Ratt are another one of those big '80's bands that, having spent more than a decade in the wilderness (for most of which Love/Hate's Jizzy Pearl featured as lead vocalist), have managed to recreate the most successful period of their career with their new album.

In fact, I would go as far as saying that 'Infestation' sounds as though there has not been a gap of almost 20 years since the release of the band's last big album 'Detonator'- although the band did release a self-titled album in 1999, this did not really live up to fans expectations- something that is unlikely to happen this time around.

Featuring most of the band's classic line-up (only bassist Juan Croucier and late guitarist Robbin Crosby are missing and have been replaced by Robbie Crane and Quiet Riot's Carlos Cavazo respectively), and following the recent 25th anniversary of the release of debut album 'Out of The Cellar', 'Infestation' is a real fan pleaser of an album and, with Ratt's current resurgence, should do well for the band.

Opening track 'Eat Me Up Alive' is a harder edged number that could easily have featured in Pearcy's post-Ratt project Arcade, whilst tracks such as 'Don't Let Go', 'Look Out Below', 'Lost Weekend' and 'Last Call' are classic Ratt.

Then there is the one slower track on the album 'Take Me Home' or the superb single 'Best Of Me'. The old cliché of 'all killer, no filler' comes to mind when listening to 'Infestation'- there is not a weak track amongst the 11 on offer.

The band are playing in the UK in June.

*****

Review by Nikk Gunns

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