XYZ are a late 80’s rock band originally from France but later relocated to LA. Originally, they only released two great albums, of which this is the second. They went out on tour to support with Foreigner and then, goodbye. In their short existence as a recording band they sure had a few members pass through, and (I think) the great Marc Diglio plays guitar on the album, although when playing live I think it was Tony Marcus.
Yup, this is another band where if they had been five years earlier they would have been huge. They had all the tunes and boy, could they play. The only song here that’s not their own is a cover of Free’s Fire And Water, and it’s the weakest track on the album. That’s not to say it’s a bad version, it’s not, it’s just all the originals are so good.
I play this album a lot and the CD is in the car right now. Favourite track? That’s a tough one…Face Down In The Gutter, Don’t Say No, When The Night Comes Down, Feels Good, Shake Down The Walls, and HH Boogie are all bonafide genre classics but I’m going for the full on double kick blast of The Sun Also Rises in Hell where Terry Ilous shows off his Ronnie Dio side and the guitar just rips.
Great record if you can find a copy, go get one.
9.5/10 from The Grooveman.