Steel Panther - Feel the Steel (11 tracks) +Album Reviews

Absolutely BRILLIANT!!!

Jeff Bredeson | Rockford, IL | 10/12/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"First things first, Feel the Steel is a masterpiece. An instant classic. This is the best metal CD to grace the earth in decades.

The members of Steel Panther (fka Danger Kitty, Metal Shop, and Metal Skool) have been cutting their teeth in the biz since the late 80s, working their butts off to catch the break that the best known L.A. bands were able build lasting careers from. Ralph (vocals) and Russ (guitar) played in a Van Halen cover band for years and earned national attention with the skill and dedication they put into making the show so true to the original. Later, Ralph recorded a CD with the sinking ship that was the 1990s-era L.A. Guns. While they were always part of the scene, they never hit it big time... until now.

Sure, there is a satirical element to the whole shtick if you want there to be. Call it Spinal Tap, Fozzy, whatever. Steel Panther sells their fictitious back story well, and if you wish to embrace that aspect of the band and their stage-name alter-egos like I do, this band is an experience on a whole different level. I am fortunate enough to have been a part of their live show, and it was one of the finest concert-going experiences of my life. These guys are as genuine, passionate, and humble as you will find in the industry.

Even if you choose to ignore the satire, Feel the Steel is still an unbelievable stand-alone album by its own merits. The musicianship is second to none, the production is top notch, and the metal is relentless as you pick out riffs and hooks reminiscent of every glam band from Bon Jovi to Ratt to Whitesnake. You're doing yourself a complete disservice if you buy into the negative reviews and write this one off as some sort of 80s metal parody. These songs are destine to be classics, and will stick in your head for a long, long time.

Critics will throw out terms like "juvenile" and "toilet humor". Yes, I'll admit...this album is pretty filthy. If you're easily offended or only want feel-good power ballads, this probably won't be for you. But those who hear references to cottage cheese thighs and reproductive fluid emissions and see how it all fits into the celebration of the excess referred to as "sex, drugs, and rock n' roll" will become bigger fans with every replay. There are just so many levels of genius at work with this 11-song masterpiece that the written word will never do it justice. Growing up a huge fan of Motley, Guns, Poison, and so forth, I couldn't recommend it more.

"

Obviously, some just don't get it

nvmac | Nevada USA | 12/16/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I've been reading the somber reviews and can't believe what I'm reading. They are a PARODY band, not serious, on purpose.

These songs are well done metal reproductions of the best of metal from bygone days, when metal could be FUN as well as dark. Everything doesn't have to make a statement. The lyrics are just the epitome of what these bands were really doing as well as possibly saying between the lines.

This album is hilarious and fun and worth the effort and price. Beware, the lyrics are very raunchy, if you can't handle that, then this is certainly not for you.

STEEL PANTHER ROCKS!!!!"

80's Hair Metal Parody

Baby Bull | Dayton, OH USA | 12/16/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you enjoy 80's Hair Metal bands then Steel Panther is for you. They have captured the sound and the attitude perfectly of the late 80's hair band scene without taking themselves too seriously. The explicit content label is well deserved as they sing about what most band merely hint about with their lyrics. Song titles such as "Eatin' Aint Cheatin", "Fat Girl (Thar She Blows)" and "The Shocker" are perfect examples of this. My favorite songs on the disc are "Death to all but Metal" (great video for this online if you can find it) and "Community Property" which is a perfect example of the hair metal ballad that will make you laugh out loud. Fans of hair metal do yourselves a favor and give Steel Panther a listen. You will not regret this purchase."

I get the joke, but the joke gets old fast

Justin Gaines | Northern Virginia | 12/29/2009

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I assume everyone knows by now that Steel Panther is a parody band; sort of like the Spinal Tap of the hair metal scene. They've been kicking around under a couple of names (Danger Kitty, Metal Skool) before settling on Steel Panther and releasing their debut album Feel the Steel.

Steel Panther may be openly mocking the excesses that brought down the hair metal scene in the early part of the 1990's, but they're doing it with honest affection for the music, as well as an insider's pedigree (the members have been involved with various Sunset Strip bands). Sure, their whole shtick is a joke, but they're really good at what they do. The musicianship is tight and they've put together some incredible melodies, guitar hooks and vocal harmonies. With different lyrics, these songs could have been huge back in the day and could have gone over very well with those of us who still follow this kind of music.

Unfortunately, the band's lyrics are so incredibly obscene that there's no way these songs could ever reach a larger audience. What starts out amusing on the opening anthem "Death To All But Metal" soon becomes tired and downright embarrassing as the album wears on. You get a glimpse of what might have been with the relatively clean "Eyes Of a Panther", but the rest of the album is like a joke that went (way) too far, and I say that as someone who thought Andrew Dice Clay was a comedic genius back in my high school days. I get the joke, but they beat this particular horse to death.

I don't regret buying Feel the Steel, but I doubt I'll listen to most of these songs on a regular basis. It's a shame. If the band had exercised a little common sense, they probably could have had something with more than just novelty appeal.

PS - Steel Panther has also released a pair of digital-only singles. The songs - covers of Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'" and Aldo Nova's "Fantasy" - are absolutely terrific, and show you just what this band is capable of if they take things even remotely seriously. I highly recommend purchasing both songs, even if - no, especially if - you were turned off by Feel the Steel."

Amazing Hair Metal that hits its dead-on

Andrew S. Page | Washington, DC | 04/05/2010

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Wow, what a ride. This CD captures the feel of 80's hair bands exactly, and is hilarious! I agree with other reviews. Steel Panther captures the feel of 80's hair bands that would only make sense to someone who was a teen during that era. I graduated high school in 1987, and they certainly "get" the era. I can't wait for their next CD! Rock on Steel Panther!"

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