Just when you think that your Best of 2024 list is pretty much settled along comes an album like this. If you love great Hard Rock with soulful vocals and heaps of drive then this second release by Kings of Mercia might just well be for you. Melding all the best sensibilities of AOR and Hard Rock this could well create a new genre Hard AOR’.
Opener ‘Guns and Ammunition’ is simply wonderful- there’s an irresistible drive, some killer guitar and killer vocal and that feel continues with the mid-tempo ‘Eye for an Eye’ which was all that I needed to hear to know that this would be something special. The band, which features the core of vocalist Steve Overland (FM) and the guitar of Jim Matheos are joined by the not insubstantial rhythm section of drummer Simon Phillips (The Who, Toto) and bassist Joey Vera (Armored Saint, Fates Warning).
‘Between Two Worlds’ stomps in and sounds eerily like Paul Rodgers, there’s a lovely Bluesy vibe and great chorus that just shrieks quality. ‘Legend’ that follows is jumpier and a little funky, settling into a great groove and ending up the smoothest AOR here shot through with some wonderful guitar.
Title track ‘Battle Scars’ is a drop in pace, languid and easy on the ear despite the lyric dealing with serious subject matter: “That’s about post-war distress syndrome,” says Overland. “It’s about a guy who comes back from fighting and can’t really deal with real life. He realizes that he can never be what he was before he went away and did this. But he really, really wants to, but he’s trying to get that across to everybody that loves him. But the problem isn’t him–it’s what he’s been through. I came up with the title ‘Battle Scars,’ and I think that suggested the subject matter.” It’s a great highlight.
This sure is a cool album, and follows nicely from the 2022 debut and features both previously released singles ‘Don’t Ask’ and the epic ‘Aftermath’ which sit here mid album. Written and recorded throughout 2023 Matheos and Overland have a wonderful chemistry that makes the most of everything here despite incredibly never having met.
The singles really hit the spot too: ‘Don’t Ask’ is a great soaring rocker, and ‘Aftermath’, whilst a little different, and a little moodier, as well as tackling the weighty matter of “What will be left behind in the end. What will be left on the planet” is one of my many highlights and sees Overland at his very best.
‘Hell ‘N’ Back’ builds slowly before jumping into the fast lane it’s one of my favourites here – classy bluesy hard rock. Whilst penultimate number ‘Cold’ retains that thought and doubles down. I love them both and if you love bands that rocked but had that bluesy smoulder then this is for you too.
The album closes with ‘Angels & Demons’, the longest song on the album which starts with some cool Spanish style acoustic before the slow burn fades in ad leads you to the rocking heart of the song. It’s an epic construction of smoking vocals and solid iron riffs and a classy close to a fine record.
Great songs, great performances and a great album. One of the surprises of the year.
8/10
Tracklisting:
Guns and Ammunition (4:25)
Eye for an Eye (4:17)
Between Two Worlds (4:18)
Legend (3:50)
Battle Scars (4:40)
Don’t Ask (3:28)
Aftermath (4:01)
Hell ‘N’ Back (4:13)
Cold (4:12)
Angels & Demons (5:39)
