City”. What a fantastic way to end the journey. No, I am not going to describe these last two tracks because I want you, the listener, to go out, support the guys in Future Now, and purchase their new masterpiece album called Point Five – Instrumental Collection.
Psychotic Thoughts
I can honestly say I was reluctant to give this album a go when I finally realized it was an instrumental album, but I couldn’t be happier that I did. This album is well constructed, well composed and will fit into any prog metal music collector’s collection quite well. The only thing I hang onto is that in a few years the band finds a great singer, and writes some fantastic vocals to go with all of these songs, and reissues it as maybe a double album, one with vocals and a remastered Instrumental version with a bonus track, etc.
Dare to dream, I guess!
Until Next Time, keep supporting those new artists out there and spread the word about the ones you find! Its new the world, and we are the ones running it! So head over to the Future Now website Facebook page and find those links to purchase their latest, or search it on Apple Music!
Trevor “Psychoone” McDougall
Tracks
- Tension
- Challenger Deep
- Lone Rider
- 915
- Drop Zone
- Triangular
- Last Shout Too Prog City
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/FutureNowOfficial
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/jazhunter1
Check out my other articles and reviews here. Trevor
