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OVERLAND
Epic

Escape Music (2014)
Rating: 8.5/10

British rocker Steve Overland is a musical journeyman, having once fronted one of my favourite bands FM many years ago as well as doing stints with Wildlife, The Ladder, So! and Shadowman.

Under his own name, Overland has released third studio opus Epic. This 12-track platter comes five years after Diamond Dealer, but as expected, it’s another sweet and fluffy hard rock album of bulging synths, lush arrangements and choruses which linger long in the memory.

Featuring the likes of Billy Trudel (Dirty White Boy, The City) and Billy Greer (Kansas), Epic was always going to live up to its moniker with those infectious choruses and sugary harmonies. Overland has produced an 80s-inspired rock album that doesn’t sound contrived, but magically and effortlessly breathes a sigh of pleasantness as he drifts between Boston-styled rock and AOR sprinkles which make the likes of opener ‘Radio Radio’ come alive.

‘Radio Radio’ begins with a jaunty piece of percussion and summery solo, the sort of heavenly jig which deserves to be at the top of the charts as the chorus digs deep into the ears, evoking high school memories. Mike Slamer’s production immediately makes its mark, allowing the dreamy vocals to soar above the lavish percussion and stirring melodies.

‘If Looks Could Kill’ opts for more of a simmer as Overland reflects, “It’s been a long, long time, all the memories left behind, we closed the book we lived our separate lives” over a pensive, nodding drum before driving into the harder yet sugar-laced pre-chorus. Again, there is a dreamy power ballad feel to the track, and this vein continues with the sumptuous ‘Stranded’. ‘Stranded’ is a five-minute plus whisper boasting tip-toe drums and faint guitar strains, but like all fine vocalists, Overland leads us into the chorus so gently and then dips us into the golden waters of that swirling tide before letting us down gently once again.

Other top notch tracks on the record are the sublime ‘Liberate My Heart’, with its sweltering opening solo, the synth-laced ‘If Your Heart’s Not In It’, where Overland excels himself, and the harder edge of ‘Wild’ with its stabbing guitar intro, flailing solo and earthy, soulful vocal which is caressed by the tinkering of keys. But, pick any track on this polished record, and you’ll find yourself swept away to AOR heaven and floating among the clouds that are laced not merely with a silver lining, but those fabulous solos and sugary hooks which you’ll be humming all the way home.

Epic is an evocative platter that will mean something to each and every one of you. As the kicking drum leads us into the closing ‘Time For Letting Go’, you’ll find yourself bopping along because these are tracks with an air of familiarity in their structure and yet so typical of Overland’s array of talent. Epic is the perfect cushion to lay your head on and dream of better days.

Neil Arnold

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