This new trend of mixing melodic rock with contemporary arrangements has proved a successful marketing vehicle in the last couple of years, especially since Nickelback's success.

Not restricted to the Artenzia label, MFN signings X is loaded impressed from the green light with a sound that while stays to the style, offers vague traces of AOR giants Harem Scarem and Von Groove's most recent material.

While only two of the six tracks are here in their fully durations, the minute-long excerpts of the other four maintain the already surprisingly high standard, and I should look forward to hearing that album when it arrives for more of the same. Very promising.

8/10

By Dave Attrill

A band you may or may not remember from the early 90's who were of those who were part of the big hair days before the scene went t*ts up thanks to Grunge.

There's plenty of hard rock (like the title track, 'Letter to God') and a love for the 70's stompin' of Led Zeppelin (such as 'Rainy days' with it's Kashmir influence). The vocals from Terry Ilous are even Percyfied at times - they really do hold that atmospheric Robert Plant-like high, throaty wails not to mention the fully bloomed sh*t kickin' well-structured songs to add the golden coated icing to the cake (with good examples being 'What's on your mind' and 'United') making the best of old fit in with the best of 'em in this new millennium.

It's nice 'n' mixed and this album presents both electric and acoustic material banded together having that feel of artists like Skin (the band that featured Mike Gray ex-Jagged Edge) and the excellent but vanished without trace 'Kiss of the Gypsy' - oh and a tad bit of The Little Angels - check 'Inside Out (2003)' for a stab at this!!

Good to see XYZ back and are ready to tour soon.

9/10

By Glenn Milligan, BA Hons CS