The story of this project centres around the partnership of David Reece (Accept, Bangalore Choir) and Martin Kronlund (Gypsy Rose) when David Reece subsequently is asked to join Gypsy Rose (from Sweden – not the Canadian band that recorded ‘Prey’ in 1990 on Simmons Records) as their new vocalist. Many of you would know David Reece, but Martin Kronlund on guitars and bass, certainly to me, is an unknown entity. The interesting thing I find about this album as I am reading through the promotional material is that Reece actually consulted a lyricist (Jon Wilde) to share ideas and craft the storylines that you will hear on ‘Solid’ along with many collaborations on various tracks along the way.
Solid is what this album is, there is some powerful melodic rock with AOR undertones thoughtfully arranged into a comprehensive mature listening experience. In terms of the competition, think of Bonfire, Double Dealer, The Scorpions and even Bangalore Choir. ‘Samurai’ is crafted in such a way that you are immersed into the storyline powered by the backbone of its driving guitar sound. Any album in this genre would not be complete without its necessary ballads. Of course, as I would expect, these are effortless and Reece’s voice has a subtle warmth in this particular situation similar to that of David Coverdale, more so on ‘Could This Be Madness’, with bluesy guitars, keyboards/organ/string synths making further similes comparable, as is the key change.
Up-tempo rockers like ‘Animals and Cannibals’, and the opener ‘My Angel Wears White’ makes me realise that what I have come to expect from this genre manifests itself predominantly, that is, an effortless skill in arranging emotive hooks and the ability to make it sound genuine. But to the casual listener, you will not find a major difference to anything else out already in this wide spectrum of melodic hard rock. Reece does make a difference, I found that with his last release (‘Cadence’), something that did not work for Accept, works extremely well in this genre, where the music is written with a singer in mind with a sense of melody, harmony and the precise execution as delivered here. ‘The Dead Shall Walk the Earth’ is a heavy epic that brings this release to a close. Some of the power metal bands would find it hard to match a similar strength, it has the same balls to the wall (not an Accept pun, honest!) impact as Sinner, and even some of the heavier Hammerfall numbers. Strength is what is delivered and, ‘Solid’ is a perfect description of this album.
http://www.reeceworld.com
Paul Maddison
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