FM Brotherhood Album Review
British melodic rock legends FM will release their highly anticipated 15th studio album Brotherhood on Frontiers Music Srl on September 5th, and is available to pre-save digitally, and pre-order on CD and vinyl from https://ffm.to/fmbrotherhood.
The follow up to 2024 's Old Die Habits Die Hard album and the 40th anniversary tour this will their 9th studio album since reformation and sees the incredibly high standard that the band set many years ago continue and was produced by FM at Tremelo Studios, West 3 Productions, The Seldom inn, JK Studios, Electric Pepperland and recorded by Pete Jupp and mixed by Jeff Knowler
The band Steve Overland on vocals and guitar, Merv Goldsworthy on bass ,Pete Jupp on drums, Jem Davis on keyboards and Jim Kirkpatrick on guitars are joined on backing vocals on “Do You Mean It” and “Just Walk Away by Sonia Jones and Jade Morgan.
Do You Mean It opens the album with a song not out of place on one of their early 90's albums with female backing vocals adding a new sheen to the proceedings in the same way that Joe Bonamassa adds layers to the vocal department. Not that Steve Overland THE VOICE needs any introduction or help as he sounds simply wonderful and is the best British vocalist of any generation. Jem adds a keyboard solo mid song before Jim Kirkpatrick adds his own bluesy guitar solo and in the outro too. A live favourite for sure.
First single Living On The Run is a melodic rock number par excellence with Jim's insistent guitar riff starting the song and then returning under the chorus in a new twist . Pete drives the song with a nice pace and Steve hits some fantastic held notes leading to the big chorus and he builds up to even more in the second verse showing his quality never dips. A fast Jim guitar solo leads to some dual guitar from Steve and Jim before it's back to the huge chorus.
Coming For You sees a slight dip in pace for an AOR number with the first verse seeing Jim taking a backseat and the excellent production showcasing Merv's bass and Pete's drum lines before it builds to the chorus and Steve on full throttle and a great Jim guitar solo that shows the fire he brought to the band since the reformation will never dim.
Raised On The Wrong Side sees a similar vein to the last song with the rhythm team highly audible before Jim's guitar riff picks up steam into the huge chorus and the guitar solo is a piece of beauty and fits just so perfectly.
Love Comes To All is a retro feel number with Hammond organ from Jem and Jim on acoustic guitar and a light summer feel and another huge chorus begging to be sang back by stadiums.
Just Walk Away is the album's big ballad and gives Steve another opportunity to showcase his exquisite soulful vocals which he does time and again and would have been all over rock radio back in the day. Held notes a plenty and when so many of his contemporaries are either retiring or should do Steve sounds fantastic and sets new vocal standards on every release.
FM (L-R): Jem Davis, Merv Goldsworthy, Steve Overland, Jim Kirkpatrick, Pete Jupp.
Photo Credit: © Tony Ayiotou
Don't Call It Love was the second single from the album and a purer slice of guitar driven melodic rock you will struggle to hear this decade. Driving bass and drums and Jim's guitar solo includes tapping notes and held notes and Steve obviously excels on a song that would fit comfortably on either of the first two classic albums.
Time Waits For No One leads on Jem's keyboard flourish that continues throughout the song and then more of the album's production skills reaching new heights with every instrument having a place to flourish and breathe. Jim's Strat adds depth without over powering on AOR song par excellence.
Because Of You sees more keyboard flourishes from Jem and some classy slide guitar from Jim and a huge chorus and another that sees the band stretching themselves within the AOR framework.
Chasing Freedom sees a style change with a country edge to the guitars and some lovely held notes from Steve in the pre chorus and Jim's mid song guitar solo again has a country twang to it and a Jem plays us out with a nice piano solo to finish in the outro.
The Enemy Within closes the album with a near 6 minute song full of brooding chugging guitars and Jem underpins it all with his keys adding great depth. Steve sounds wonderful on a modern rocker that could have done with a slight increase in pace. Jim's guitar solo mid song is wah based and nice change in style too.
Brotherhood isn't ground breaking but yet another gem of an album in an FM career that shows no sign of slowing up and for that we should all be very thankful.
FM head out with Brave Rival, Rosalie Cunningham and Jack J Hutchinson supporting on selected dates see the tour poster below and get yourself along for a fantastic night out with Britain's finest ever melodic band.
