XYZ - Forbidden Demos 1985/1991

Posted: 4/20/06

Reviewed by: Dirt

Category: Hard Rock

Released: 2005

Label URL: www.xyzmusic.com

Artist URL: www.xyzmusic.com

I fell in love with XYZ when I first saw the band's "Inside Out" video on MTV's Headbanger's Ball way back in 1989.  The band's self-titled debut found a nice balance between rockers and ballads, and lead singer Terry Ilous was clearly something special.  His range and emotion have put him at the top of the rock singer heap.  Although I never caught the band in their heydey, I did have the rare opportunity to see Terry with a revamped lineup in a club a year or so ago and thoroughly enjoyed hearing the band's classic material.

Forbidden Demos 1985/1991 comes from Ilous' archives and was apparently released because the band's former guitarist, Bobby Pieper (who had been with the band prior to their debut), released Rainy Days, a cd of XYZ demos that Ilous has said is unauthorized.  Forbidden Demos is a collection of alternate/demo versions of previously released tracks ("Inside Out," "Follow The Night," "Souvenirs," "After The Rain"), as well as songs that weren't released on XYZ's three previous cd's.  All the songs have been remastered to boost the sound quality of the demos, and this really ads to the enjoyment of the songs.  The previously unreleased material fits in nicely with the band's debut and sophomore effort, Hungry.

Highlights of those tracks include:

• "High Life" - there are two versions of this songs on Forbidden Demos - one with Bobby Pieper and the other with the guitarist that fans are better acquainted with, Marc Diglio.  The song is a scorcher but the version with Marc is the better of the two, as there the keyboards are dropped on this version, and Marc's guitar is more prominent.  Terry's vocals just rip!  Fans of the heavier XYZ songs will love this song!

• "Seventeen" - a great shout-along with some foot-stomping drumming and the shred-em-up guitar work of Diglio.

• "Made For Love" - a bouncy rocker with a great sing-along chorus.  The keyboards are very 80s and stick out a bit, but the chuggah-chuggah guitar rhythm balances it out.  Terry's voice is kick ass on this as is expected!

• "Lonely Without You" - another song that shows just how great Terry's voice is.  It's interesting to hear the 80s keyboards on this track, as it's a sound that they band abandoned once they got signed.  Also, some female backing vocals appear, which are unexpected.  Pieper's guitar runs really shine here.

The Bloody Truth: Fans of XYZ will not be disappointed with this one.  Considering the fact that these songs are not full-blown productions, the quality is really impressive.  Also, the previously unreleased tracks are quite interesting to listen to - especially the prominent 80s keys that filled many of the songs.  I hope Terry Ilous digs into the vaults for some more stuff for a follow-up to this one.