There's no denying QUIET RIOT's place in history, having created a true masterpiece with their "Metal Health" debut, the first Metal album to reach #1 on the Billboard charts and a multi-million selling debut. That was no small feat in 1983, or any other time for that matter. However, equally indisputable is that since that record, the band has done little to add to that history, essentially doing all they could to offset their forward momentum.

"Conditional Critical" was decent enough, sophomoric slump notwithstanding. Then they then blew a fuse internally and blew our minds externally with the poorly conceived "QRIII," then blew apart altogether. When Dubrow, founder and vocalist who didn't know when to quit when the mic was off, got the boot, the band was already heading down hill - a dead issue even before the 90s' crashed the party.

After a brief reformation and two terribly misguided comeback records, the band had no choice but to sit and wait for the tide to turn. It did in 1999 when "Alive & Well" signaled another return, this time with all four of the original "Metal Health" team back in action with a much more believable release. For the first time in years they showed signs of life and the potential they always had, but never fully utilized.

Fast-forward to 2001. With the gift of "Behind The Music" under their belts, and the renewed interest in '80s has-beens, "Guilty Pleasures" is released with perfect timing. Luckily, the band makes the most of their latest chance. "Guilty Pleasures," billed as a return to the "Metal Health" days, is as close as could be expected now.

"Guilty Pleasures" sounds like a band returning to what they do best. What they did best happened to occur several years ago. The four "Metal Health" era originals are back, writing together as a unit, playing better than they have in years, with an eleven song "Blast From The Past" (that's a song title) and a point to prove. It's a bit sloppy at times, but hey, it's Rock & Roll! Yes, we CAN write a good song without riding on Noddy Holders' twenty year old coattails dammit!

"Vicious Circle" and "Feel The Pain" lead the charge. Cavazo is plugged in and ready jam. The band, instrumentally underrated in their greatest years, sounds tight. The recording's a bit fuzzy, while the music is fairly straight and simple. DuBrow is, as expected, all over the place, but shows an impressive range of styles that honestly nobody knew existed.

"Rock The House" is the first single and non-coincidentally borrows from their "Cum On Feel The Noize" hit that sent 'em flying outta the gate. It's too obvious, but could work. If it don't, "We're Not Gonna Take It," right? "Shadow of Love" is better, but probably gets ignored, sort of like "Bad Boys" did from "Condition Critical" for that ridiculous "Party All Night" trap.

The album's two ballads come across well, another overlooked fact from before. You don't think of Dubrow getting soft and subtle. Cranky yes, but he does alright. "Guilty Pleasures" and "Blast From The Past" fall flat with dead choruses that go nowhere. They're space fillers. "Street Fighter" picks up the slack abruptly, the stammering guitar riff drowning out Dubrow's suddenly shielded vocals (amazingly!) on one of their best tunes. It's a more suitable closer than the contemplative and Dokken-like dread of "Fly Too High."