New Music Review : FM - Brotherhood : CD Album Music Review : Dangerdog Music Reviews : By Craig Hartranft

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FM: Brotherhood

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FM: Brotherhood

Melodic Hard Rock/AOR

4.5/5.0

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Frontiers Music
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 03.09.2025 | Released: 05.09.2025

Forty years and 14 albums later, seminal and now legendary English AOR band FM return with their 15th studio album, featuring, once more, founding members Steve Overland, Merv Goldsworthy, and Pete Jupp, alongside keyboard player Jem Davis and guitarist Jim Kirkpatrick. Vocalist Steve Overland commented on the new album:

"I am proud of the new album," enthuses Overland, "It is one of our strongest song albums to date. It is another milestone, as it's FM's 15th album. It's very well paced and has great variation in song styles throughout. The album's big ballad, Just Walk Away, is one of our best. I hope our fans feel the same way as we do about Brotherhood".

Once more, FM plays to their strengths, creating classic melodic hard rock with their blues nuances in arrangements and Overland's soulful vocals, then wrap the songs up in AOR arena accessibility. FM also has the natural ability to create consistently well-crafted catchy tunes. To hit some highlights, I was immediately thrilled with the opener, Do You Mean It, with addition of female backing vocals from Sonia Jones and Jade Morgan. The ladies also appear on the emotional ballad, Just Walk Away. Curiously, this ballad is sandwiched between contrasting "love" songs: first, Love Comes To All, then after the aforementioned ballad, the steady rocker, Don't Call It Love. Mixed messages about messed up relationships? Maybe. Another favorite was rollicking, catchy rocker, Living On The Run, perfect for an arena anthem. Brotherhood finishes with three simple and steady, blues-laded rockers: Because Of You, Chasing Freedom, and The Enemy Within. All three fine songs, yet something an unsettling slow exit.

All said, FM's Brotherhood, once more establishes the band as one of the finest and most consistently creative AOR melodic rock exports from England. Definitely recommended.

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