Tag: Carlos Cavazo
3 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
2 New Video – RATT – Best of Me
1 BIG NOIZE FORCED TO CANCEL SOUTH AMERICAN TOUR
Supergroup Big Noize, featuring vocalist Joe Lynn Turner (DEEP PURPLE, RAINBOW, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN), bassist Phil Soussan (OZZY OSBOURNE, VINCE NEIL), guitarist Carlos Cavazo (QUIET RIOT, RATT) and drummer Simon Wright (AC/DC, Dio) has been forced to cancel their South American tour this month.
On December 4, 2008 Big Noize and booking agent Sullivan Bigg released the following statement:
Although there were several promoters involved, all of them were in breach of contract by failing to make arrangements and provide the funding as agreed, despite repeated requests from band management and agent. Big Noize waited to cancel until “the last minute” in good faith that flight/hotel arrangements and funding would show up. As of today, neither flight/hotel arrangements or funding has been sent to band management nor their agent. The members of Big Noize were looking forward to playing to fans on this tour. The band, management and booking agent are all sad and disappointed that this has happened but they are looking forward to an opportunity in the future to reschedule a tour to South America with more reputable promoters.
1 Carlos Cavazo at Rock The Bayou
Quiet Riot’s former axeman, Carlos Cavazo will be joining RATT as of August 27th. More importantly, he will be with the band, when RATT takes the stage in front of thousands of people at Rock The Bayou!
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Bret Michaels will begin filming Rock of Love 3 at Rock the Bayou!
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Rock the Bayou Motorbike Ride – Courtesy of Stubbs Harley Davidson and Republic Harley Davidson
Houston’s own Stubbs Harley Davidson and Republic Harley Davidson are revved up for Rock The Bayou! On Saturday, August 30, 2008, Republic Harley Davidson and Stubbs Harley Davidson invite you to ride in style to Rock The Bayou. Hop on your hog, head out to either of the participating Harley Davidson locations in Houston, Texas (see locations and meet/ride-out times below), and get ready to ride.
Republic Harley Davidson
Meet @ 12 p.m.
Ride Out @ 1:30 p.m.
Address:
12707 Southwest Freeway
Stafford, TX 77477
281-295-1000
Stubbs Harley Davidson
Meet @ 1 p.m.
Ride Out @ 3 p.m.
Address:
4400 Telephone Road
Houston, TX 77087
713-644-7535
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The Meridian is hosting Rock the Bayou pre and after parties on the 28th through the 1st.
Bands playing at the parties include Dirty Penny, Cockpit, John Corabi, Jani Lane and more.
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Need tickets for Rock the Bayou? You can get your tickets by clicking on the Rock the Bayou ad in the sidebar to the right. ——>
0 The Carlos Cavazo / RATT Rumors are False!
It was reported on several sites last week that Jon Corabi quit RATT, and Carlos Cavazo has taken his place as the rhythm guitar player of RATT.
RATT played at the Annie’s Entertainment Center in Cincinnati, Ohio on Thursday night (Concert Review coming soon) and John Corabi was still very much a vital member of RATT in this concert. He played rhythm guitar and sang back up to Stephen Pearcy.
During the concert, he didn’t look all that happy to be there, and didn’t seem to share in the energy that the rest of the band had, but he was still there.
RATT has a few more live dates in 2008, before Stephen Pearcy embarks on his solo tour in support of his new solo CD, Under My Skin.
It will be interesting to see what happens in the RATT camp once this tour concludes.
4 Did John Corabi Quit Ratt?
Rumor has it that the former Motley Crue front man, John Corabi has left RATT, and former Quiet Riot guitarist, Carlos Cavazo has joined the band. There has been no official word from the RATT camp yet!
Stay Tuned!
1 3 Legged Dogg – Frozen Summer (Release Year – 2006)
Carlos Cavazo returned in 2006 in a heavy metal, supergroup called 3 Legged Dogg.
This band features the talent of Vinny Appice (Black Sabbath) on drums, Jimmy Bain (DIO) on bass, Chaz West (Bonham) on vocals and Brian Young (David Lee Roth) on guitars. This disc also features 4 tracks produced by former Dokken bass player Jeff Pilson.
Frozen Summer may be short (only 8 songs, 33 minutes), but it does not lack punch. This may be some of the heaviest music you have ever heard Carlos Cavazo perform on to date. This music is riff and bass heavy. The Black Sabbath influence is very easy to pick up on. Chaz West sings his ass off. I don’t remember him sounding this good with Bonham.
XM41, the Boneyard broke out Frozen Summer a few months ago. I heard this track once, and started looking for this disc. This is a heavy track and very killer stuff!
The band recently released a video for Give and Take Away. I like this track more and more with every listen. The Sabbath style heaviness shows itself well on this track.
Rain on My Parade is a low tempo number where Chaz West’s voice really shines. You have to crank this one up to fully appreciate it.
One Good Reason is one of those excellent metal tracks that ignites your soul and makes you want to throw your fists in the air, with your mano cornuta’s extended for the world to see.
Wasted Life has a little bit of blues fused into the music with Chaz West playing the harmonica. No, this doesn’t sound like a Dave Matthews song. This is some classic metal fused with a little bit of blues. The end result is another whiplash-creating, head-banging tune.
The rhythm section of Appice and Bain really shine on the song, Long Way Back From Hell. This is a mid tempo number that really sounds great.
Man oh mercy, the music on Left for Dead is so good, it is crazy. There are great vocals by Chaz West, and the whole band sounds amazing.
Bring the Hammer Down is the only song on Frozen Summer that I couldn’t really get into.
With Frozen Summer you get quality over quantity. I am a big Black Sabbath fan, and I loved hearing the Sabbath influence in these tunes. I can only hope that these guys get together and do a longer disc at some time in the future. 3 Legged Dogg’s debut totally rocks, and has only left me wanting more. For more info on 3 Legged Dogg, check out the band’s myspace page here.
Rating: 
Out of 10
Track Listing:
1. Frozen Summer
2. Give and Take Away
3. Rain on My Parade
4. One Good Reason
5. Wasted Life
6. Long Way Back from Hell
7. Left for Dead
8. Bring the Hammer Down
3 Legged Dogg is:
Chaz West – Vocals
Vinny Appice – Drums
Jimmy Bain – Bass
Carlos Cavazo – Guitars
