– October twenty eighth, 2024 –
Photograph by: Simon Ward & Jeremy Saffer
Out NOW through Steel Blade Information – Order HERE
Shares Title Monitor + Music Video – Watch HERE
“An pleasurable name again to an period when rock’s purest components powered probably the most timeless music.” – Loudwire
“It’s an outstanding album stuffed with some unbelievable performances (from Steve Overland, Simon Phillips, and Joey Vera, in addition to Matheos) with nice songs that basically get you fired up as a listener. This KINGS OF MERCIA album is solely phenomenal!” – KNAC
“A testomony to the inventive imaginative and prescient of those two musicians. The album gives a refreshing departure from their consolation zones and is certain to please most rock followers.” – My International Thoughts
“‘Battle Scars’ is stuffed with blistering energy! The fury that erupts from the Matheos guitar creates a volcanic, seismic noise… Whereas Steve Overland pushes his vary with such impressed magnitude it takes your breath away.” – Rock ‘N’ Load
KINGS OF MERCIA‘s 2022 approachable, world-class self-titled debut was termed “actually a hybrid: it’s heavy, however not steel. It’s acquired tones of melodic AOR onerous rock however with an edge.” Now, 2024 brings the band’s sophomore album written and recorded all through 2023, ‘Battle Scars‘ sees the core writing workforce of Matheos and Overland increasing on their apparent chemistry.
“I believe it was a bit simpler this time round as a result of we’ve established working rhythm,” states Matheos, “I’ll ship Steve not less than just a few songs each couple of months, and I attempt to hold them diverse. This permits him to work on whichever ones he feels strongly about.”
“What Jim sends me is the primary draft of that music,” says Overland. “So as soon as he’s heard all of the melodies and the harmonies I sing, he can chop it about and make it how he thinks it ought to be. He at all times sends me three or 4 totally different variations. He’ll say, ‘What do you suppose? Which do you want?’ Then we work it out between us and give you the one we’re each pleased with.”
“Steve and I began working collectively in 2021,” says Matheos. “I used to be conscious of FM-they got here up across the similar time as Fates Warning – however I’d misplaced contact with them and wasn’t accustomed to their newer work. When Steve was beneficial to me, I checked out a few of the newer releases and felt Steve was precisely what I used to be searching for.”
“It’s a distinct style of music that I’m usually concerned in,” says Overland, whose voice has been likened to different British greats Paul Rodgers and Glenn Hughes. “Clearly, I’d heard of Fates Warning – they’re a really huge cult band of their area. Jim and I touched base, and I informed him to ship me one backing monitor. If it sounds nice, then it’s a win-win. If it doesn’t, we’ll simply name it a day, knock it on the top, not take it any additional. That music grew to become ‘Humankind’ from the primary album. I wrote the melodies and the title and put all of it collectively. Jim acquired it and he was blown away. So we made a pair extra. I cherished doing it. It was simply such a distinct problem for me.“
These songs would change into the self-titled debut album, which was launched in 2022. Written throughout lockdown, bouncing tracks throughout the Atlantic, KINGS OF MERCIA discovered its mojo. Followers of Fates Warning, FM, and Armored Saint all rejoiced on the widespread floor on KINGS OF MERCIA, the candy spot in the midst of the Venn diagram.
It’s a real collaboration that has led to KOM‘s ‘Battle Scars.’ Nonetheless, regardless of the unfolding sound and clear chemistry between the 4 Kings, Overland has by no means met his bandmates in particular person. ‘Battle Scars,’ like its predecessor, is a slab of transatlantic magic.
Order ‘Battle Scars’ HERE
‘Battle Scars‘ Monitor Record:
01. Weapons and Ammunition
02. Eye for an Eye
03. Between Two Worlds
04. Legend
05. Battle Scars
06. Don’t Ask
07. Aftermath
08. Hell ‘n’ Again
09. Chilly
10. Angels & Demons
Watch the Music Video “Don’t Ask” HERE
Watch the Music Video for “Aftermath” HERE
KINGS OF MERCIA are:
Jim Matheos – Guitars
Steve Overland – Vocals
Simon Phillips – Drums
Joey Vera – Bass
KINGS OF MERCIA ONLINE
https://www.metalblade.com/kingsofmercia
https://www.fb.com/KingsofMercia
