Artist: FM
Label: AOR Heaven Records
Release: 2010
Runtime: 63:30
Rating: 4.5/5
FM! One of the first names that comes to mind when you think of the British melodic rock tradition. Yet another comeback! The return of a great band! After a 12-year break, in 2007 to be exact! The reunion was originally meant to be a one-off show, but things went another way! And now they’re back with a new album, their sixth!
And luckily FM are one of those bands in the hard rock league who never denied their roots. I’m probably repeating myself by now, going on about the excellent comeback records from Ratt, Y&T,… and now FM are here too!
“Metropolis” immediately serves up that typical British production. The guitar riffs always sit slightly “back” in the mix, pushed toward the same level as the keyboards, which get more attention and room to express themselves as a result. The building blocks of the sound are spread evenly, with the vocals dead center, as expected. Of all the schools of modern sound processing, it’s the British approach that keeps the most of the old-school production work (the albums of the eighties). Typical Brits, you’ll say. If you compared the super-polished (hyper-produced) sound of eighties hard rock albums, it’s precisely the conservative Brits who still come closest to it today when it comes to hard rock production. But it’s far from the same thing. FM sound sharp on “Metropolis”. The sharpest yet! The guitars cut, but without any “rasp”, extra tricks like harmonizing with lower tunings, or other “trendy” shenanigans. So the tradition is intact. And that’s the best thing you can say when we’re talking about the musical message of a band like FM!
Steve Overland brings his trademark singing style, which is one of a kind in melodic hard rock. That signature soul-tinged improvisation sticks to him throughout this time around too. With this approach he once again shines, making the most of his innate talent. At the same time, he knows and feels exactly when to hit the gas and squeeze even more power out of his vocal range. It’s a pleasure to listen to him especially in the calmer stretches, where his knack for fitting the verses and bringing the emotions to life really shines through (the hard-hitting ballad Still The Fight Goes On). On “Metropolis” Overland remains a true master of his craft and a charismatic figure who leaves his mark, once again one of the most striking and recognizable trademarks of FM’s musical expression! At the same time, you could fairly ask whether Overland, with all the projects he’s been involved in lately (e.g. Overland, Shadowman), might have run out of inspiration, or how much of those side projects has carried over into “Metropolis” with Steve?
No need to worry, because Steve isn’t the only one in the band. You have to remember that FM’s music is built on riff-driven arrangements skillfully blended with keyboards. Simple as that. What we have here is a set of 13 tracks that are, from head to toe, classic FM through and through! It nails the foundations of the British melodic rock tradition, with a strong AOR element that FM also underline in their superbly seasoned choruses, harmonizing the lead vocal with extra backing vocals (multi-part singing). You simply can’t imagine FM’s music without it.
With “Metropolis” the guys remain great masters of their craft who just don’t miss! Plenty of ideas piled up during their time away from the scene. So the new FM are riding into new times, leaning on the foundations of the traditional British school of melodic hard rock! In the production and the riffing they don’t hide a bump in loudness, which is nothing unusual for modern times. At the same time, it’s clear that after years away from the world rock proving ground, their brains haven’t gone sour, and FM have stayed true to what they do and know best. If you remember the AOR records “Indiscreet”, “Tough It Out”, or the harder follow-ups “Takin’ It To The Streets” and “Aphrodisiac”, know that with “Metropolis” FM have stayed right in those familiar, recognizable waters of their creativity.
It’s also worth pointing out the phenomenal interplay in the instrumental dialogue between the keyboards, which hold up a deftly atmospheric backdrop right when it’s needed most – when new guitarist Jim Kirkpatrick breaks away into elaborate solo flights and/or at moments where the keyboards lift the drama in those superbly catchy, melodic choruses, it’s clear that FM approached the writing once again in a thorough, nitpicky way, and their studio perfectionism has more than paid off once again, with the freshly inspired ideas this album is full of.
The album is solid and coherent, and with that typical FM touch it’s pleasantly varied too, offering fast, mid-tempo and mellow moments alike. The songs are all equally strong and you won’t find any “filler” on this record! Fans of the traditional British melodic hard rock heritage, fronted by British bands from Shy all the way to Heartland, will be more than delighted with this one!
Lineup
Steve Overland – vocals, guitar
Jim Kirkpatrick – guitar, backing vocals
Jem Davis – keyboards
Merv Goldsworthy – bass guitar, backing vocals
Pete Jupp – drums, backing vocals
Production
FM
Track list
1. Wildside (4:56)
2. Hollow (4:05)
3. Unbreakable (5:22)
4. Flamingo Road (5:03)
5. Metropolis (1:35)
6. Over You (4:35)
7. Days Gone By (5:42)
8. Bring Back Yesterday (5:37)
9. I Ain’t the One (4:51)
10. Don’t Need Nothin’ (4:23)
11. The Extra Mile (4:42)
12. Who’ll Stop the Rain (5:23)
13. Still the Fight Goes On (7:10)
