This week's round-up: New music from Jack J Hutchinson, FM and Papa Roach

Jack J Hutchinson has announced his first official live album ‘Battle Scars’ will be released on 3rd October 2025. The first single Overdrive is released today ahead of his UK tour including 4 dates opening for FM.

Speaking about the track, Hutchinson says “It’s one of my favourite tracks to play live and a big foot stomper that gets the crowd jumping to finish our sets. The lyrics are about those little voices in your head that tell you you aren’t good enough. The message is pretty clear… what doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger!”

The album captures Hutchinson and his power trio, featuring Greg Smith on bass and Phil Wilson on drums, in full flight across 10 tracks taken from his first four solo albums. It was recorded at two dates earlier this year, at the Grace in London and the Tuesday Night Music Club in Coulsdon.

Hutchinson comments: “The album is a big thank you to all the fans who came out and supported me and the band on the road over the last 18 months. Now more than ever independent artists and grassroots venues are dependent on people coming out to shows. We simply couldn’t do it without them.”

“We recorded most of the shows on the run, but these two stood out, mainly because the audience was so fantastic at the dates. There was a definite vibe at these shows, which I think comes across in the recordings.”

Over the last 10 years, Hutchinson has shared bills across the planet with bands including Blackberry Smoke, Neil Young and King King. Audiences can expect lightning fast fret work and hard hitting choruses that smash the blues rock template.

He hits the road this autumn in support of the new live album, including 4 dates opening for FM, before his own headline shows in October.

Full list of dates: https://jackjhutchinsonmusic.com/2025/05/02/live-album-launch-tour/

Pre-order the album on vinyl, CD and digital on Eyesore Merch: https://eyesoremerch.com/bands/j/jack-j-hutchinson/

Tour dates:

9 August – Buxton Blues Festival

16 August – SavFest, Coalville

4 September – Docks Academy, Grimsby *

5 September – Birdwell, Barnsley *

13 September – Guildhall, Gloucester *

27 September – Live Rooms, Chester *

1 October – The Appleyard, Sittingbourne

8 October – The Bullingdon, Oxford

9 October – The Louisiana, Bristol

10 October – The Black Heart, London

11 October – Carlisle Blues Rhythm and Rock Festival

12 October – Bannerman’s, Edinburgh

13 October – Night and Day Cafe, Manchester

14 October – Ivory Blacks, Glasgow

17 October – The Flying Circus, Newark

* Supporting FM

Overdrive is OUT NOW on all digital platforms https://earache.lnk.to/Overdrive

Website: jackjhutchinsonmusic.com

British melodic rock legends FM are pleased to announce the release of “Don’t Call It Love,” the second single taken from their highly anticipated 15th studio album Brotherhood. Released Wednesday 6th August, the new single is a compelling rock anthem tailor-made for rock radio.

Released by Frontiers Music Srl on Friday 5 September, FM’s Brotherhood album is available to pre-save digitally, and pre-order on CD and vinyl from https://ffm.to/fmbrotherhood.

“Don't Call It Love is an up-tempo old-school AOR track with a very 80s feel,” says FM’s founding member and bassist, Merv Goldsworthy. “It was one of the last songs written and recorded for the Brotherhood album. It’s a definite candidate for the live set and rock radio.”

It’s no surprise that FM’s Brotherhood album continues to showcase their signature blend of hook-laden AOR and blues-tinged hard rock that solidifies their status as masters of the genre.

To promote Brotherhood, FM will tour the UK in September 2025 with 14 confirmed shows, followed by European dates in early 2026. Tickets are available from The Gig Cartel and FM’s official website.

Brotherhood showcases a band at the top of their game, with highlights including the infectious anthem "Living on the Run", the anthemic rocker “Don’t Call It Love”, the punchy and powerful "Coming For You", and the emotionally charged "Time Waits For No One" – all tracks that echo the spirit and melodic strength of FM’s early classics, while being unmistakably fresh and vibrant.

The opening track, "Do You Mean It", brings a bluesy, soulful vibe that echoes the Doobie Brothers’ classic “Takin’ It To The Streets” sound, setting the tone for the album. Brotherhood also features one of FM’s most powerful ballads to date, "Just Walk Away" – a beautifully emotional song that highlights the band's mastery of melodic rock. Wrapping up the album is "The Enemy Within", a track that introduces exciting new sonic ideas while retaining the powerful and melodic qualities FM fans love.

Supporting vocals from a female guest choir add warmth and dynamic depth to "Do You Mean It" and "Just Walk Away", perfectly complementing Steve Overland’s consistently exceptional lead vocals.

Formed in the 80's by the Overland brothers, FM are one of the UK's seminal and respected rock bands. The new album was recorded by FM’s long-standing and beloved line-up including founding members Steve Overland, Merv Goldsworthy, and Pete Jupp, alongside keyboard player Jem Davis and guitarist Jim Kirkpatrick.

Papa Roach has just dropped the official music video for their blistering new single, “BRAINDEAD” feat. Toby Morse of H2O.

Directed by Jesse Davey and Ed Shiers and produced by Joanna DeLane of Proper Pictures, the hard-hitting visual matches the song’s rebellious spirit with a gritty, high-octane cinematic punch featuring the band locked up and trying to escape from the Last Resort.

“We wanted to create something that felt urgent, honest, and in-your-face—and bringing Toby in took it to the next level,” says Papa Roach frontman Jacoby Shaddix. “This song is a call to wake up before it’s too late.”

“I’ve known Jacoby for over 20 years. Very proud of him with his sobriety. Their passion & hard work is why they are still here and relevant today,” added Toby Morse. “They also live by the one life, one Chance motto. So it’s a true honour to be on BRAINDEAD sharing these words that we all live by!!”

Following their sold-out UK tour, which featured their first-ever headline show at Wembley Arena and saw them gracing the covers of both Kerrang! and Metal Hammer, Papa Roach are riding high as they gear up for their forthcoming album, set to include the track “BRAINDEAD.”

Now celebrating their 25th year, the band continues to ignite stages worldwide on their RISE OF THE ROACH World Tour. European dates are below, with tickets available at Papa Roach Tour Dates

2025

01 Aug – Wacken, Germany (Wacken Open Air)

03 Aug – Sergate, Italy (Circolo Magnolia)

04 Aug – Opatija, Croatia (Open Air Theatre)

06 Aug – Budapest, Hungary (Sziget Festival)

08 Aug – Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany (Taubertal Festival)

09 Aug – Hamburg, Germany (Elb Riot)

10 Aug – Eschwege, Germany (Open Flair Festival)

12 Aug – Saarbrücken, Germany (Saarlandhalle)

13 Aug – Sankt Pölten, Austria (Frequency Festival)

15 Aug – Gampel-Bratsch, Switzerland (Open Air Gampel)

16 Aug – Biddinghuizen, Netherlands (Lowlands Festival)

17 Aug – Hasselt, Belgium (Pukkelpop Festival)

19 Aug – Seignosse, France (Le Tube)

22 Aug – Porto, Portugal (Vilar de Mouros Festival)