FM - 'Brotherhood'

Rock Metal Machine
Oct 2
2 min read

Updated: Oct 9

How is it possible to be actively prolific for so long and yet still be so consistent? FM have smashed out of the park once again!

It’s amazing when you think how FM’s career has unfolded; surfacing in the mid-eighties and spending ten years as the undoubted darlings of the UK Melodic Rock scene before splitting up in 1995, then re-surfacing twelve years later to perform what was originally intended as a one-off reunion show at 2007’s Firefest festival. The overwhelming reaction ensured that the decision to reunite would be made permanent, but who would have thought that they would have subsequently continued to go from strength to strength, releasing in that time no less than what is now ten albums! (Though I think it’s still cheating that ‘Indiscreet 30’ is classed as a full studio album!)

Having said that, not only have they steadily released new records every two or three years, the most impressive thing is that they continue to be of such an impossibly high standard, no mean feat in a scene renowned for being formulaic and predictable; and that’s the thing, though you know exactly what to expect from a FM album, you also know it’s never going to let you down. At his stage in their career, they’re hardly ever likely to change – and why should they?

With that, album No. #15 ‘Brotherhood’ is new yet familiar, like slipping into an old pair of shoes you haven’t worn for a while and forgotten how comfy they are, and giving you that feeling of reliability and satisfaction.

High points? There are many, such as the slinky Blues of opener ‘Do You Mean It’ that puts me in mind of King King (love the female backing vocals!), upbeat rockers like ‘Don’t Call It Love’ and the energetic first single ‘Living On The Run’, typically understated yet so catchy Melodic Rock like ‘Coming For You’ and ‘Time Waits For No-One’, plus a couple of moodier, dramatic numbers in ‘Because Of You’ and ‘Enemy Within’. Then there’s the icing on the cake, the gorgeous, string-enhanced ballad ‘Just Walk Away’ with its Gospel-tinged backing vocals – very special indeed.

Guitarist Jim Kirkpatrick deserves special mention for his contributions, as he delivers some really tasty and inventive solo spots throughout. And then there’s Steve Overland… nothing more needs to be said.

How is it possible to be actively prolific for so long and yet still be so consistent? FM have smashed out of the park once again!

Reviewer: Ant Heeks

Label: Frontiers

Genre: Melodic Rock

Issue Reviewed In: 112

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