David Reece is no stranger to this webzine. Between his solo output and most recent album with Wicked Sensation, Outbreak, the ex-Accept singer’s music has crossed our radar on more than one occasion. However, one band of his I didn’t ever imagine reviewing new music from is Bangalore Choir. Originally formed in 1991, Bangalore Choir released a melodic hard rock classic in their debut album, On Target (1992). Like many releases of this era, it was one of those albums that would’ve sold 2 zillion copies had it come out 5 years earlier.
In the years since, Bangalore Choir has released new music and performed live sporadically, the latter mostly in Europe. Two enjoyable albums in Cadence (2010) and Metaphor (2012) came and went, before Reece returned to his solo career and pursued a stint with Bonfire. Fast forward 11 years later and holy smokes, Bangalore Choir lives! I’m not entirely sure who remains from the On Target days besides Reece. What I do know is for this latest incarnation, Reece has brought along new pal and former U.D.O. guitarist, Andy Susemihl. It was Susemihl who played a key role in Reece’s last two albums, Cacophony of Souls (2020) and Blacklist Utopia (2021), and does so here as well.
In the tradition of past Bangalore Choir releases, Center Mass keeps things carefree, upbeat, and rockin’ with 12 songs that channel the glory days of 80s hard rock. While there are some unabashedly metal moments like the muscular opener “Spirit Rider” or high speed rager “If the Good Die Young, Pt. 2”, Center Mass keeps things straightforward and streamlined, emphasizing hooks and melody above all. If David Coverdale’s fever dream of a Whitesnake incarnation sans himself ever comes to fruition, Reece is the man for the job. Besides sharing the same first name, his vocal delivery channels the retro grit and soul of Slide It In, which absolutely suits the songs.
Whether it be the poppy AOR of “Heat of the Night”, hedonistic radio rock of “Wind at My Back”, or Eat the Heat era Accept guts of “Back 2 U”, nearly every cut on here boasts that anthemic, larger than life quality, even down to the production. There’s seldom a moment throughout where I think, “This sounds modern.”, and in this case, that’s a GOOD thing. These elements all come together on my choice cut, “Back to Life”. This masterclass in infectious arena metal dares you to not singalong with its infectious chorus and tasty guitar lines. If you told me this was written during the On Target sessions, I’d believe it.
Amidst a sea of ripping traditional metal, pulverizing death, unforgiving thrash, and the usual bevy of heaviness that graces these virtual pages, Center Mass is a fitting palette cleanser. It’s heavy enough to get your blood pumping, but accessible enough to play in front of your Taylor Swift worshipping girlfriend, so it’s a win-win for everybody. Now if only Bangalore Choir had the fortune of grossing $10 million dollars a night. *sigh* The world’s an unfair place!
7 out of 10
Label: Global Rock Records
Genre: Hard Rock
For fans of: Whitesnake, Dokken, Kingdom Come