Glam. Sleaze. Hair metal. Whatever you wish to call it, it's back. And it's going to be bigger than ever. With Download Festival donning(ton!) acts such as Cinderella and Aerosmith, the revival of the genre is in full swing.

Also on the bill for potentially the biggest year of the festival, Ratt. This is their new album, Infestation, and it's set to rock the summer.

With over ten years in the waiting, Ratt have needed that special something to give them that much deserved credit. This could be it.

Adapting more of a metal feel, rather than their previous bluesy attribute, Infestation has heavy guitars and loud, growling vocals. Somewhat different to older albums, they've managed to fulfill the promise of a modern sound and yet remain quintessentially, Ratt.

From the word go, (not literally. The first words are, naturally, "OH YEAH!") the heavy riffing and accustomed sleazy lyrics of Eat Me Up Alive set this album up for the eleven following mind-blowing tracks. Ratt are truly in their best form in over twenty years; and dare I say it, possibly the best form ever.

The album may lack 'classics' and the vocal is not the very best of the genre, but frontman Stephen Pearcy ensures that tracks such as Best of Me and Take A Big Bite become his own. Nobody else could "be" Ratt. Nobody could adapt these hard rocking songs the way that he does.

Ratt have really set themselves up for an incredible future, without losing their classic style. If they continue to make such music as this, we may hear a lot more of them.

Tracks to check out first:

Eat Me Up Alive
Best of Me
As Good As It Gets
Garden of Eden
Take a Big Bite

Bring The Noise Rating: 8/10

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Donington Park's annual festival in the incarnation 'Download' has just revealed a staggering twenty-two more bands to the line-up.

Headlined by classic favourites AC/DC and Aerosmith, the 2010 festival boasts one of most impressive lineups to date.

"In no particular order, they are: Coheed and Cambria, Airbourne, HIM, Dillinger Escape Plan, Cinderella, Steel Panther, We Are The Fallen, 36 Crazyfists, A Day To Remember, Whitechapel, Hell Yeah, The Blackout, Dommin, Taking Dawn, Job For A Cowboy, Saxon, RATT, Unearth, Lawnmower Deth, Rise To Remain, August Burns Red and Y&T."

Something for everyone!

For full details of the line-up and to purchase tickets, visit:
www.downloadfestival.co.uk

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Newcastle O2 Academy, not the biggest of venues and seldom visited by bigger artists; it's certainly a location to draw the crowds. Spacious floor, loud music, bars aplenty; it's a wonder why more artists are unwilling to venture into the North East of England's greatest place for live music.

Completely sold out, the floor is abundant with beings and all four bars are packed; the place flooded with sleazed up fans sporting wigs, leopard print, spandex and makeup; the crowd have gone the whole hog for this parodical glam foursome.

Racing on the stage (with much cheer from the congregation) and breaking into 'Eyes of A Panther,' the band begin their epic routine; Satchel and Lexxi back to back in a cliché 80s fashion. Realising that each member of the assembly is singing along to every single word, vocalist Michael Starr's face is full of simultaneous suprise and glee. There is no deficiency of onstage energy here.



Comedic they may be, but Steel Panther have no lack of musicianship. Blasting into 'Fat Girl (Thar She Blows)' the genuine talent of the guys begins to shine through their mock garb and paraphernalia. Fun and fast paced, the group have the diverse horde of fans frenzied; screaming; bouncing; riotous.

Steel Panther have much more to the show than their vivacious music. Each song broken by skits of crude humour; foul-mouthed references to fornication, lady-parts, and how appalling their stage crew are. Inviting girls into their spotlight is another of their antics; provoking the flashing of breasts to the masses.

Separating Steel Panther from every other parody band, Starr officially introduces Satchel, who continues to blare out a 'kick-ass' solo, of which the last lingering note transforms into the first of the truly awesome riffing of 'Turn Out The Lights.'

Incredible.

After more hilarity, such as encouraging the throng to chant 'P-U-S-S-Y' for 'We Want Pussy' (obviously), the troupe conclude with their classic 'Death To All But Metal,' followed by overwhelming covers of 'Shout At The Devil'(Motley Crue) 'Paradise City'(Guns and Roses) and 'Youth Gone Wild'(Skid Row), to the accompaniment of young, attractive ladies from the audience.

Combining droll banter with great showmanship, crowd interactivity and not forgetting genuine talent, Steel Panther are one of the finest acts to hit the Academy since it's opening in 2005.

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As we revert back to the fashions of the Eighties, more bands are beginning to reissue their older albums to fit this latest trend. And as Skid Row are to headline Hard Rock Hell, their favourite support group, Vain, are welcoming sales of their 1991 album 'All Those Strangers.'

In recent years, Vain's '91 unreleased project has been on sale at gigs, available on the group leader, Davy Vain's own label 'Jackie Rainbow Records'. With recent tour success, the major companies want in, and the record finally gets the treatment it has so longingly deserved.

Vain may have never been a household name, but have acquired a large cult following amongst sleaze fans over their twenty year career. And while 'All Those Strangers' may not become the "instant classic" like that of their debut 'No Respect,' it's certainly more consistent and just as (if not more) fun to listen to.

With tracks such as 'Shooting Star' and 'Love Drug,' you may just find yourself singing into that hairbrush between back-combs. Androgynous vocals and hard rocking guitar from start to finish, 'All Those Strangers' could be the start of something beautiful for Vain.

Grab your copies now, available for pre-order HERE

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Since the early 1960s, Jimi Hendrix has been idolised as one of the greatest guitarists in history; influential and legendary, he left artists such as Clapton and Townshend in awe.

'Valleys of Neptune,' a cache of previously unreleased songs by the guitarist; the album is a highly anticipated commemoration to the legend's death forty years ago.

To enthusiasts, this album may be a little disappointing. New material, yes, but certainly does Hendrix no justice. It seems the compilation is nothing more than outtakes and jams; a collection of tapes from the archives that were left an abandoned project for a reason.

Mixed by Eddie Kramer, Jimi's long time engineer, the sound is crisp and clean, although impressive, it's seemingly fraudulent, and loses the authentic crackle of nostalgia.

Including an eight minute mix of 'Red House,' the majority of tracks were recorded in 1969, a poor year for the Jimi Hendrix Experience. A year that Hendrix and bassist Noel Redding were in constant feuds, immidiately before being replaced by old friend of Jimi's, Billy Cox.

Despite the inadequacy of album-worthy material, 'Valleys of Neptune,' has it's moments. Immense guitar and a cover of Cream's 'Sunshine of Your Love' helps to redeem the albums credibility.

With the re-release of 'Electric Ladyland,' 'Axis: Bold as Love' and 'Are You Experienced,' the unreleased tracks of 'Valleys of Neptune' are perhaps best suited to bonus material for these remastered chronicles.

Had Hendrix still been alive, these tracks would never have seen light of day; and this album raises the question is it previously unreleased for a reason?

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HIM; prodigal sons of metal. Don't agree? You might just change your mind...


'Screamworks: Love in Theory and Practice', is the seventh album by the alternative rockers, who, are the only Finnish band to have ever achieved a gold album in America.

Following 2007's 'Venus Doom', which was their heaviest to date,(having been compared to Metallica), HIM have managed to resurrect their classic sound, which has somewhat a melancholic energy.

Unlike 'Venus Doom,' 'Screamworks...' is free of Valo's bitterness and gloom of addiction and instead, reflects the frontman's sensuality and love for his newly found, clean life.

Although reminiscent of HIM's earlier artistry, 'Screamworks...' accommodates a new sound for the band; adding an 80's synth resonance to certain tracks, ('Love, the Hardest Way,' 'In The Arms of Rain) creating an upbeat, cathartic record.

This album proves there's still life in HIM yet, and do not pre-judge; this is the start of something new for the band, a perfect chill-out rock album.

Bring The Noise rating: 8/10

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Many people wish of meeting the Queen, and amongst those people are Black Label Society's leader, Zakk Wylde.

He claims that if Borat and Bruno can get away with preposterous interviews, then so could he. If it were anyone else we wouldn't believe this statement was legit:

“Here’s my plan. We pretend to be from a serious TV news channel somewhere, and ask to interview Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. We’ll have all the credentials made up, get in there and ask the first question: ‘Do you shave your pussy?’ That’s it, we’ll be dragged out, locked in the Tower, get beheaded, but that question will be on film, and we’ll smuggle it out somehow. Come on, it’s gotta be worth it!"


This isn't the first sign of Zakk's love of queens; he also plans for Black Label Society to record a tribute album to the one and only Elton John.

Want to see this? You're not alone. Go for it Zakk!

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