Bangalore Choir/Accept/Gypsy Rose vocalist's first solo album.

David Reece is the voice of such well-regarded acts as Bangalore Choir (new album on it’s way soon), Sircle Of Silence, Dare Force, Accept and Gypsy Rose. Yet even with all these great acts under his belt, this surprisingly is his first solo album. It’s as David himself has said, the musical expression of his journey through life and the experiences that shaped him. With ‘Universal Language’ David has gone for a big bluesy, ballsy sound that suits his powerful voice, think Whitesnake mixed with Bangalore Choir and you can imagine for yourselves just how good this album sounds. Hats off also to producer and Reece lead guitarist Andy Susemihl (ex-U.D.O), whose hard work in the production booth has really paid off on this album.

The songs themselves are all filled with big guitars, drums and bass and that wonderful room filling roar of Mr. Reece, just check out ‘Flying Close To The Flame’ which is an all out rocker with a fantastic chorus and guitar solo, or ‘Fantasy Man’, a cool melodic rocker and probably David’s best vocal on the album, ‘The River’ is a track that reminds me of Warrant (very ‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin’), though I personally would check out the last four songs first because David saves the best for last. ‘We Were Alive’, ‘Flesh And Blood’, ‘Queen Of My Dreams’ and ‘Yellow’ are all classy slices of melodic hard rock, songs that have big hooks and rock like nobody’s business, they also stay with you long after they have finished playing and make you want to go back and play them over and over again, great stuff.

This may be Mr. David Reeces’ first solo album but on this showing it surely won’t be his last. A rock (sorry) solid album that hasn’t a filler in sight and with all the other projects David and friends are involved in, the man can only go from strength to strength. (Thanks to Mike Exley who helped out with the AOR/Metal Heaven reviews)

Ian Johnson