STEEL PANTHER GOES ON THE PROWL WITH THEIR 6^th STUDIO ALBUM

The 1980s was a time when heavy metal ruled the hard rock world. From your standard metal fare like Iron Maiden and Judas Priest to your more extreme thrash metal movement with bands like Metallica, Slayer, and Anthrax, the 80s were heavy as hell. Thrown in the mix here of this multifaceted genre was metal of a lighter fair, that all the chicks completely loved. Call it Hair Metal, Glam Metal, Pop Metal, or Cock Rock, the music was fun and infused with rock anthems supreme. Unfortunately, the style faded to obscurity before the end of the 20^th century.

And then came Steel Panther.

Formed in 2000 under the moniker Metal Shop, the band gained notoriety playing LA’s Sunset Strip. The band changed its name to Metal Skool and then ultimately settled on Steel Panther in 2008. It was only after they solidified their name that the band released their first album Feel the Steel in 2009.

With excessiveness to the extreme, Steel Panther has released their 6^th studio album On the Prowl. These rockers are Los Angeles, California’s Glam Metal band of the 21^st century. Well, sort of… You see, there’s a little more than meets the eye for these rockers. There is a ton of tongue-in-cheek with these guys, which makes for a great experience if you have ever seen them, and the new album is a lot of the same. With song titles like the lead-off track “Never Too Late (To Get Some Pussy Tonight),” “Is My Dick Enough,” and “Magical Vagina,” these guys clearly know how to have some fun and make some laughs. Just don’t take it all too seriously.

On The Prowl

On the Prowl starts off with the typical sounds of this genre. What we know brings us some real comfort, doesn’t it? The leadoff track “Never Too Late (To Get Some Pussy Tonight)” starts with the keys of a synthesizer and the beat of the drums until the 17-second mark when we get the classic “Wooooooooo” as if to say “Come on! Let’s Go!” and the classic rock anthem guitar kicks in. The party has started! Don’t fret! We can concentrate on the party at this point, cuz, well, it’s never too late for the second party afterward.

With its opening riff, “Friends with Benefits” immediately takes me back to 1985, listening to Ratt’s Invasion of Your Privacy in my bedroom. There’s not a lot of digging required for some deep-rooted meaning behind this one. You get what you want, and so do I! But with its vocal ranges and high octaves, to its multiple guitar leads, this track is another anthem. My gut tells me we’re going to have some fun for the next 47 minutes.

Steel Panther’s 6^th album keeps giving us the summer rock songs with “1987.” Lyrically, it’s a trip back in time, like a good Kid Rock tune, and it has tons of references that only a Gen X’er will get. Musically, it’s the same driving guitar and drum accompaniment that makes us want to roll down the windows, crank the radio, drive too fast on an open highway in the desert, and sing to the top of our lungs. After all, in the desert, nobody will hear how bad our singing abilities actually are… but with a track like this, who cares?

As the tracks on this recording roll over from one to the next, we get a lot of the same party rockin’ guitars and vocals that are synonymous with this style of music. But it’s not just full of the rock anthems that we crave. Every great rock album needs to have a ballad. Enter “Ain’t Dead Yet.” It’s a mournful track about aging. But life isn’t about to keep these guys down! <wink><wink>

The Verdict

Featuring special guest Dweezil Zappa on “Is My Dick Enough,” the Steel Panther produced On The Prowl is a complete throwback to the 1980s. It’s got guitar solos and classic hair metal ballads. With tracks about dicks and vaginas, this album is fueled with sex and misogyny. So you tell me, what’s not to like? I can’t think of anything. So extra! So cool!So much fun! Listen to the lyrics of “Magical Vagina,” “All That And More,” and “One Pump Chump” (is this not the best song title of all time?), and you’re bound to have a good old gut-busting time!