Review by Josh Felty
Rating: ****
In a previous review for the 80's hard rock throwback group Airbourne, I made mention of Ratt and the birth of MTV. There's no doubt that this group got off the ground running with "Round and Round" and a song from the John Hughes classic Weird Science in "Wanted Man". Now, here in 2010, we've been reminded of the sheer influence Ratt has doused upon the world with their latest, aptly titled Infestation.
Thankfully, and almost innocently (if that's possible to utter when discussing Pearcy and Company), Ratt still has that sound. The sound that more than likely fueled the futures of Motley Crue, Guns 'n Roses, and scores of other hair metal rockers far and wide.
"Best of Me" is just such a song: one that could potentially set off a thousand virtuosos to the hallowed ground of the Sunset Strip. An 80's power-rock revival, if you will. The riffs and sneering, biting harmonies and screeches are all there in full form. In a refreshing way, it's as though a portal to that time has been opened, spilling forth catchy diddies like "A Little Too Much" and the pounding "As Good As It Gets". What's more, it seems the boys have clutched onto that hard, driving sound in "Garden of Eden", a fight song if there ever was one.
Say what you want about 80's rock. As a child of that time, though I was more or less weaned on a mixture of Seattle grunge and late 80's rap, I cannot ignore the impressively moving factor behind that music. Sure, the styles look hokey nowadays and most of the videos are unbearable; but let's face it, there are just as many memorable and groundbreaking facets of that music movement that resound today. Besides, emo already looks retarded as hell, so let's stop whining.
I was most impressed by the layered guitar tracks, again very reminiscent of that 80's sound (I always think of Def Leppard when I hear that lush six-string tomfoolery) but with the super-compressed modern recording style. In short, test your speaker setup with this one...but stand back. Don't say I didn't warn you! Also of note is the Ratt debut of guitarist Carlos Cavazo of Quiet Riot fame. Great things all around, it seems.
If Ratt's out on the road this year in support of Infestation (as I'm sure they will be), then we may see a gradual comeback of the sound they helped usher in, usher out, and master after all these years. After all, if you're any kind of respectable musician or group, you play to your strengths and leave the snot-nosed, wristcutting naysayers kicking themselves in the teeth.