Seit 2021 arbeiten Gitarrist Jim Matheos (Fates Warning) und FM Sänger Steve Overland unter dem Banner KINGS OF MERCIA zusammen und kreieren melodischen AOR/Hardrock mit Prog Twist. Zum aktuellen Lineup gehören darüber hinaus Drummer Simon Phillips (The Who, Toto) und Bassist Joey Vera (Armored Saint, Fates Warning). Nun kündigt das Quartett mit ihrer `Don’t Ask´ Single das Zweitwerk „Battle Scars“ für den 25. Oktober an.

Steve Overland sagt:

„We found our feet with this album. This is the Kings of Mercia evolving. People think you can pigeonhole rock music fans, but they just like good songs and good music.

“What Jim sends me is the first draft of that song. So once he’s heard all the melodies and the harmonies I sing, he can chop it about and make it how he thinks it should be. He always sends me three or four different versions. He’ll say, ‘What do you think? Which do you like?’ Then we work it out between us and come up with the one we’re both happy with.”

Matheos ergänzt und blickt zurück:

„I think it was a bit easier this time around because we’ve established a good working rhythm. I’ll send Steve at least a few songs every couple of months, and I try to keep them varied. This allows him to work on whichever ones he feels strongly about.“

“Steve and I started working together in 2021. I was aware of FM–they came up around the same time as Fates Warning – but I’d lost touch with them and wasn’t familiar with their more recent work. When Steve was recommended to me, I checked out some of the newer releases and felt Steve was exactly what I was looking for.”

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