SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: STEEL PANTHER – ON THE PROWL

Steel Panther
On The Prowl
Steel Panther Inc.

Few artists, if any, have paired audacious humor with the masterfully precise and technical musicianship of rock ‘n’ roll’s hair metal era of the ‘80s as Steel Panther has. Their sixth studio album, On The Prowl, is no exception, as the band, now with Spyder on bass, continues to push the lyrical limits of their reverence for the 1980s.

On The Prowl opens with perhaps one of its strongest songs. “Never Too Late (To Get Some Pussy Tonight)” opens with some light synths before diving headfirst into a sinister riff that builds throughout the verse into an anthemic chorus that is bound to be a hit for the band. Michael Starr’s vocals soar as Satchel digs deep with the ripping lead lines on an album opener that holds nothing back. The additional single, “1987”, is an ode to the height of ‘80s rock. In true fashion, the single takes the shape of a power ballad, one so authentic to the time, that you’d assume it was pulled straight from the vaults of a Los Angeles studio. While a touch on the nose, Steel Panther has ensured that they’re the greatest ‘80s hair metal band of the 2020’s.

Musically, Steel Panther does more than pay homage to an era now nearly half a decade gone. On The Prowl stands among their records as yet another demonstration of strong musicianship and true to form songwriting. The riffs rule and the ballads are as heartfelt as can be for a band that asked “why can’t you look like you do on your Instagram?”. Lyrically, the record proves that Steel Panther has made a career of delivering spit takes to listeners by playing on the rockstar mythos and continuing to cross every line they can. While it is understood that there is no joke they will not make, Steel Panther still manages to surprise you with nearly every song. Highlights, beyond the opening track, include the bluesy “Is My Dick Enough”, the relentless “All That And More”, the pair of ballads, “Pornstar” and “On Your Instagram”, and the equally hard-hitting as catchy album closer, “Sleeping On The Rollaway”.

Without reinventing the wheel, Steel Panther has delivered a genuinely fun album with On The Prowl. Against all odds – not only welcome a new bassist into the fold, but this is the first record produced by just the band and recorded largely in their home studios – Steel Panther continues to prove its worth as your favourite ‘80s-inspired band that has mastered the genre and their lyrical delivery.

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