KINGS OF MERCIA ZOOM INTERVIEW – TAKE 5- STEVE OVERLAND – BATTLE SCARS
With so many projects, bands the greatest vocalist from Norfolk never stands still.
Here he tells me that he wants to play at the Download!
And so much more!
As a man who can’t stand still, Strictly must be calling.
You heard it here first!
Having reviewed the very good debut and interviewed Steve about it, who assured me it was not a one off, I was excited to hear and review Battle Scars, it is a monumental step forward for this transatlantic band, who have still yet to meet in person. It is my album of the year and this interview just had to get done. Even though it was beset by problems and somewhat protracted.
As for Kings Of Mercia it really is a clash of styles, metallic power chords from Jim Matheos combined with Overland’s vibrant vocals, not only should it not work how time has been found to record these records is a mystery, only Dave Ling knows the answer to that. When Matheos approached Ling about a vocalist for this project obviously Steve was top of the list, as we all know, Mr Overland just fronts FM, tours, writes new material and is involved in his bands OVERLAND, Lone Rider, and many other projects! He has plenty of time on his hands, to look at the Wildlife, he’s your man and so it proved to be.
Our talk begins with the loss of Chris Overland, Steve’s brother and founder member of FM at the beginning of 2024. Together they had formed Wildlife releasing two albums with Simon Kirke legendary Bad Company drummer. Kirke as you will see links up again with Steve for the Lonerider project
It was a difficult time… Thanks for your condolences and support.
Other than that, it has been a remarkably quiet time for you, I mean there has only been the Kings Of Mercia debut, Overland 6, FM Old Habits Die Hard and constant touring. The 3rd Lonerider album Down In The Dust and The spectacular Battle Scars release, well at least Steve has had a break from Shadowman / Groundbreaker & The Ladder.
So, Steve who are The Kings Of Mercia? The name conjures up images of The Knights Of Templar, kind of mystical / powerful beings who endeavour to right wrongs and propel us forward away from darkness.
Well, it is really Jim Matheos’s idea, he wanted to write in the Fates Warning, Prog, straight down the line heavy rock direction, but with more of a Melodic Rock / Blues singer. He had a list of four people he wanted to contact and I was top of the list. Luckily, we had one mutual friend who is Dave Ling, Dave is one of my oldest friends, we have known each other for forty years. Jim contacted Dave and Dave contacted me, I was like, I know of Fates Warning, they have a big fanbase in the heavy prog rock area.
I think they were part of the big trio of bands who went on to define that sound and style, Dream Theatre, Queensryche and Fates Warning.
You’re right, I thought could this possibly work? I asked Jim to send me one backing track, I’ll write it, make it into a tune and we’ll see what happens from there. We had nothing to lose, it is just one song. You don’t know if you don’t try.
The song was written, it became ‘Humankind’, I sent it to Jim, within 15 minutes he got back to me saying this is absolutely fantastic, better than what I envisaged, it is like you read my mind. We played the song to Metal Blade and on the back of that song we got a three-album deal!
That is how the first album came about, Jim would ping me over an idea, I would work on it, not one song got binned, there was not one that didn’t work. I think it proved to be a great debut record; one I am really proud of. I think ‘Battle Scars is even stronger; we know who we are now. We have our identity
Definitely, the debut is very good, no one knew what Kings Of Mercia would be, ‘Battle Scars’ just builds on the idea and takes it to another level.
The first album was like test the water, feel our way, the second album has no boundaries, no rules. Jim would send me some curveball ideas like Aftermath, which is quite dark. With the writing it’s not like FM, you really have to find a reason a purpose a feel that makes the lyric fit the song. You can’t write about cars, girls and being in love for Kings Of Mercia
With the track ‘Aftermath’ there is a spoken part which is darkly menacing, is that you?
Yes, its me through a harmoniser, I can’t make that sound naturally, it’s out of my range, (laughs) I am just being the Devil.
I only asked because it might have been Jim or Joey, maybe even Simon. How’s that, it given me the opportunity to introduce the rest of the Kings Of Mercia.
The band is myself, Jim Matheos guitars, Joey Vera bass and Simon Phillips drums.
Have you physically met yet or does it remain a transatlantic affair?
No, we haven’t schedules being what they are and the others living in different parts of the States, it is not easy to make happen. But in 2025 it will happen! We are going to tour, it would be great to get on the bill at Download, watch this space.
I did notice that Jim and Joey had a project called ‘North Sea Echoes’ they released a very ambient dense record, it was pretty good.
Like me they are always being creative.
Before we talk more about the new album, I want to highlight Dave Ling, your long-standing friend of 40 years. When your name was mentioned, didn’t he think Steve’s a bit busy at the moment, I mean there’s his solo stuff, the new FM album to tour and promote, then Lonerider are making their third album ‘Down In The Dust’.
It’s just what I do, I like stretching myself, always creating.
Back to ‘Battle Scars’ and the superb, emotional title track.
Well, it would have been quite easy to write a love song to the backing track, but that is not what this bands about, it had to be deeper, I really have to think about the lyrical context and narrative. I watched a documentary about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, these guys who come home and are supposed to adjust back into normal lives, with all the things they have seen and done. They can’t just make that transition. I thought it’s a sad subject, perfect for this piece of music. With Kings Of Mercia I really take my time. With FM I get the music written and I am up and running, I’m off.
The opening song Guns & Ammunition is powerful and clever, what is the idea there?
Paul, we are constantly led to believe that the only way to get what we want is through war. Why are people never content, why do we need more land, a bigger Country, more power? It is something we are told by our leaders, the only way forward is to fight, I don’t believe that’s true, I’m a bit of a pacifist.
I think communication is key, you must have dialogue.
You are right, I watch the news and that song is about what I see every time I switch on. Recently I have chosen not to watch it any more I am sick of hearing it.
A deep conversation takes place, including the recent events in Syria before we return to music and Kings Of Mercia.
‘Between Two Worlds’ is a bit lighter and something of a departure as it is closer to Lonerider and Bad Company in style.
That was a big surprise, a big curveball from Jim. Those sorts of songs are a breeze for me to write, the chorus is very commercial for Jim, it is quite Melodic, the music is in a major key, most stuff Jim sends and writes are dark minor keys. That’s the thing about Kings Of Mercia there are no rules, it just evolves and it will evolve again on the next album.
Why do bands restrict themselves by only using what appears an ever-narrowing range of style making their music quite formulaic?
I don’t know Paul; all my projects are different and it gives me a chance to not be constrained or locked into a template. Obviously, FM is priority, even then we try not to limit ourselves. It should always be a blank canvass. For me half of the thing is to keep you and others enthused you have to dip your toe in the water and try different things, keep it interesting and exciting, not just for the listener but also for you the creator. If someone comes up to me and says, we have this Prog sort of detuned guitar thing are you interested? I am not going to say no, it’s not my style, because I don’t know do I? I have written Country songs for a boy band in Nashville, all sorts of stuff. I have just been recording with young artist called Lizzie in London, she is a cross between Alanis Morrisette and all sorts of things, it has to be a challenge, it never stops. If people ask me to do something I give it a go, I never say no, if I cock it up, I just move on.
I had shown Steve a CD of a project called Ozone that he did with Chris Ousey. Other members of FM are almost as busy, Jim Kirkpatrick guitarist, has recently released an album called Flood which features Ousey, which dovetails nicely and triangulates this part of the conversation.
It is a very small world in which we all work, I think Chris & Jim had worked together previously, the time was right to do it again, Jim (Kirkpatrick) is like me always doing something. He is out playing with God knows how many different bands. I’m always somewhere in a studio.
Jim is currently touring with The Sweet.
Yes Andy Scott, (Sweets main man guitarist) has not been well for a while, he has had an operation, so a replacement was needed for 6 of the tour dates, Jim was recommended by our promoter, the Gig Cartel, who just happen to promote Sweet as well. I have just got off the phone to him, he is enjoying the shows. It is what he does, he is a guitar player.
I will be seeing Sweet and him in Norwich 20/12/24, hopefully I will get a chance to say hi. The main reason I am going is the support act Troy Redfern who is a blistering hotshot guitarist from Herefordshire.
I have never heard of him; I will have to ask Jim what he thinks.
He plays with a lot of slide and improvisation, Southern Blues, with a raw edge.
I will check him out.
Ok back to Battle Scars, ‘Hell & Back’; Tribal patterns drive this forward with an angry aggressive riff, you sound positively angry. A belter!
That one again is about trauma, once again the backing track dictates where the song is going, what you can write about, you have to think about these hard-edged subjects. Like how shit things are, how you can make them better. Any mention of relationships on a Kings Of Mercia album is going to be about how you want to kill your partner. It is not I love you, this is marvellous, none of that. That is going to be the next track we give to Planet Rock. All the songs have something, there are no fillers, they are all individual with something different going on.
The only song I haven’t made any notes about is ‘Cold’ I don’t know why that is. It starts with a chunky repetitive riff.
That is the thing Paul, everybody and that is the great thing about albums, is people connect to different songs in different ways for different reasons. Even with FM you can’t predict what will become a favourite. We make an album and go that’s the lead track that’s the second video, you put them out first because they are the ones which will impact on your fans. That proves to be not true, they will pick out a song that you never expected to be the key track. When you make a strong record, everybody chooses a different favourite song. You just can’t predict it; I have learnt that over the years.
I guess it is the individual lyric that connects with that person at that time because of what is happening in their life.
Absolutely.
I rave about ‘Follow In Your Footsteps’ from your SO record, it just emotionally does it for me.
I hadn’t played that record for 10 years, because you spoke about it, I put it on, it’s a great record, sort of Crowded House vibe. Every record I make I try to make it the best I can, you can’t pick the song, people pick it for themselves.
It is funny because I feel very privileged to do what I do, the hardest thing is constructive criticism, after all it is only an opinion. I do feel that the smaller the genre, the tighter the niche, the more artists are almost cliched. For example, Scandinavian Metal, almost every album by every artist starts the same, it will have a nice pretty acoustic or keyboard intro which may last 30 seconds than bang! Off it goes with scorching, searing guitars, pounding bass, double quick drums and high-pitched vocals. I think stop! I want to throw it out of the window! It is not a surprise with your false start, put it somewhere else, give me a break.
It just becomes a formula.
Just stick your formula – somewhere else!
That’s where some bands get in a rut, oh our fans won’t like it. You need elements of what you have created in your career, you can go where you like as long as you retain that thread of what you are about.
With FM we never try to repeat what has come before. ‘Indiscreet’ was influenced by Go West – Daryl Hall & John Oates, we didn’t want an American production, we wanted a British Pop Rock kind of sound. When it came to Tough It Out it was more of a Hard Melodic Rock sound, we didn’t want to repeat the feel of ‘That Girl’ or ‘Face To Face’ it had to evolve. The same with Take It To The Streets and the much blusier feel of ‘Aphrodisiac’. You have to change, create something new.
That previous rant takes me to the final song, ‘Angels & Demons’ Wow! a Spanish flamenco acoustic opening sees our vocalist deliver spectacularly, then the drums and power of the bass and lead guitar kicks in. What away to end an album, is it the best track on the record I don’t know. What I do know is it is my album of the year. It builds twists and turns dramatically, Steve uses three vocal styles in the duration, the song climaxing with a brief return, kind of, to the opening. It feels epic in structure but at 5 min 30 seconds it is not a moment to long, in fact when you listen to it, I defy you not to think it is around the 10-minute mark! So much happens but neither a note or a second is wasted.
When Jim presented this track to me, I thought I know where this is going, but each part became more dramatic as the song morphed into something else, each part demanding something more, something different. I know I have said this throughout, there are no rules with this band, Kings Of Mercia can become and be whatever it wants to.
With barely a week to go before the Festivities begin you must be beginning to put your feet up.
No, not at all, I have been in London this week laying down four tracks in the studio for the next FM album. On the 2rd3 I have a reunion party for my Staks band project. Then it is preparing for the FM acoustic shows which start early next year. The songs won’t just be acoustic, they are going to be restructured and tweaked to make them different.
I will be at the Norwich Waterfront Studio, so hopefully we can have a chat.
Certainly.
Then hopefully we will get the Kings Of Mercia tour, it will be brilliant to see you at Download!
If that happens it will be something really special, the tour will take place!
That my friends completes this interview. I hope it covers everything you need to know about Steve Overland and more importantly Kings Of Mercia. Now go and buy the album and heal your Battle Scars!
Paul Mace
Kings Of Mercia Are:
Steve Overland: Vocals
Jim Matheos: Guitar
Joey Vera: Bass
Simon Phillips: Drums