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April 2024

• War Grave: War Grave EP
• Six By Six: Beyond Shadowland
• Vanden Plas: The Empyrean Equation Of The Long Lost Things
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March 2024

• Cruzh: The Jungle Revolution
• Whom Gods Destroy: Insanium
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February 2024

• Traveler: Prequel To Madness
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January 2024

• Corvus: Immortals
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• Grand: Second To None
• Neal Morse: The Restoration - Joseph - Part Two
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• Jack Russell & Tracii Guns: Medusa
• Jim Peterik & World Stage: Roots & Shoots Vol. 1
• The Grandmaster: Black Sun

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FM: Atomic Generation

Melodic Hard Rock/AOR

5.0/5.0

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Frontiers Music
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 14.03.2018

Thirty years on and UK rock icon FM are still going strong. Their recording output and touring schedule has been consistent ever since resurrecting in 2007. Easily considered legends in the AOR genre, FM returns with their eleventh album, Atomic Generation, with a tour on the way.

FM

Needless to say, Atomic Generation finds FM in fine form and, have no doubt, you should buy this album. Atomic Generation is a totally satisfying album of AOR, easily blending melodic rock groove with Westcoast breeze. From the infectious melodies to the guitar and vocal harmonies, from dynamic rhythm and groove to the sweet refrains, these songs are entertaining and pleasing ear candy. Then there's Steve Overland's voice, which intertwines straight rock with soulful smoothness. And don't forget the abundance of killer guitar solos from Jim Kirkpatrick. It's all good, so let's mention some tunes.

FM can deliver some straight up rockers with the big beat and vocal arrangement of Black Magic, the strong beat and groove of In It For The Money, and then later with Stronger, laced with sharp riffs and a heavier bottom end. More towards that Westcoast AOR side are Golden Days and Playing Tricks On Me. The former has a breezy fluid melody and a guitar line that nearly mimics Mark Knopfler. With the latter, FM brings in some nice horns to sweeten a funky groove. Kirkpatrick's guitar line is even sweeter as he sounds much like Carlos Santana. You get a true arena rocker with Make The Best Of What You Got, a catchy number with a forceful groove, an emphatic Overland presence, and a powerful memorable chorus (which made me think of a certain Bad English song). The album closes with the powerful Love Is The Law, an acoustic ballad which has an inspirational choral feeling in the vocal arrangement. All in all, FM's Atomic Generation is another exceptional album of AOR melodic rock from these veteran masters. Buy it. Easily recommended.

Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.

FM's Atomic Generation is another exceptional album of AOR melodic rock from these veteran masters. Buy it. Easily recommended.

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Three years have passed since Sweden's Cruzh dropped their second long-player, Tropical Thunder, also introducing their new singer, Alex Waghorn. Now the band returns with The Jungle Revolution ... [ Read More ]