Y&T - Facemelter (Frontiers Records) ****1/2

I can’t believe that it has been 13 years since the last time that Y&T put out new music. That’s not to say that the band has been dormant. Meniketti and company have been out touring and putting out their older albums on their own label. They also snuck in a great live DVD called “Live – One Hot Night”. When I read that they were going to go into the studio to put out a new record, I have to say I was curious as to what the outcome would be like. Their last 2 CDs were good but not really “classic” Y&T releases. I wondered if they had it in them to come up with a rocker of a disc. Well, to say that Y&T delivers on Facemelter is kind of an understatement. They produced a record that is solid all the way through. There really isn’t a filler track in sight. In fact, not only are there no fillers, there are a bunch of future classics that will probably be in set lists for years to come. Tracks like “How Long”, “I’m Coming Home”, and “Blind Patriot” all have that classic Y&T sound. Even the ballad “If You Want Me” is a monster even though it is one of the slower pieces on offer here.

The band has changed over the years but Dave Meniketti and Phil Kennemore have been the two anchors for the band. Kennemore along with new drummer Mike Vanderhule lay down a solid foundation for Meniketti and second guitarist John Nymann to do their magic. Nymann shows his writing talents on this, his first disc of new music for the band. “Wild Child” is his and it fits in well with the rest of the disc. All those years of touring have made this one solid band. If I were to pick the star of the show, it would have to be Meniketti. That’s not to say the other members are mere sidemen. They all play into how good this band is but Meniketti is one of the most under-rated guitarists that the US has produced. His playing on Facemelter is flawless and his voice hasn’t really lost any of its power. I really don’t think that Y&T gets the credit they deserve. They flirted with the hair metal genre a little in the 80s (but who didn’t) but they were always good old hard rock. They were never really a metal band and it’s a shame that people kind of lump them in with those other bands. Facemelter is the perfect reply to those people who say “Y&T !?!?, they’re still around?” This record is not only a “Yes! We’re still around” but also proof that they still have a lot of great music to offer. Of all of the many releases from older bands, this is one of the best. If you are seeing Y&T on their recent tour, I suggest going over to the merch booth and purchasing a copy. If you have already missed their show in your town, buy this disc from you favorite CD outlet. You won’t be disappointed.

Greg Olma