FM – Heroes And Villains
Frontiers (April 2015)

Reviewer: Peter Scallan

After a lengthy hiatus, since releasing Metropolis FM have been very busy indeed in terms of touring and recording, culminating in this latest release. Having been a long-time fan of the band and Steve Overland’s since seeing Wildlife support MSG too many years ago, the chance of an impartial review is slim.

The opening salvo of Digging Up The Dirt leaves you in no doubt about what you are going to get from this album – and then the man sings. Sounding a little Def Leppardish, the song showcases the man’s voice in the gaps of the big staccato riff. You’re The Best Thing About Me maintains the high standard and is a mid-paced rocker with serious pop sensibilities. The intro to Life Is A Highway reminds of something else, but I can’t quite pin it down. But for me, this is prime-time classic FM and could easily sit on Indiscreet with that great chorus. Next up is Fire and Rain with a contemporary intro that sounds like it is introducing a dance/trance mix. It turns into what Bad Company could have sounded like in the 80s but only better with a great bluesy guitar lick. Incredible is the mandatory power ballad opening with the man crooning over acoustic guitar and builds nicely to a crescendo in the chorus. Call On Me lifts the pace again and is another mid-paced rocker, chugging along and with another cracking chorus and great hook-laden guitar solo.

The bluesier and funkier side of the band returns with Cold Hearted. Opening with a short accapella section before the big blues riff kicks, the song drops into a funky guitar riff for the verse building to a superb guitar chop for the chorus. Another big guitar chop dominates the Shape I Am In which reminds of Huey Lewis and the News! Pacey, catchy, awesome! The next song starts with another contemporary intro before the harmony guitars kick in and another great bluesy guitar riff emerges. Entitled Big Brother, Gem’s organ provides some additional texture when it breaks through. Somedays I Only Wanna Rock and Roll as a song is as clichéd as the song title suggest and sounds like a 70s Rolling Stones rocker. However, regardless of the clichéd approach when you can sing like the man, you can carry it off! The penultimate track I Want You is another slab of melodic blues which twists and turns nicely with a great breakdown in the middle. And all too quickly we are on the last song. This is a magnificent acoustic-based ballad with lush keyboards and backing vocals called Walking With Angels. I am not a fan of albums ending with ballads, but when you can sing like the man, you can get it away with it!

Is this album particularly original or innovative? No! But damnly my Frank I don’t give a dear! The man reminds us all that you don’t need a five octave range that gets used at the drop of a hat to be considered one of the best singers around and I love it. He could be singing the yellow pages for all I care. For me this is quite possibly the best FM album since their debut and if you like them, you will love this. If you don’t, it is hardly likely to change your mind and in the words of the famous Glaswegian poet, Rab C Nesbitt, ‘Beat it!’