Episode 81: Steve Overland - Kings of Mercia

British vocalist Steve Overland is best known for his work with rock outfit FM, but he's teamed up with Fates Warning guitarist Jim Matheos on a new melodic hard rock band called Kings of Mercia. The band, which includes Matheos' Fates Warning bassist Joey Vera and legendary drummer Simon Phillips, has just released its self-titled debut album on Metal Blade Records. It's an outstanding blend of what Matheos and Overland are best known for and the album is full of catchy, well-crafted songs that showcase both Matheos' big guitar sound and Overland's bluesy vocals. Steve was kind enough to tell me about how he got involved with the band, how the writing was done, and a bit about his background as well. You can find out more about Kings of Mercia at the band's website.  Reminder: You can support independent podcasting by becoming a Michael's Record Collection Patreon subscriber starting at only $2 per month (50 cents an episode...or less!) at the MRC Patreon page. Supporter benefits escalate at each level, providing more value the more you support the show. For example, you will know about interviews in advance and some levels can submit questions for the artists, come on the show to co-host, enter prize drawings, and more.  Please hit the like button and leave a rating/review on Apple Music or the Goodpods app if you consume this podcast on those platforms. You can read my Michael's Record Collection newsletter for free by signing up at michaelsrecordcollection.substack.com. Follow MRC on Twitter (@MikesRecords), like it on Facebook, and follow on Instagram. Have questions or comments or want to suggest a topic? Hit me up at [email protected].