8/10

They say that with great pain comes great art, and Sam Fender sure knows what that means. After being diagnosed with a potentially life-threatening illness at the age of 20, the frontman began to see the world very differently and started writing songs that best reflected his turmoil without giving a second thought to whether anyone else would enjoy them or not. Thankfully Sam Fender recovered from his illness but he now has a new lens in which to write his music, one that cares less about looking outwards and instead focused solely on himself. This has been the uncompromising mantra behind his long-awaited debut album 'Hypersonic Missiles', a record that best represents the singer and songwriter as an individual rather than someone just looking for public approval.

From the start, 'Hypersonic Missiles' looks to make a bold impression. With its notably Springsteen influence, best heard on the singles 'The Borders' and title-track, this new release sees itself as a blend of nostalgic influences as well as something far more contemporary. Much like many artists working today, Fender has looked towards the 80s era for his progressive sound, all the while giving us something fresh and euphoric throughout. Fans of bands like The War On Drugs will find themselves totally immersed in this new collection as the frontman looks to put everything he has into each of these songs, creating a captivating and engaging collection as it plays.

There is usually a level of cynicism that comes with an enormously hyped new artist not delivering the goods when the time comes, but for Sam Fender, 'Hypersonic Missiles' is totally deserving of the hype. A bold and enticing new record that sets him up as one of the most exciting new artists of the moment.