British rockers FM are enjoying something of a renaissance and have been on an upward spiral, creatively speaking, ever since they reunited back in 2007. The 2015 output entitled "Heroes and Villains" was a solid and well-written piece of work while this brand new 2018 offering of theirs is basically more of the same, delivered with class and passion. One can draw parallels to other acts such as Def Leppard, Unruly Child, and Foreigner, which has to do with both the somewhat slick production and the band’s cool way of crafting strong and memorable melodies that have a tendency to linger in the back of one’s mind for a long time afterwards.

 

There are plenty of huge choruses and meaty riffs to be found throughout its eleven tunes and Steve Overland’s superb vocals add a sense of class and refinement to the proceedings. Jem Davis’ keyboard playing also sounds quite inspired. The production could have been slightly more hard-hitting and powerful, as some sections definitely would have benefited from more bombast and punch, but in the overall perspective, the record sounds good and has a decent amount of dynamics and nuances to it to warrant repeated listening. Not every song kills, but standout cuts such as the charming “Black Magic”, the irresistible “In It for the Money”, the driven “Playing Tricks on Me”, and the groovy “Make the Best of What You Got” definitely make this a worthwhile listen.

If melodic rock with a strong hint of AOR to it sounds appealing then this well-rounded, enjoyable, and hook-laden affair is definitely worth seeking out and investing some time in. The band will be touring the UK and Scandinavia in April/May/June this year, so keep an eye out for any shows in your area and support these gentlemen. “Atomic Generation” may well be one of the best FM albums to date.

 

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