Steel Panther – “Heavy Metal Rules”
Label: Steel Panther Inc
Release Date: Sept 27th, 2019
Rating: 7/10
Review: Trixxi Goodhead
Warning: Don’t listen to this album in front of any older relatives, anyone with at least one politically correct bone in their body or loudly on public transport with less than soundproof headphones. It contains X rated, off colour language and themes pretty much throughout.
A heavier album than the light bubble metal for which this band is known it’s almost as though the band are following the life cycle of a hair metal band from the late 80s into the 90s when they all got heavier and more cynical in tone. If your sense of humour is Beavis and Butthead you will undoubtedly enjoy this album, but it’s not the lighter glam metal you may have expected. As the title suggests it is heavy.
So with those warnings in place you may be even more interested…
‘I’m Not Your Bitch’ is a song devoted to a partner who has tried to get a member of the band in line at home with respect to matters like putting away their laundry, yes really! ‘Let’s Get High Tonight’ is typical, party themed Steel Panther, but less melodic than songs on previous albums. ‘Always Gonna Be a Ho’ and ‘Sneaky Little Bitch’ are sexist beyond belief, so if you are of that frame of mind or can take the joke proceed as you were. ‘Fuck Everybody’ may not be what you think: it’s really about cursing humanity for being stupid; dirty; phone obsessed; you name it and, in that sense, is really quite modernly ‘hater’. ‘Heavy Metal Rules’ runs a fine line between old Skool and bone head, you decide. ‘Gods of Pussy’ is the catchiest song on the album, just don’t sing it by mistake at your desk at work. ‘I Ain’t Buyin What You’re Sellin’ is the ballad, but it’s not about love, it’s about cynicism. ‘Zebraman’ is a spoken word interlude on the subject that Heavy Metal rules. ‘All I wanna Do is Fuck (Myself Tonight)’ is another tongue in cheek number, nuff said.
Really whether you enjoy this album is really a matter of taste. Some will find it a one off cringe inducing ‘did they really say that’ uncomfortable comedic experience. Die hard Steel Panther fans will no doubt love it, as it probably goes further than the other albums in what they dare to say. It is different to their other albums, so they have changed the formula. Whatever you think of it you’ll probably be talking about it. An album likely to be controversial and to divide opinion, a fence sitter it is not.
Tracklist:
1. Zebraman
2. All I Wanna Do Is Fuck (Myself Tonight)
3. Let’s Get High Tonight
4. Always Gonna Be a Ho
5. I’m Not Your Bitch
6. Fuck Everybody
7. Heavy Metal Rules
8. Sneaky Little Bitch
9. Gods of Pussy
10. I Ain’t Buying What You’re Selling
Steel Panther are:
Michael Starr – Lead Vox, Acoustic Guitar
Satchel – Guitars, Acoustic Guitar, BVs
Lexxi Foxx – Bass, BVs
Stix Zadinia – Drums, Keyss, Piano, BVs
Related Links:
Steel Panther
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