Frontiers Records (Release Date 03.05.24)
FM appear to be constantly on tour, and yet between that activity they somehow find time to consistently write and release a new album every two or three years.
‘Old Habits Die Hard’ actually marks their 40th anniversary – albeit with a 12 year hiatus in the middle – and I wonder if the cover picture of a skeleton is a self deprecating joke at their veteran status.
Recent live sets have seen a heavy focus on the more AOR side of their repertoire and it was hinted they may return more to this sound, but, as with its predecessors ‘Synchronised’ and ‘Thirteen’, this album sees the band, while never less than melodic, confident enough to experiment with some varied sounds rather than follow a set template.
‘Out Of The Blue’ begins with a hi-tech intro and a trademark vocal opening from Steve Overland, albeit in falsetto – laid back and soulful, it was an unusual choice to be the opening song and first single. ‘I Don’t Need Another Heartache’ is a bit grittier and a slow burner – on the choruses Steve sounds uncannily like his hero Paul Rodgers with a bit of Davey Pattison mixed in, while Jim Kirkpatrick contributes with a typically fine guitar solo.
On ‘No Easy Way Out’ his vocal approach is a little different, appearing to strain harder on the chorus, yet the delivery of the song, supported by immaculate backing vocals, is extremely melodic.
‘Whatever it Takes’ is the nearest they come to vintage FM in pure AOR mode, with more big vocal arrangements and clean harmony guitars, yet it is bookended by two much more laid back tunes in ‘Lost’ which has a not overtly commercial groove to it and the brooding ‘Black Water’, boasting a fluid, languid solo from Jim.
There were a couple of songs in the second half of the album that I felt didn’t live up to these high standards, in the nondescript ‘Cut Me Loose’ which I found a little plodding, and the bland ‘Another Day In My World’.
However ‘Leap Of Faith’ has a livelier riff, melodic chorus and a clever ending while ‘California’ can be seen as a lyrical sequel to the classic ‘American Girls’. Oddly though, the vibe particularly with the Black Crowes-esque intro and Jim’s guitar, is closer to the American south than the west.
The album ends with ‘Blue Sky Mind’, once again forging a slightly different sound: sunny and poppier albeit with excellent guitar solo, it reminded me of Steve and drummer Pete Jupp’s SO project when the band dissolved in the nineties.
Though unexpectedly mellow, it’s an album that is on a par with the aforementioned previous two albums. If it lacks a stand out song which will have live staying power (like ‘Turn This Car Around’ from ‘Thirteen’) it nevertheless oozes pure class throughout. ****
Review by Andy Nathan
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Power Plays w/c 10 June 2024
BASTION ROSE (Epictronic Records)
VOODOO RAMBLE Midnight Ride (indie)
BYWATER CALL As If (indie)
ESCAPE THE PARADIGM Cold (Curtain Call Records)
DEFENCES Gold In The Dark (indie)
BRAVE RIVAL Fairytale (indie)
MOJO ACES Old Crow (indie)
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