We continue to count down the finest slabs of metal from the last year, as chosen by the devout scribes here at BW&BK;/BraveWords.com. As with previous years, each writer was asked to pick his top 20 albums of the year (no live records, compilations or covers etc...). We perform a little behind-the-scenes metal math and voila, we have our list! We'll be counting down the Top 30 all month - yup, one a day until we get to New Year's - yes, we're aware that December has 31 daze but we thought we'd let you hang until January 1st!

It's time for #12! Drum roll please...

#12 - RATT - Infestation (Loud & Proud/Roadrunner)

Los Angeles-based hard rock legends RATT crawled out of the cellar for their long-awaited new album, Infestation, in April. Ratt 2010 features singer Stephen Pearcy, guitarist Warren DeMartini, drummer Bobby Blotzer, bassist Robbie Crane and new guitarist Carlos Cavazo (ex-QUIET RIOT).

“We wanted this to be like something that we would have written right after (1984’s) Out Of The Cellar," Pearcy stated recently. “We definitely went back to basics with the mindset of a band with a lot of excitement and some great songs to get out.”

Infestation was produced by Elvis Baskette (CHEVELLE, ALTER BRIDGE) in the helmer’s Virginia studio, marking the first time the band has recorded outside of Los Angeles. The album is full of attitude and of reflection, cycling through a range of emotions. There are party anthems that Ratt are known for alongside more contemplative, thoughtful tunes.

In his review BraveWords.com's Mitch Lafon wrote: Finally, a big hair metal band that unabashedly makes a retro ‘80s album that will appeal to their core fan-base. There’s no down tuning, nu-metal, rap-rock or anything new from the last 25 years on this record and that’s the way it should be. If you’re looking for Ratt to write about corporate greed or global warming then this album is not for you. But if you’re looking for sizzling guitars, a driving rhythm section, frivolous (but fun) lyrics and sneering vocals (that only Stephen Pearcy can deliver) than you’ve come to the right place.

Read the entire review here.

Brave Picks Top 30 Of 2010

#30 - STONE SOUR: Audio Secrecy (Roadrunner)

#29 - APOCALYPTICA - 7th Symphony (Sony)

#28 - TWILIGHT: Monument To Time End (Southern Lord)

#27 - HAIL OF BULLETS - On Divine Winds (Metal Blade)

#26 - FORBIDDEN - Omega Wave (Nuclear Blast)

#25 - KROKUS - Hoodoo (Columbia)

#24 - AIRBOURNE - No Guts. No Glory. (Roadrunner)

#23 - SOILWORK - The Panic Broadcast (Nuclear Blast)

#22 - TRIPTYKON - Eparistera Daimones (Century Media)

#21 - DARKTHRONE - Circle The Wagons (Peaceville)

#20 - NEVERMORE - The Obsidian Conspiracy (Century Media)

#19 - FOZZY - Chasing The Grail (Riot)

#18 - EXODUS - Exhibit B: The Human Condition (Nuclear Blast)

#17 - MISERY INDEX - Heirs To Thievery (Relapse)

#16 - ARMORED SAINT - La Raza (Metal Blade)

#15 - BLIND GUARDIAN - At The Edge Of Time (Nuclear Blast)

#14 - GAMMA RAY - To The Metal (earMusic)

#13 - MURDERDOLLS - Women And Children Last (Roadrunner)

#12 - RATT - Infestation (Loud & Proud/Roadrunner)