Fighterpilot - Debut album review

ALBUM REVIEW FIGHTERPILOT Silver Bullet… Plastic Gun (Independent/Bulletproof) This 12-track debut album from Adelaide-based heavy rockers Fighterpilot certainly took this reviewer by surprise. They’re little-known outside of their home state, but judging by the quality of this release that will not be the case for long. Said quality is evident not only in the overall sound, but the songwriting and performance as well. Special mention for the latter should go to lead guitarist Matt Williams, who shreds up a storm on this release but also manages to embellish the songs in a more tasteful manner where warranted - a poster-boy for the Guitar Hero generation, indeed. Also worthy of note is lead singer Daniel Randell’s delivery of powerful yet clean-sounding vocals, which lift the material out of the growly/shouty territory that this type of rock often dwells in. The punchy riffs and powerful vocals sit comfortably inside some very well-crafted songs, the gems amongst them being the furious opener Animal, the broody and atmospheric Four Rounds and the bombastic anthem The World Can’t Touch Me.

The band handle the quieter moments just as well, with the made-for-radio Wait A While and brooding ballad The Darkest Hour cases in point. With such a big stadium-like sound I can imagine these guys would tear up a storm on festival stages across the country. Fighterpilot have given themselves every chance of getting noticed by not only releasing a stunning debut in Silver Bullet… Plastic Gun, but also by offering the whole album as a free download, in what the press release claims is an Australian first. Check www.fighterpilot.net.au for details, and help yourself to a satisfying slice of guitar-heavy nitro-rock on the house… 9/10 Tom Kazansky