I have waited for this day. In 2019, the Northeast band Restraining Order released their debut album This World Is Too Much, one of the greatest and most anthemic works of old-school fast hardcore that I’ve heard in recent years. That album is catchy and vicious and impeccably well-written, and I’ve had it in constant rotation ever since. A few months after it came out — and a few weeks before the pandemic shut everything down — I saw Restraining Order play an amazing house show in Richmond, at a place that’s since burned down, and that memory has stuck with me. I’ve seen Restraining Order a few times since, but nothing is beating that moment. Now, finally, Restraining Order are ready to follow that first album up.
You saw our 50 Best Albums Of 2023 So Far and last night I saw feverish, life-affirming sets from two of the bands on that list in Brooklyn: Drain and Gel. Get yourself to this tour! I’m not sure if Drain fans bring their own beach balls and pool noodles or they’re provided, so look into that first. If you’re in the Austin area, next weekend they’ll be at Oblivion Access (with tourmates Drug Church, Magnitude, Restraining Order, and others) and Stereogum is a media partner for the fest so we’ll see you in the water.