Part of the melodic rock landscape since 1984, FM have a history of crafting tunes that blend the soul of classic rock with the polished sheen of AOR and a touch of the blues. Celebrating their fortieth anniversary, Old Habits Die Hard is due for release on 3rd May 2024.
Opener Out Of The Blue could have come straight from their debut album, Indiscreet. A mid-paced rocker full of heartfelt emotion, the song examines the feeling of the unexpected end of a relationship. Watch you leave without a word / Believing whisper that you overhead / I stand in silence, hold my breath / Until I’m certain that there’s nothing left. Playing with an effortless maturity that signifies just how long the band have been writing such engaging material, Out of the Blue is a strong opening statement, complete with an elegantly expressive guitar solo from Jim Kirkpatrick. Composed from an original idea by Jem Davis, it is a track the quintet are rightly proud of as the keyboardist explains. “The band love the music of Toto and Foreigner and so I tried to put those influences into one track. Once Steve got involved and started singing it, I knew that we were onto something special.”
Don’t Need Another Hero draws further on those Foreigner influences with another song full of energetic riffs and a rhythm section that is as tight and punchy as it has ever been. Steve Overland’s vocals are as impactful as ever, sitting in the mix with a warmth and clarity that few singers of his age can match. It is another example of the band’s ability to meld memorable hooks with solid musicianship. “This song will probably be in the live set for the 40th anniversary tour as it’s one of our favourites from the album,” explains drummer and founder FM member, Pete Jupp.
No Easy Way Out has all the elements that will be familiar to any FM fan. Bass player and founder member Merv Goldsworthy explains, “No Easy Way Out has the big typical FM chorus. It’s a massive hook. The kind of thing that we’ve become known for. It’s one of my favourites on the album.” No Easy Way Out seems to encapsulate FM’s journey through the years. A reflective piece that combines a steady driving beat with lyrical guitar work and keyboards that provide a lush backdrop. The song is an indication of the band’s enduring spirit and their refusal to become stagnant. Whatever It Takes, a slower, polished ballad, once again ramps up the AOR embellishments, just managing to stay the right side of saccharine. There is a sense of longing, poignancy and introspection to Overland’s vocal. I’ve been watching from a distance / All the places where you go / My heart offers no resistance / I never let my feelings show / Sometimes I wonder do you see me / Do you notice me at all / These feelings will never leave me / I’ll be yours for evermore.
Splitting No Easy Way Out and Whatever It Takes in the track list, Lost is one of the grittier offerings. With relatable lyrics and mid-paced groove driven interplay between guitars and bass, it speaks to the chemistry that FM has honed over many years of playing together. This edgier feel is also to be found on Leap of Faith and Another Day In My World, on which Pete Jupp’s drumming, particularly his use of floor tom, is notably powerful. Both tracks have anthemic choruses, an abundance of memorable hooks, impeccable harmonies and tastefully structured guitar solos which serve the songs perfectly. The quintet’s history has been littered with such amalgamations and Old Habits Die Hard continues this trend admirably.
Further exemplifying the variety on the album, Black Water, a contender for the best track here, dwells within a brooding, bluesy atmosphere. “This is a real favourite of mine,” says Kirkpatrick. “I could hear Brian May playing the guitar solo, so I pulled out my Brian May signature guitar and tried to do my best impersonation of him. Hopefully, I got somewhere close.” Balancing this again, Cut Me Loose (the opening of which is somehow reminiscent of John Mellancamp’s Jack and Diane) and California are straight-ahead rockers with infectious energy, classic song structure and feel-good lyrics.
Following 2022’s Thirteen album, Old Habits Die Hard was delayed by the sudden passing of founding FM’s guitarist Chris Overland (Steve’s brother), which hit the band hard. “Chris’s passing came out of the blue and it was devastating,” says Steve. “To add insult to injury, close friend of the band and longtime collaborator of Jim Kirkpatrick, guitarist Bernie Marsden passed away just two days after Chris.”
In addition to this, keyboard player Jem Davis’ received a cancer diagnosis; thankfully, he’s now received the all-clear. Closing track on the album, Blue Sky Mind was conceived by Davis, who originally wrote the song about his experience with his diagnosis. “That song really was therapy for me. It was important that I got it out of my system and into music,” says Jem. Evoking a sense of inspiration and liberation, the opening lines speak of a yearning to break free from the constraints of everyday life. Fly / Some days I just wanna fly away / Spread my wings and head towards the sun /To rise and see the people down below / The distance grows and no-one knows / The change about to come. Promoting a message of hope and the importance of maintaining a positive outlook in the face of life’s challenges, there is an effervescent fervour to the track which makes it the ideal soundtrack to driving on the open road on a sunny day.
With Old Habits Die Hard (their fourteenth album), FM continue their tradition of dependably solid albums which pay homage to their roots while keeping their sound relevant to more modern times. While the band do not take any real musical risks, such is the high quality of the song writing and performances alongside a band playing to their strengths that Old Habits Die Hard is a more than worthy addition to FM’s illustrious discography.
Old Habits Die Hard is released on 3rd May 2024.
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