EP REVIEW: Future Plans And The Things That Ruin Them – Fights And Fires

There is a quote by American author Robert Ludlum that perhaps best describes humanity in the last few years: “Hope is the only thing stronger than fear.” And hope is what FIGHTS AND FIRES‘ new EP is all about. Entitled Future Plans And The Things That Ruin Them, this new EP was written over the various lockdown periods that plagued 2020, and follows the prolific Worcester-based punks’ three studio albums, two EPs and two split releases.

Future Plans… is made up of five songs. The first one is Disposable Dogs, a snarling racket of a track whose heavy drumbeat provides both the backbone and the highlight of the piece. There is a rough, unpolished sound to it that harks back to the 90s punk scene, and the production of the song thankfully makes this rawness sound natural rather than unfinished.

Shitty Year continues the raw sound. It is a song a lot of people can surely relate to. The raw sound is refreshing in a musical world that seems content with auto-tune galore. Furthermore, it helps the pacing of the EP sound the same. The song is a high-energy punk song, and the band sound like they’re having a lot of fun. Thankfully, Bed For Bones continues this high-energy. In fact, the song builds upon it. This not only helps with continuity, but also shows off the band’s talent for expanding upon their sound and trying to make it sound better. Even though they have been around for 14 years now, FIGHTS AND FIRES always know how to mix things up.

Up, Down, Labour, Conservative, A, B, Start is easily the most political song so far. With the names of the two biggest political parties in its title, how could it not be? Covering everything from education cuts to council houses, the band question why we just let history repeat itself. It is a valid question, and the anger at the state of the world is felt throughout the song to make this one a  highlight from the EP.

The final song is Pocket Full Of Flowers. Don’t let the name fool you though; this song is angry and brash, a cumulation of all the sounds of the EP. It is a song that is about nostalgia for the old days. The pacing of the song is fast, and correlates with the other songs on the EP. The chase for the hedonistic days of youth are feelings we can all relate to.

In conclusion, Future Plans And The Things That Ruin Them is a fantastic EP by one of the most exciting punk bands out there. FIGHTS AND FIRES have shown that they are at the top of their game, and are not afraid to stick to the raw sound of punk. This EP has breathed new life into the genre, and with it FIGHTS AND FIRES prove that they are not going away anytime soon.

Rating: 8/10

Future Plans And The Things That Ruin Them is set for release on February 18th via Lockjaw Records.

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