Hypersonic Missiles

Sam Fender - Hypersonic Missiles
Critic Score
Based on 14 reviews
2019 Ratings: #92 / 805
User Score
Based on 428 ratings
2019 Rank: #178
Liked by 48 people
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CRITIC REVIEWS

100
Dork
'Hypersonic Missiles' confirms Sam Fender as a truly rare talent.
90
Gigwise

Hypersonic Missiles isn’t just a collection of songs from a talented young man, it’s an education for anyone who wants to know the confusing reality of life in Great Britain in 2019 when you haven’t been handed everything on a plate.

85
The Line of Best Fit
This is a debut album that cements Fender’s place at the golden table: the perfect first attempt.
80
AllMusic

Taken altogether, Hypersonic Missiles is smart, passionate, and loaded with rock-solid anthems that surpass the "promising" designation.

80
NME
‘Hypersonic Missiles’ mostly hits the notes he longs to convey: it’s by turns euphoric and melancholy, self-deprecating and righteous, untethered and claustrophobic. There are no easy answers here, but Sam Fender’s asking the right questions.
80
The Skinny
Mostly, though, this is everything a debut should be: fascinating, confused and a little bit terrified.
80
Clash
‘Hypersonic Missiles’ is packed with high octane hits, all of which translate into an impeccable record. Sam Fender’s debut is brave, confident and evocative.
80
The Guardian
It feels like something mainstream rock music hasn’t dished up in a long time: an album that sounds not just like a hit, but a loud announcement of a striking talent with the space and potential to mature and develop. Which might make it a perfect debut after all.
80
The Independent
He has Springsteen’s rousing holler, and the early indications of someone who could be the voice of a generation – not because he wants to be, but because he sees things and understands.
80
The Telegraph
Fender is young enough to be immersed in the life he documents, not writing at a nostalgic remove. When he rises to longing high notes on weekend anthem Saturday, you can really feel him straining at the leash. I think Springsteen would approve.
80
Louder Than War

Hypersonic Missiles gives the impression of being the first, highly-impressive step in what promises to be a long career for Fender, but just as importantly, the album’s breakthrough success will hopefully shine a spotlight on a local music scene ripe for exploration.

80
Q Magazine
With Fender's vocals soaring over skyscraper guitars and choruses that accelerate into a surging, full-throttle blast, it's hard not to imagine the stadium potential of these songs. There's a power in their marriage of beauty and disgruntlement, towering moments that recall '80s U2 or Simple Minds.
80
Evening Standard
Once he broadens his musical horizons and steps out from under his influences, he’ll really be going places
61
Pitchfork

Though the upstart British songwriter is a capable storyteller when he zeroes on a single topic, his debut is only intermittently transcendent.

JacksonLerner
74

after gradually getting used to sam fender’s distinguished style, one realizes his true talent.

he’s got a soulful wit that shows in his songwriting and performances.
the production, as well, is sharp

jlebon
76

I love Hypersonic Missiles and understand why it's the biggest song to come off of this album but 'The Borders', 'Dead Boys' and 'Will We Talk?' are all clear for me

prets
66

will we talk?

Asrathequeen
100

This album is fantastic in what it's saying and how it musically conveys that, just also honestly my favourite album lol

75

an amazing talent and definitely has some songs i will continue to come back to, i think this is an album that grows the more you listen to it

emily2004
75

revisited this album today after years of listening to it damnnn it’s so good.

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Added on: April 16, 2019