Saylor and Jon Dewsbury have again done a credible job.

It's only a few months since former Push UK vocalist David A. Saylor released his impressive 'Kiss Of Judas' disc, but he's back already with a full eleven track affair that continues in the same smooth AOR vein. Saylor again covers the lion's share of the playing, with just backing vocalists and a few guitar soloists to augment his classy songs, which run the gamut from lively Rockers to the smoothest West Coast grooves.

At times some of 'Strength Of One' is a little harder-edged than I was expecting, opener 'Welcome To The Show', the Bluesy 'My Heart Ain't Feeling Nothing' and the gritty 'Beaten Black & Blue' all being guitar-based and almost totally lacking in those tasteful keyboard fills that ran through his last album.

Occasionally his voice seems a little earthier too, but fear not, the gentle West Coast style is evident on the memorable 'Now You're Leaving', the Toto-esque shuffle of 'It Must Be Love', the slowly building 'Don't Say Goodbye' and the excellent 'Falling Star', the latter with guest vocals from Gabrielle De Val Koenzen and sumptuous guitar solos from Alfonso Samos, both of Spanish AOR stars The Val.

Highlights this time out include 'Flying High'; a great upbeat tune with the fine melodic guitar of David Mark Pearce, the keyboard-heavy Rocker 'Caught In The Middle', and a tribute to the sadly departed and greatly underrated guitarist and song-writer for Shy, Steve Harris. 'Why Does Our Love Have To End' is an old Shy song that eventually surfaced on the 1999 demo collection 'Let The Hammer Fall', so hats off to Saylor for reminding us of this forgotten gem.

Whilst lacking the power and clarity of the genre's big name producers, American import Saylor and Jon Dewsbury have again done a credible job. It won't get the big promo push of the bigger names still making notable Melodic Rock albums, but that doesn't mean it's any less worthy of your attention.

Phil Ashcroft