Feel the Steel

by Steel Panther

Overview

In case you're wondering, despite what VH1's Behind the Music might have you believe, hair metal is still alive and kicking. Unfortunately, it's more lowbrow than ever, thanks to L.A.'s Steel Panther. Taking debauchery to the next level for their debut, Feel the Steel, Steel Panther gather inspiration from Warrant, Poison, and Moetley Cruee as they pretend to be a metal group with two primal desires: rocking faces and scoring chicks. Metal satire is a well-traveled road, with Bad News, Spinal Tap, and Tenacious D all taking their respective turns portraying lunkheaded metalheads. Likewise, onetime L.A. Guns frontman Ralph Saenz (playing the part of "Michael Starr") does his best impression of an egotistical David Lee Roth/Bret Michaels type who dedicates 50 percent of his time on the microphone to objectifying women ("Fat Girl [Thar She Blows]") and the other half to boasting about his appendage. It's a convincing act, as is the performance by the rest of the band (drummer Stix Zadinia, bassist Lexxi Foxxx, and lead guitarist Satchel), with their textbook Hit Parader shredding and spot-on attention to '80s production details. Metal references fly out of every corner, with nods to the Def Leppard ultra-processed "whoa oh" sound, Richie Sambora's "Bad Medicine" guitar talk box intro, and a slapping acoustic ode to Extreme's definitive power ballad, "More Than Words." Steel Panther's ability to create songs that sound like they came from 1987 is commendable. That's about as close to clever as it gets, though. As David St. Hubbins said, "It's such a fine line between stupid and clever," and Saenz's locker-room humor wears thin quickly. Even cameos from Slipknot's Corey Taylor, Anthrax's Scott Ian, Nelson's Matt Nelson, the Donnas' Allison Robertson and Brett Anderson, and the Darkness' frontman Justin Hawkins can't keep the same dick joke interesting for 40 minutes straight. ~ Jason Lymangrover

Product Details

Release Date:	10/06/2009
Label:	Universal Republic / Island/Universal Republic / Republic / Universal Music
UPC:	0602527028569

Tracks

1. Death to All But Metal
2. Asian Hooker
3. Community Property
4. Eyes of a Panther
5. Fat Girl (Thar She Blows)
6. Eatin' Ain't Cheatin'
7. Party All Day (**** All Night)
8. Turn Out the Lights
9. Stripper Girl
10. The Shocker
11. Girl from Oklahoma

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Steel Panther   Primary Artist
Matt Nelson   Vocals,Guest Artist,Vocals,Guest Artist
Allison Robertson   Guitar,Vocals,Guest Artist
Michael Lord   Vocals
Justin Hawkins   Vocals,Guest Artist
Stix Zadinia   Drums,Vocals (Background)
Rene Ruston   Voices,Guest Artist
Lexxi Foxxx   Bass,Vocals (Background)
Michael Starr   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Satchel   Guitar,Vocals (Background)
Corey Taylor   Vocals,Guest Artist
Scott Ian   Vocals,Guest Artist,Guitar (Rhythm)
Joe Lester   Vocals,Guest Artist,Vocals (Background)
M. Shadows   Vocals,Guest Artist
Brett Anderson   Vocals,Guest Artist,Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

Jay Ruston   Mixing,Engineer,Producer
Allison Robertson   Harmony,Musician
Michael Lord   Musician,Orchestration
Neil Zlozower   Photography
Justin Hawkins   Musician
Scott Sandler   Art Direction
Stix Zadinia   Composer,Group Member
Sandy Brummels   Creative Director
Lexxi Foxxx   Composer,Group Member
Matt Nelson   Musician
Michael Starr   Composer,Group Member
Satchel   Composer
Corey Taylor   Musician
Scott Ian   Musician
Joe Lester   Musician
Mimi Parker   Assistant Engineer
M. Shadows   Musician