Guilty Pleasures

Guilty Pleasures is a truly Quiet Riot-like, bright hard-rock work foregrounding catchy, memorable choruses and lively, bright guitar riffs. As the title suggests, it is full of a clear accessibility for enjoying flashy rock and roll without reasoning, and the songs head straight to their point compactly, without needless detours. Kevin DuBrow’s powerful, distinctive voice is in full bloom. A record whose earnest stance — seeking to deliver 1980s-style catchy melodic metal in its raw feel, without forcibly over-refining it into a modern form — feels truly good. You can enjoy it casually and unforced, while the band’s playing has a sure momentum and steadiness backed by a long career. A record that powerfully re-sounds the hedonistic energy of the flamboyant peak from the viewpoint of the present as veterans. It returns head-on to the band’s native appeal of flashy, fun rock and roll. Letting you fully savor Quiet Riot’s cheerful, accessible appeal, it is a powerful, fun glam-metal work — a record where DuBrow’s singing stands out.