RATT – Infestation (2010)
Man oh Mercy! What is going on in the RATT Camp? RATT’s new album Infestation sounds like a return to 1987 when rock was fun, and this merry band of rodent rockers were amongst the biggest bands of the hair metal era. Infestation is easily RATT’s best album since 1985’s Invasion of Your Privacy.
I must admit that I didn’t have high hopes for this CD. My memory of RATT’s last album, their self titled effort from ’99, still lingers in my memory. Needless to say, I didn’t care for it very much. Luckily Infestation has quickly made me remember the RATT of old. Warren DeMartini’s blazing guitar solos are back, and are a pleasure to hear once more. Carlos Cavazo seems to do a pretty good job trading off licks with Warren. Stephen Pearcy’s vocals are on point. He hasn’t sounded this good in quite some time.
Any way you look at it, RATT has some renewed energy, and the songs on Infestation shine as a result. Chances are, you may have heard “Eat Me Up Alive”, and “Best of Me” (See video below), and if so, you already know that Infestation has two big hit worthy tunes to lead off the CD. The fun doesn’t end there. “Look Out Below” sounds like the cousin of “Way Cool Jr”. “Lost Weekend” kind of reminds me of “Lack of Communication”. This is a very catchy tune, that seems like it would have been better served with the name, “Rock Steady” instead.
DeMartini’s playing has always been awesome, and his bluesy licks on “Garden of Eden” are awesome. You need to listen to this one multiple times to fully appreciate his guitar work here. “Take A Big Bite” is a monster tune from RATT. The layered guitar riffs on this song are pretty incredible. This song is going to get a lot of play from me.
‘Take Me Home” is the slowest song on Infestation, and one of the only ones that has keyboards. Thankfully, this song does NOT fall into the power ballad trap, and is a very solid tune. I probably would have mixed this song more towards the middle of the album to break up the pace a little bit more, but it works nonetheless.
The Bottom Line: Infestation is a return to form for RATT. The band has returned to their classic sound, and have ripped out another great album, that is easily one of their best. If you have ever been a fan of the band, you owe it to yourself to go out and pick this disc up as soon as possible. Infestation rocks!!
Rating: 
Out of 10
Track Listing:
1. Eat Me Up Alive
2. Best Of Me
3. A Little Too Much
4. Look Out Below
5. Last Call
6. Lost Weekend
7. As Good As It Gets
8. Garden Of Eden
9. Take A Big Bite
10. Take Me Home
11. Don’t Let Go
RATT is:
Stephen Pearcy – Lead Vocals
Warren DeMartini – Guitar and Vocals
Carlos Cavazo – Guitar and Vocals
Robbie Crane – Bass
Bobby Blotzer – Drums
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Ratt n roll oh yeah
Yep, this is a truly great record. I wish blotzer would have used real drums instead of drum triggers, but that’s a very minor point.
My favorite song on “Infestation” is “As Good As It Gets”… man, that is one heck of a solid chunk of RATT ‘N’ ROLL!! I’m into this new RATT album, very much so. Your right on in comparing this album to a more “fun” 1987.
Stone