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Hair Metal Happy Hour

RATT ARE INFESTING MY EARS IN A SERIOUS WAY WITH NEW ALBUM

 Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 at 9:13am by

ratt - infestationExactly two people will be really psyched to know that MetalGF and I celebrated Ratturday in full force this past weekend whilst riding in the Vincemobile, a ravishing 1988 Honda Accord (for full mood effect… yeah… that’s the reason for the shitty car…). The rest of you should join in on the party. It’s really easy; just listen to Ratt on Saturday!

Unfortunately we had to make do with Ratt’s greatest hits collection 8191. Not that that’s so bad or anything but ya know, “Round and Round,” been there done that. What I really wanted was to listen to Ratt’s latest masterpiece Infestation which the kind folks at Roadrunner Records have bestowed upon me as a stream I need to sit in front of my computer to listen to. I’ve been tweeting about Infestation for the past couple of weeks, but please allow me to reiterate for the non-Twitterati:

Ratt’s new album is easily the best release by a hair metal band in the past 15 years!


Why 15 years? I don’t know… seemed like a good number… and Subhuman Race came out that year so I’m covered. But seriously: this album is THAT GOOD! Longtime readers of this site should know full well that Axl’s and my love of hair metal is completely unironic; when we say we love something it’s not in a “funny funny ha ha” kind of way… we really love it. Infestation just delivers the goods; tasty DeMartini licks, Pearcy in top form, and most importantly good songs. Where most bands whose prime has long since passed try but fail to recreate the magic of their glory days, Ratt have actually done it.

I wish I could share the album with all of you to prove my point but I don’t think Ratt would like that very much. Instead you’ll just have take my word for it and wait until the April 20th release date while listening to lead single “Best of Me” in the meantime and imagining that the rest of the record is just as good.

-VN

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  • IWRESTLEDYOURMOMONCE

    Very much looking forward to this.

  • Deth

    I’ve always lthought the lingerers of hair metal were those who failed to recognize that metal did move on after 1990. However, a friend recently proved me wrong (long story, won’t go into it here). These bands that are still around actually pay homage to a genre that, for 30-something metal heads like me, was probably the catalyst that got you into the extreme style you listen to now. For that, I’m eternally grateful that the genre is (for the most part) receiving some sort of serious recognition of the contribution these bands made.

    Now, having said that, do I think a band that’s still playing hair metal will be good? I can’t say. Def Leppard and Stryper both have disappointing, recent releases. But music does come full circle and we’d be due to have some hair make a comeback. I haven’t listened to Ratt in 20 years (but still have their early stuff…on disc nonetheless, not just cassette) and I’d be surprised if they still have it. I’ll keep an open mind and check this out when it’s released.

  • black_polaris237

    Ill give it a listen if you say its that good Vince. It trust ya

  • Kuranes

    I loved this band back in ’84 when I was but a wee lad. The new single sounds pretty good.

  • JB

    Good call on Subhuman Race, that album is fuckin awesome!

  • Discipleofthewatch

    My metalhead boyfriend, who is older than I am, loves the eighties hair metal – among many other kinds of metal- because he went to all the shows back then. I have listened to many of these bands, and I enjoy them, because of his influence. I’m sure I wouldn’t have heard of Y&T except because of him. And I’m sure we’ll be checking out this new Ratt album.

  • http://music.msn.com/superfans/heavy-metal/blog pdf

    Not only is the new Ratt album great, but Stephen Pearcy’s solo disc from 2008 was surprisingly strong. I recommend checking it out.

  • http://abegrand.pitas.com Adrien

    Yeah, this album is for real. It reminds me a lot of Dancing Undercover.

  • metalgf

    Four more days until Ratterday comes again.

  • Jewers

    You say bands I grew up on like Linkin Park, and Creed that first introduced to me to rock then eventually heavy metal are awful without remorse. I do the same with Ratt. Ratt fucking suck dick.

  • kickoutthejamsman

    complete with 420 release date??? well i’m stoked.

  • large jockstrap

    :D
    can’t wait.

  • Jeff

    These guys were one of my faves back in the day. Can’t wait for the new stuff and hopfully tour to come