Once you establish that Rifleman is the solo project from Richie 'DW' Norton, one of the main creative forces behind heavy hitters Superheist and Walk The Earth, a pre-conception of what Silver & Gold might sound like may come to mind.
Well, dismiss those ideas from your mind, for Silver & Gold is absolutely its own beast.
In fact, Norton has taken great pains to distance himself from his main acts on this record, pursuing a more blues-based rock direction that pays easy homage to some of his obvious Aussie rock favourites of the 1980s. As if in celebration of this, just three tracks in we get a fabulous cover of the all-time INXS classic Don't Change.
Elsewhere, the original tunes Norton has come up with wash over the listener like a sweetly flowing tide, finding a unique balance between a moody and melancholy vibe while still managing to be uplifting at the same time. It shouldn't work, but it does. This is highlighted to best effect during the mid-album sequence of the up-tempo The Last Love Song leading into the very downbeat title track, which is solemn in tone but never depressing.
If fans of Norton's work go into this with open ears and an open mind, they will find much to like on Silver & Gold.
