Stephen Cold Sweat is probably a major surprise to me when I first heard them years ago. Their only album, "Break Out", is released in 1990, the year where so many average bands are competing in the market, but fortunately, Marc Ferrari and the gang gave me a relief by putting out an extra-ordinary classy album. Almost everything here are applauding, from the gritty superior voice of Rory Cathey, the mind-boggling songs composition, the killer shreds of Ferrari and Gamans, and the balance variety of musical style.

"Four On The Floor" opens big with an uptempo cracking rhythm, a great verse, and a wonderful chorus. "Cryin' Shame" displayed a bluesy attempt of the band, a good one. "Waiting In Vain" is the mandatory ballad but this one is truly beautiful. "Take This Heart of Mine" and "Let's Make Love Tonight" are both sparkling commercial gem with punchy and sing-along chorus. Cold Sweat also explored to the melodic heavy metal territory, just like the old days of Keel and Dokken, and it's portrayed in the tracks "Riviera / Long Way Down", "Firstful of Money", and "Jump The Gun".

Packed with a versatile and tight playing of the band, I guess Cold Sweat is totally underrated and they deserved a much better appraisal than this. If you're a big fan of glam, I don't think you should miss this, and if you're a fan of traditional heavy metal, I’m still pretty sure the band does have a lot to offer. A superb release!