Legendary British AOR rock band FM unveil their fourteenth studio album, Old Habits Die Hard, via the Frontiers Records label on Friday 3rd May, and, ahead of that, arriving in time to take away your blues is ‘Whatever It Takes’ a tearjerker of a ballad as their latest single.
“‘Whatever It Takes’ is a classic FM style ballad, and very much looks back to the sound of the band during the Tough It Out era,” remarked FM’s guitarist Jim Kirkpatrick.
“It has the big FM chorus that our fans know and love. It’s a song that will definitely go down well at live shows. It’s already a favourite amongst the fans and critics who have heard it.”
You hear it yourselves right now, by streaming it on digital services and by checking out the video here at RAMzine. All in all, another taster for the band’s forthcoming UK tour.
The song contrasts nicely from the band’s previous single, ‘Don’t Need Another Heartache‘ where lead vocalist Steve Overland remarked: “‘Heartache’ draws influences from the bands love for bands like Free and Bad Company. “It’s a straight-to-the-point, classic blues rock track.”
Similarly, that single is available on all streaming platforms here and you can check out the lyric video here at RAMzine – Listen to it and you’ll raise a smile from the first chord, it’s as familiar as a pair of old slippers but no carbon copy of those classic bands Overland lists as influences – Music to sing along to as you stomp your feet as it rocks, glistens with class, and even adds a little country and some gospel harmonies in there too.
‘This song will probably be in the live set for the 40th anniversary tour as it’s one of our favourites from the album,” explained drummer and founder FM member, Pete Jupp.
Released to coincide with the band’s 40th Anniversary (1984 – 2024), Overland – who similarly was a founding member and plays guitar with the band added, “The new album encompasses the best melodic elements of the band’s illustrious 40-year spanning career.
“We really looked at what made the most popular FM albums great and tried to focus on that,” he commented on the new album Old Habits Die Hard.
FM is renowned by many for their big choruses, twin lead guitars and Steve Overland’s intimate, yet powerful vocals, and clean guitar sound. Following 2022’s Thirteen album album, Old Habits Die Hard was delayed slightly by keyboard player Jem Davis’ cancer diagnosis (Thankfully he’s now received the all-clear) and then by the sudden passing of FM’s founding guitarist Chris Overland (Steve’s brother), that hit the band hard.
“Chris’s passing came out of the blue and it was devastating,” said Steve. To add insult to injury, close friend of the band and long-time collaborator of Jim Kirkpatrick, guitarist Bernie Marsden passed away just two days after Chris.”
The tragedies that plagued the band through the recording process only reinforced FM’s resolve and desire to make the best album that they could to represent their 40 years in the business. The new album is also a fitting tribute to Chris Overland.
Over the past 12 months, during their extensive touring schedule, FM produced the album themselves and recorded the bulk of it at their own Dale View and Electric Pepperland recording studios.
Opening track and first single ‘Out of The Blue’ was a song that originated from keyboard player Jem Davis. “The band love the music of Toto and Foreigner and so I tried to put those influences into one track,” said Davis. “Once Steve got involved and started singing it, I knew that we were onto something special.”
“’Out Of the Blue’ is a song that old school FM fans will really latch on to,” said Overland. “So far, the reaction to the track has been amazing.” The single is also still available on all streaming platforms from here and you can watch the official music video here at RAMzine.
The album continues with the rocker ‘Don’t Need Another Heartache’ an AC/DC meets Foreigner anthem with an infectious chorus. ‘This song will probably be in the live set for the 40th anniversary tour as it’s one of our favourites from the album,” explained drummer and founding FM member Pete Jupp.
‘Whatever It Takes’ and ‘No Easy Way Out’ are typical FM melodic tracks and could fit seamlessly on to one of the bands earlier classic albums. Bass player and founding member Merv Goldsworthy explained, “‘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.”
The heavier side of the album is represented by ‘Lost’, ‘Another Day In My World’, and ‘Leap Of Faith’. Whilst more hard hitting, these songs embody the catchy melodic choruses that FM are known for.
‘Cut Me Loose’, ‘California’, and ‘Blue Sky Mind’ are poppier, more feelgood tracks. The latter was again conceived again by Davis, who originally wrote the song about his experience with his cancer diagnosis. ‘That song really was therapy for me. It was important that I got it out of my system and into music,” the keyboard player revealed.
“’Black Water’ is a brooding, bluesy track that grows and grows. ‘This is a real favourite of mine,” said FM guitarist, Jim 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.”
You can order Old Habits Die Hard by clicking here and you can learn all about FM’s imminent 40th Anniversary UK tour and the array of special guests fans can also see live by clicking here at RAMzine.
