CD Review: Ratt - Infestation

I admit that I was never the biggest Ratt fan when the Glam/Hair Metal phase rocked the world in the mid to late 80's and early 90's. Their music always seemed a bit more trashy and less melodic than Cinderella, Warrant, White Lion, and the rest. Like every other fan of metal I do, however, own a copy of Out of the Cellar. There is more there to love besides "Round and Round," and all and all it is a solid album, but after that I only checked back in with Ratt to hear an occasional hit. "You're in Love," "Body Talk," and the killer "Way Cool Jr.," all come to mind but I never went nuts over an entire album.

All that ends now.

Infestation is almost here and it is one of, if not THE best album I have heard so far this year, and possibly the best thing Ratt has ever done. Warren DeMartini is an underrated guitarist and his talents are on showcase on nearly every track. From the classic Ratt sounds of the opener "Eat Me Up Alive," to the bluesy "Last Call," and my current favorite track, "Lost Weekend," there is never a dull moment. Lyrically "Infestation" is fairly typical if not somewhat mature for the genre but for some reason its a less silly and out of place this time around. Some of the solos could be a little louder and more in your face and the album art is dreadful but I doubt there will ever be Ratt album art that equals "Invasion of Your Privacy." If you have ever been a fan of metal and Glam/Hair Metal more specifically, you owe it to yourself to pick up "Infestation" when it comes out on the 20th of April.

Video of Warren DeMartin recording the solo for "Lost Weekend."