In the 11 years since Ratt‘s last (and quite poor) album, the band has had several up’s and down’s. Lead singer Steven Pearcy has been in and out with Jizzy Pearl taking his seat in his absence(s), a few guitarists have attempted to take Robbin Crosby’s place (may he rest in peace) including ex-Motley Crue singer John Corabi, and the band has waffled through tours and reunion rumors to little fanfare. So, when news came that that they were again going to go into the studio for a new album, and that Steven Pearcy has returned once again, even the crickets yawned. But they had no idea, and neither did I, what was about to hit them.

Infestation sees a renewed Ratt line-up including Pearcy, original members Bobby Blotzer (drums) and Warren DeMartini (guitar), long-time bassist Robbie Crane and the newly tapped Carlos Cavazo (Quiet Riot) taking the second guitar position delivering some of the best music of the band’s long career. Seriously, I had no idea that the album would be this good. Now, it could be that I was expecting it to be so bad that anything above “OK” sounds awesome, but I have spun this album a couple dozen times now and it hasn’t waned.

Opening cut “Eat Me Up Alive” sounds like classic Judas Priest (minus Halford’s wail) with his chopping riff and headbanging tempo. Initial single “Best Of Me” has a fantastic chorus hook remniscent of the band’s later albums like Detonator and Reach For The Sky. Other tracks like “A Little Too Much”, “Look Out Below”, “Lost Weekend” and “Don’t Let Go” sound like vintage Ratt…any of these songs could have been on the follow up to Invasion Of Your Privacy. Others like “As Good As It Gets”, “Garden Of Eden” & “Take A Big Bite” find the Ratt boys updating a tiny bit, but absolutely not in a ‘Ratt-trying-to-be-Nickelback’ way. The guitar work is energetic and impressive (DeMartini & Cavazo…come on), the songs are refreshing and hard hitting and the overall vibe of the record is tried and true Ratt-N-Roll.

I never saw it coming, but Ratt have put out one of the best records of their career. It surpasses their later original run output and renders the ’99 album completely unmentionable. I doubt there is a Ratt fan alive that would not dig this record. It’s the sound of a band who knows who they are. It’s not “hair metal”, it’s not nostalgia, it’s not trendy…it just rocks. Get it.

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