Unfortunately, the second half doesn’t fare quite as well from a pacing and writing perspective. “Teleporter” in particular reminds me of Saxon during the verses before transitioning over to hard rock during the chorus, and it’s this type of instrumentation that makes On the Prowl appealing whether you care about the lyrics or not.

As you continue to make your way through the first half this continues to be the case, as you get a mix of straight up glam rock/hard rock, heavy metal, and some ballads that lean somewhere between hair metal and the pop rock of that time. Balancing harder edged riffs with some softer melodies and even throwing in a few moments that give off hints of Metallica, there’s a lot to like about what the band has to offer here. While this song doesn’t deviate significantly from what Steel Panther has done on their previous albums, it showcases them firing on all cylinders and capturing that 80s energy and tone perfectly. Opener “Never Too Late (To Get Some Pussy Tonight)” also served as the first single from On the Prowl and was also the song that convinced me to add this one to my review roster. It’s initially another strong showing for the long running band with some great riffs and melodic hooks alongside jokes that get stuck in your head, but some tonal inconsistencies and pacing issues hurt the album during its second half and hold it back. Their fifth album On the Prowl marks the debut of new bassist Spyder, but otherwise it’s business as usual for the band as they continue to offer up songs that span the entirety of 80s hard rock, glam, and heavy metal while offering some genuinely ridiculous lyrics. Originally formed under the name Metal Shop back in 2000, Steel Panther pays tribute to the glory days of glam rock/metal and the Sunset Strip scene with a satirical lens and some of the most over the top lyrical content possible. Chances are good if you clicked on this review, you’re familiar with Steel Panther or are at least morbidly curious about their music.

Panthers on the prowl