871. Ratt / Out of the Cellar. 1984. 4/5

Though I missed this when it was released back in 1984, mainly due to the fact that there was zero noise about it in Australia, and at the time I was yet to discover any form of metal music, I still felt the same excitement for this album and the band when I was first introduced to them a couple of years later. The first time I heard Stephen Pearcy's vocals I'm pretty sure I was hooked. And given the great energy and musicianship on Out of the Cellar, there is little doubt that whenever I had first heard this album I would have fallen in love with it.

What I think I love most about this album is that it surprises you with how it lulls you in, every time. The opening track, "Wanted Man", is like gentle waves rolling onto the beach. It doesn't come at you hard and fast, loud or blazing. It is really subtle, starting with the riff and drums, but then just quietly beckoning you in with the clear guitar and Pearcy's opening vocals, then slowly building up over the opening three minutes. Even Warren de Martini and Robbin Crosby's opening solo break almost feels as though it is gently in the background, so as not to frighten anyone off. The final minute is the payoff, the song coming to a crashing conclusion with everyone turned up to ten. Juan Croucier's bass and Bobby Blotzer's drums take the reigns to start the next song, before everything comes together for "You're in Trouble" to showcase the band building to its zenith. That comes quickly with "Round and Round", the opening single from the album and arguably still the song that Ratt is most renown for. And it has everything, a great drum track from Blotzer, rumbling bass work from Croucier, exhilarating dual guitar harmonies from de Martini and Crosby and great vocals from Pearcy. It's still a treasure.
"In Your Direction" might be just your average rock song, but when you hear the brilliant lead break by both guitarists in the middle anything that may be average is completely forgiven. Quite superb. The faster and harder "She Wants Money" is another great example of a standard Ratt song, that is only let down slightly by the simplified chorus of repeated versions of the title of the song. "Lack of Communication" is also highlighted by the marked guitar riff that runs through the song while Pearcy bullies his way through the vocals over the top. Tough sounding hair metal? Possibly an oxymoron.
"Back For More" could be paired up with "Round and Round" as a sister-song. It is a re-recorded version of the same song that appeared on Ratt, given more attitude than the original, and still sounds great all these years later. Brilliant guitar solo breaks again dominate "The Morning After" and create the focal point of that track. The final two songs "I'm Insane" and "Scene of the Crime" were written by Robbin Crosby before he joined Ratt, and both have a faster, more guitar oriented sound to them, while also felling more carefree in style and substance.

The fact that this holds up so well over thirty years after its release is a testament to its freshness, as well as the musical ability of all those in the band. To me the follow up to this album, Invasion of Your Privacy, has always been my favourite Ratt release, but there is little doubt that this stands alongside it as one of my favourotes.

Rating:  The love will find a way, just give it time.  4/5