Cadence

Review

  
REVIEWER: RAYMOND "EVERYBODY LOVES RAY" COONEN 

One of the earliest lessons in life you learn is “never judge a book by his cover”. Well in the land of rock n’ roll, we change that into “never judge an album on his cover”… or name (see my Kens Dojo review). When I received Bangalore Choir's new album "Cadence" and laid my eyes on the cover, I thought it was a doom, black metal band! That’s not my thing, so I gave it not much attention and placed the CD last in the pile of albums I had to review. But this week I was surfing on the internet and the name Bangalore Choir popped up. So I listen to their debut - and till now the only - album "On Target" which has a great cover… !! On this underrated debut album are some great melodic, hard rock songs like "Like Do The Dance" (written by Jon Bon Jovi and Aldo Nova) and "Angel In Black" (written by Autograph’s Steve Plunkett). So I searched in the stack of albums and placed Bangalore Choir’s Cadence into my cd-player after all. 

I was pleasant surprised when the first notes bursted out of the speakers. Bangalore Choir makes straight, no nonsense (melodic) hard rock. The voice of original and founding member David Reece (singer from Gypsy Rose since 2007) didn't change since their debut in 1992. The vocalist is together with guitarist Curt Michell the only original member of Bangalore Choir. However they found great replacements for the open places. Dutch drummer Hans in‘t Zandt (Coopers Inc.) is for me the familiar one and guitarist Andy Susmihl (you may know from U.D.O.) even produced the album.

The album "Cadence" is as I told from the first till the last note pure hard rock. Bangalore Choir is one of those bands (like Shakra and Bai Bang for example) what produces a constant stream of quality hard rock songs. Just listen to the opener "Power Trippin’", "Tomorrow" and "Heart Attack & Vine". These are heavier powerful songs with big choruses, great riffs and excellent hooks. But on such solid album you have always some songs that stand out more positive than the other. My favorites on this album are the melodic "Martyr", "Living Your Dreams Everyday" and "Surrender All Your Love".

 When I gave the album another spin it turns out that "Cadence" is an album that sounds really great. And is what I think it is the perfect second start for this (original) American band. For those who like to see Bangalore Choir to play these tunes live, they will perform this October on the H.E.A.T. festival and are on tour in Europe later this year.

Band:
David Reece - lead vocals and harmonies
Curt Mitchell - guitar
Andy Susemihl - guitar, bass and vocal harmonies
Danny Greenberg - bass
Hans in't Zandt - drums

Additional Musicians:
Martin Kronlund - guitar solo (track 11)
Christian Tolle - guitar solo (track 12)
Chris Voysey - guitar solo (track 14)
Thommy Bloch - vocal harmonies

Produced and mixed by Andy Susemihl