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FM
Old Habits Die Hard

Frontiers (2024)
Rating: 9/10

To celebrate 40 years in the business, UK rockers FM treat their fan base, young and old, to a 14th full-length studio album. Old Habits Die Hard is 50 minutes of warm, rich hard rock that cannot help but tune into a frequency of 80s nostalgia. The sprinkling of keyboards, the steady rhythms, the sizzling vocals and a selection of varied songs that may either tuck you in to bed, accompany you on a long night drive or sit next to you in a bar.

Arguably one of the most consistent yet underrated bands out there, FM embark, once again, on a record that just simmers with a slick class. From the opening gorgeous and evocative ‘Out Of The Blue’, where frontman Steve Overland once again proves how ageless his voice is, the band just caress the ears and warm the body with choruses that rise out of the blue with such majesty and soul.

It’s so easy for bands that have been around a while to fall into the trap of going through the motions, but not FM. The guys have clearly tapped into the qualities which made them so great in the first place, like the sensuous axe work of Jim Kirkpatrick, particularly on the fluid ‘No Easy Way Out’. What really irks me about the music industry is how bands like FM aren’t regularly selling out stadiums and yet corporate and manufactured acts are, but such is life.

‘Black Water’ is streaked with a cool bluesy vibe and a slick solo, while ‘Another Day In My World’ is one of the albums more contemporary sounding numbers. But whichever direction you turn there are varying shades of brilliance, whether in the form of the reflective ‘Blue Sky Mind’, penned by keyboard player Jem Davis, the stunning and upbeat ‘Cut Me Loose’ where Steve Overland excels again, and the melodious ‘Whatever It Takes’. It’s all so sublime and understated, even with the rockier songs, and while the ghost of Steve’s brother Chris looms large (the guitarist sadly passed away last year) Old Habits Die Hard is such a healing opus brimming with emotion.

Let this be the soundtrack to your summer because for positive vibes and cosy nostalgia, this is the place to be. Some habits are hard to break, but in this case I’m just glad FM stuck to theirs.

Neil Arnold

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