2017 is shaping up to be a stellar year for RATT frontman Stephen Pearcy. Not only is RATT hitting the road for some huge festivals but Stephen has recently released his highly anticipated fourth solo album “Smash” and is taking his own show on the road.
“Smash” is a fantastic collection of rock and roll tunes showcasing the songwriting talents of Pearcy as well as his raw, rock vocals. For those of you expecting a RATT 2.0, this is definitely not the case. In fact, only one of the songs, “Ten Miles Wide, ” has a RATT feel to it at all. Instead, the listener is treated to a cool variety from the down and dirty groove of “Shut Down Baby” to the driving beats of “Dead Roses.” The sound quality is top notch with producer Beau Hill and bassist Matt Thorne doing a wonderful job mixing and mastering. Erik Ferentinos is stellar on the guitar with skillfully placed monster solos. Check out “Passion Infinity” to hear it for yourself. There are two laid back, acoustic numbers “What Do Ya Think” and the album closer “Summers End” which provide an uber cool, sing along vibe. My personal favorite and not to be missed track is “Rain” which has a terrific contrast between blistering guitars and exquisite piano work.
In a perfect world, “Smash” would be just that as Stephen has given us a melodic, hook laden record that completely rocks and is deserving of a spot on every rock fan’s shelf
