David Reece should need no introduction. He became known after metal legends Accept hired him in 1988 and recorded Eat The Heat album in 1989. He was fired shortly afterwards due to the commercial failure the album had and the cancellation of the complete tour of the elderly band. He then led Bangalore Choir for the semi-popular (and only up to this day) debut titles “On target”. With circumstantial appearances in bands like Dare Force, Sacred Child (almost), Lillian Axe and more recently Circle Of Silence, Stream and Gypsy Rose, David recorded a solo album in 2009 together with Andy Susemihl (U.D.O.) Stefan Schwarzmann (U.D.O. / Accept) and Jochen Fünders (Holy Moses). That’s for the history. 

Within a chaos of re-activations during these past few years, Bangalore Choir return to the front page with a new contract (AOR Heaven) and a fresh CD titled “Cadence” (cleverly titled by the way). The Bangalore Choir in 2010 consist of 40% the “On Target” lineup and having already been booked for the 2010 Firefest, (next October in Nottingham, UK), are looking for…what? A second chance? Some of their past glory? A bone thrown within the libido that comes along with a reunion? And, in the end, does the music make any sense or are we wasting our time?  

The CD cover is pretty dark and mysterious for their standards and this assessment made me somehow skeptical however more curious of what’s inside. The band logo is also retouched to a more metallic shape…maybe we’ll find some heavy stuff coming out of nowhere twenty years later? 

Well, if “On Target” of 1991 was a whole lot of American Hard Rock with a pinch of heavy Metal, “Cadence” (and don’t forget the graphic semeiology of the title) is a little bit stronger but not necessarily more Metal. It has the straightforward parts in close relativity to more melodic moments. The guitars are loud here and there while the solos are sweeter than honey when things get mellow. Reece’s voice is easily adjustable, he is a chameleon, this is no secret, and the harshness changes turns with melody in an equilibrium and in a seductive manner. I guess that the voice is the key instrument here, since the songs are not that special. Not that the listener will turn his head in disgust or that anything in here is poorly performed, but it will fail to excite (However I really dig “Survival Of The Fittest” with its vintage ambience).

“Cadence” is more versatile than “On Target” but it doesn’t show the spirit and freshness of its predecessor (which, between us, is far from monumental). If the 1st Bangalore Choir LP did not move you, “Cadence” will surely fall short too. A reunion that produced a so and so album, is it good news? If so, go on and put your money on it. If not, move along. 

P.S. The band took its name from a specific model of a mine. Hence the appearance of a phallic symbol on their debut’s concept.