Review | Bangalore Choir – Rapid Fire Succession: On Target Part II

Braveword Records

Who remembers the first Bangalore Choir album ‘On Target’, originally released in 1992? After being sacked by Accept after the ‘Eat The Heat’ tour US vocalist David Reece went back home disappointed by the treatment he got from Accept. Settling in Los Angeles he started a new band called Bangalore Choir, got signed by the brand-new record label Giant and the future looked bright when the record got released. It was a hard-hitting typical US heavy rock record with strong vocals, blistering guitars and excellent high energy songs. What could go wrong except for a little musical intruder called grunge? Like so many other records and bands in those days the album drowned.

The band battled on and released throughout the years albums such as ‘Cadence’, ‘Metaphor’ and a few years ago ‘Center Mass’ saw the light of day, but they were more projects as a real band feel was no longer there and the original line-up had fallen apart. It was David Reece always at the helm but most of the time with different musicians. Obviously, Reece has done a lot of things such as singing in Bonfire, Sainted Sinners and more recently Iron Allies plus a whole bunch of solo-albums and projects. David in his Bonfire days had settled down in Italy where he still lives today.

SUCCESSOR

After some three decades David Reece has finally delivered a proper successor for that 1992 ‘On Target’ record (that was re-released some years ago and is still available). From the old gang that recorded that debut all those years ago nobody has participated (and most likely were not asked to do so). German guitarist/composer Andy Susemihl (who has worked on several projects with the singer), the guitarists Mario Perducani, Eric Juris, and Diego Pires plus drummer Nello Savinelli and bass player Riccardo Demarosi (both also present on Reece’s latest solo-album ‘Baptized By Fire’ that was released in 2024) are the guys that have helped David out. Signed to BraveWords Records all work has been done by the band members while David and label-owner Giles Lavery (also the singer of Warlord) have done the production.

TOUGH CHOICES

The writing sessions for this album with sixteen tracks have been successful. At the end there were some twenty-five songs available to choose from, so tough choices had to be made. Sixteen songs on an album these days is quite a lot. What happens sometimes is that there are also some fillers but in this case that has absolutely been avoided. The way this record has been set up, written, composed, recorded, and produced does have similarities with the 1992 ‘On Target’ album. This is vintage USA arena rock with scorching guitars, impressive singing, and a shitload of variety. This album rocks and rolls, but there is also plenty of room for melody, high energy big choruses, and a few ‘sophisticated’ ballads where David Reece showcases that he still is a force to be reckoned with.

,,I Never Meant To’’ and closer ,,Mending Fences’’ are top-class ballads and blend in beautifully with the more robust side of the album. I must say that the sequence of the songs on this album is cool. Softer emotions, hard rocking riffs, and Reece’s excellent singing are in total balance and the sound of the album is also great. It might not always sound super original as the record has an early nineties spirit that reminds you not only of that first album but also of bands such as Skid Row, Dokken and XYZ (in that vein). But I believe that that is exactly what the intention was when this album was being manufactured. A look back to that time but done in a more modern fashion.

BANGALORE CHOIR – THE CONCLUSION

Times have changed, but hearing ‘Rapid Fire Succession: On Target Part II’ with rock demons such as ,,Bullet Train’’, ,,How Does It Feel’’, the mid-tempo cracker ,,Love And War’’, ,,Prisoner’’ and ,,Rock Of Ages’’ brings back a desire/want for those days where bands such as Dokken, Skid Row etcetera were top of the bill. This album has made me smile from ear to ear and together with the Iron Allies album this is in my humble opinion the best David Reece has done in the last ten to fifteen years or so.

Release date: 24 October 2025