FM: “Synchronized”

RATING: RRRRr

Label: Frontiers
Review by Alan Holloway

British rock legends FM have now released more albums since their reformation ten or so years ago than they did in their original form, and it's testament to their individual and collective talents that the quality shows no signs of dipping. “Synchronized” sees them carrying on from where “Heroes & Villains” left off, so nothing groundbreaking, but that's what fans want anyway.

The two advance tracks, the title track and “Superstar” kick things off, with the first continuing a recent trend of starting with a stomping track, and the latter smooth as silk with a horrendously catchy chorus. Let's be honest, it wouldn't be FM without a ton of catchy choruses, and “Synchronized” doesn't disappoint. I think my favourite is actually the closing track “Ready For Me”, which really lets the album finish with a melodic explosion. They do slow things down, of course, but there's no out and out soppy ballads – no frozen tarts on this album! “Ghosts Of You And I” is the slowest here, but it's no surprise that Steve Overland's soaring vocals mean it never gets dull, and is quite a beautiful song. “Change For The Better” is another first class straightforward AOR track, whilst “Pray” turns everything up to eleven and let's Overland really let rip vocally.

Overall, this is a very solid, tight album. As with recent releases FM have found that sweet spot between AOR and the blues influence that Jim Kirkpatrick brought in when he joined a decade ago. It's all tied together by one of the best melodic rock vocalists of the last forty years, and once more the band have knocked it out of the park. Not perfect, not quite up there with the new Vega album, but there is nothing that should stop fans buying and enjoying this gem.

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