It has been quite a year for British AOR supremos FM. After reforming for a one off appearance at the Firefest Festival back in 2007, the band have since released their first album in fifteen years in the shape of the critically acclaimed 'Metropolis', which just also happens to be their finest album since '89's 'Tough It Out'.  Subsequent to this release they have enjoyed songs being play listed on national radio, undertaken two successful UK tours, made a main stage Download Festival appearance and will be seeing 2010 out in sunny Prestatyn at the Hard Rock Hell bash. FM can't really do much wrong at the moment.

Despite the Artic weather conditions outside opening band Four Wheel Drive from Twickenham had brought a large fan base along with them, and what a big noise these young rockers made in repayment to those loyal enough to get through the doors at just after 7pm. Playing a feel good brand of heavy rocking boogie ala AC/DC and pile-driving Quo, there was more slide than you could find on a helter skelter at Alton Towers.  Singer/bassist Jamie Lailey sings with so much venom he almost spits his larynx out at one point, and tunes like 'White Lines' and 'Big Fag and Ugly' have a grinding groove to them that gets the venue moving nicely. It's very rare to see an opening band play a 30-minute slot and are demanded to take a bow at the end. It's going to be full speed ahead in 2011 for the four wheelers.

Airrace have been out on the road this year supporting both Winger and tonight's headliners and they are perhaps the perfect support band for FM.  I can't help thinking that if life had been somewhat kinder to Airrace perhaps they would be out with FM on a double-headliner, as both bands have a singer with an amazingly soulful set of pipes capable of carrying any tune. Keith Murrell has a clear audible voice and should've made it household name first time around, but instead he settled for a job working for Cliff Richard...and the rest is history. 25 years on from the release of the band's 'Shaft of Light' and we can now look forward to 2011 for their next release on Frontiers Records. New songs like 'Call Me Anytime' and ' You Better Believe It' certainly have a swagger and punch that should see Murrell and guitarist Laurie Mansworth finally in a much broader spotlight.

When I saw FM earlier in the year at London's Roadhouse venue it was the launch night of their new album 'Metropolis' and although it was a great evening, the new songs had yet to be embodied into the Taylor memory banks. Tonight a whole nine months on, the new material happily sits side by side with the classics and as usual the FM faithful sings every blinking word.  Appearance wise new guitarist Jim Kirkpatrick gives the band a more creditable and Overland-ish vibe after the clowning antics of the much-loved Andy Barnett. Whilst ex Tobruk/UFO keyboard player Jem Davies looks a whole lot better behind the keys than Digital Didge ever did (I wonder whatever happened to him.... maybe his batteries went flat?), although I'm surprised Davis didn't wear some leg warmers and a headband later on in the set when he joined the band out front with his keytar.  'Hard Day In Hell' from the largely forgotten album 'Aphrodisiac' album was one of tonight's biggest highlights featuring some great interplay between Kirkpatrick and guest sax man Carl Brunsdon.

I personally have never got FM's cover of 'I Heard It Through The Grapevine' as I always felt this was the beginning of the end for the band,  but I really enjoyed it tonight with the band rocking it up a little more than usual and I must admit it is a perfect vehicle for Overland's sublime voice.  If FM must insist on including a cover in their set then they can do in no wrong in bringing out Romeo Daughter's Leigh Matty every evening. As Overland and Matty's workout on 'Stop Draggin' My Heart Around' was far more sensuous than the Tom Petty and Stevie Nicks original, absolutely jaw dropping stuff.

Along with hearing so many other gems from the band's first two albums tonight, this was the simply best I've seen FM since a most memorable evening at the Astoria back in 1989 when FM were on verge of taking over the world.

It really is great to see the band is still prepared to tough it out.

Set list: Wildside / Face To Face / That Girl / Don't Stop / Only The Strong Survive / Blood and Gasoline / Hollow / Metropolis / Over You / Hard Day In Hell / Burning My Heart Down / Bad Luck / I Heard It Through The Grapevine.... Encores ... Frozen Heart / Other Side Of Midnight / Stop Draggin' My Heart Around / American Girls