There was a piece in the UK press the other day that I know Benny is going to comment on in our October editorial. The article in question was in The Metro by Robert Oliver that proclaimed the Oasis reunion was proving a crisis in British rock. The crisis represented, for The Metro, part of a larger malaise in rock and jazz in the UK whereby there were no new acts breaking through and no desire from a record-buying public for new music. I will let Benny answer the majority of that, but let me say that a brief check of the UK album charts today (15.09.24) sees David Gilmour at number 1, Oasis at 3, 4, and 5; Linkin Park at 8, Fleetward Mac at 17, Queen at 28 and Artic Monkeys at 29. As for new British rock, Oliver says he doesn’t want to mention “Blood Royal”—why not? I can’t resist pointing out the facts that rock music is alive and well. Download festival packs in the crowds every year and there are a wealth of bands building up new crowds.
Our attention today turns to a group of Swiss rockers who have gained a core of fans through tours with bands as diverse as Dead Daisies and German rockers Kissin’ Dynamite.
Fighter V are:
- Felix Commerell, synthesizer, keyboards (2019–present)
- Lucien Egloff, drums (2019–present)
- Emmo Acar, vocals (2021–present)
- Roman Stalder, bass (2021–present)
- Thomy Gunn, guitar (2022–present)
The press pack information on these guys reads: After their highly acclaimed debut album, “Fighter,” they are coming back stronger than ever. With international success on the released singles “Eye To Eye,” “Heart Of The Young,” and “Power” from the new album “Heart Of The Young,” the band promises top-notch melodic rock that will make hearts beat faster. With powerful guitar riffs, vibrant keyboard sounds, and distinctive vocals, the five passionate musicians take their fans on an unforgettable musical journey. The songs are filled with energy, emotion, and passion, showcasing the band’s growth. Teaming up with the award-winning producer and mastering engineer Thomas “Plec” Johansson, Fighter V has created a big production and exceptional sound with their second studio album that competes with the genre’s top acts. “Heart of the Young” is a must-have for all fans of Bon Jovi, Nestor, Gotthard, and Whitesnake. The album will be released on September 20, 2024, accompanied by an extensive European tour as a special guest of the legendary Axel Rudi Pell. This marks another milestone in the band’s rising career. With over 20 planned shows in the fall of 2024, the five guys will seize every opportunity to present their new songs to their fans. A tour full of unforgettable moments and musical highlights lies ahead.
My review:
The album has 13 tracks,
“Eye to Eye” is a statement of keyboards and guitars, unapologetic melodic rock; its Cinderella meets Kiss in their “Crazy Nights” era. This reminds me that rock music is fun, to be played on hot days in an open-topped car and with the volume up.
“Heart of the Young” comes next. I enjoyed the upbeat feel of the chorus; there is a sense of being back in the heady days of the eighties with all the enjoyment rock delivered in that era. I loved those big harmony vocals in the chorus.
“Run n’ Hide Away” has a pounding drum sound and a dance groove somewhere within. There is terrific energy and the whole band is having a blast.
“How Long?” slows the beat slightly for a Whitesnake feel. Emmo Acar is a vocalist in the David Coverdale tradition; the band used harmony backing singing to effect on this one as well. It’s commercial AOR-friendly rock.
“Speed Demon” almost belied the title at the start as it showcased a few southern-style chords and a very cool guitar intro before the drums slammed in. It’s one of the heavier tracks and I would imagine it would kill live. Instrumentally, it really shows what the band can do—its melodic power rock. I liked it.
“Bringing It Back” has some terrific keyboards and is a well-crafted song. Emmo Acar gets the emotion in his vocals and the drums anchor things really well. The chorus has a sing-along quality to it and around the three-minute mark, the guitars give the track a punch.
“Miracle Heart” opens with the drums kicking the song into life. It is a power ballad in feel, with the vocals expressing those emotions of love. What can I say? It is a confidently driven number and it draws from those classic sounds from the eighties metal era. It does a slight direction switch around the three-minute mark, allowing the guitars to hit a Whitesnake feel to close the track.
“Stepped on a Landmine” certainly slices through my speakers. It’s brash, confident rock and a big, big chorus that is full of harmony and good time rock n’roll. I liked the down riff that appears off and on, and the drums from Lucien Egloff again land on the mark.
“I’m There” is a total change of pace. It is a rock ballad, allowing Emmo Acar to show a different aspect of his vocal range. It has an uplifting style and fits comfortably into this part of the album.
“There’s no Limit” takes us back into the world of AOR; it’s got great radio appeal.
“Power” races off the starting line with those drums. It’s one of the heavier numbers on the album and has energy in spades; I’m out of breath just listening to it lol. It suddenly does some interesting guitar changes around the 2 minute mark and is a well-crafted track instrumentally.
“Radio Tokyo” (intro) is a 10-second bit of Japanese!
“Radio Tokyo” was the single and has the video that I place below. It really typifies the album: a band having a great time playing commercial and melodic rock in 2024 that leads heavily on those sounds from the eighties. I can see this doing very well indeed on commercial rock radio.
In summary, this album celebrates loud guitars and keyboard rock with melodic vocals. It took me back to “Turn on the Night” by Kiss and those eighties sounds that hit the airwaves and MTV at that time. It reminded me that rock is a load of fun. I’ve refused to use that term ‘hair metal’ up to this stage, but anyone who enjoyed that umbrella term for eighties rock with keyboards will love this. It’s a very well produced album; it showcases the band comfortable in their groove and producing quality commercial rock. Let those good times roll!
Standout tracks: “Radio Tokyo,” “Speed Demon,” and “Eye to Eye.”
As a finishing point, to keep us improving the magazine, we really do need your support, and if you can go to the “support us” button and buy us a coffee or follow us, it helps us feel appreciated and keep improving the magazine.
The bands website is here
You can stream their music from here
By Stevie Ritson
Fighter V Tour Dates
21.09.24 – Rocki Docki / Flums CH
06.10.24 – Zeche / Bochum DE
08.10.24 – Backstage / München DE
09.10.24 – Komplex / Zürich CH
10.10.24 – Milchwerk / Radolfzell DE
11.10.24 – Musikhalle / Markneukirchen DE
13.10.24 – Szene / Wien AT
14.10.24 – Barba Negra / Budapest HU
16.10.24 – Garage / Saarbrücken DE
18.10.24 – Eventzentrum / Geiselwind DE
19.10.24 – Hyde Park / Osnabrück DE
20.10.24 – Neue Stadthalle / Langen DE
21.10.24 – Huxleys / Berlin DE
22.10.24 – Fabrik / Hamburg DE
24.10.24 – Fryshuset Klubben / Stockholm SE
25.10.24 – Brewhouse / Goteborg SE
26.10.24 – Slagthuset / Malmö SE
28.10.24 – Zeche / Bochum DE
29.11.24 – Konzerthaus Schüür / Luzern CH
10.01.25 – Musigburg / Aarburg CH
31.01.25 – Hardrock Lounge / Dielsdorf CH
02.02.25 – Huere Siech Festival / Liestal CH
01.03.25 – Böröm Pöm Pöm / Oberentfelden CH