It is very hard to review this re-release of STEELPREACHERs 2015 album with a straight face. This German hard rocking outfit formed in 2001, could have been transported to now through a time-warp from the mid 80's. Their sound is a bit of everything from that era, MOTORHEAD, MOTELY CRUE, W.A.S.P, even MANOWAR and a bit of MAIDEN thrown in for good measure. Songs vary from drinking, to getting drunk, Rock music, partying to Viking raiders, mythological cities, oh and a diabolical rooster. They are all delivered very well, and are fun, but they do unfortunately have the feel of being Pastiche, a tribute if you like.  However luckily, although it teeters on the edge of parody, luckily it is performed with sufficient authenticity to remain a homage, rather than a joke (yes STEEL PANTHER I am talking about you, the joke was funny once, but change the record it's getting old and boring now).

So what we have here is a mix of the best of the mid 80's, from "Devilution", "Rock 'n' Roll Children" and "Rock 'n' Roll On My Mind" all of which are straight ahead rock of the era, delivered by the likes o W.A.S.P or SKID ROW or the CRUE for example were delivering, all spandex clad and coordinated twin guitar moves.  To more Metal offerings such as "Too Old For Dying Young" and "Season Of The Witch", which are both chest thumping head banging songs with more than a dose of bravado. "The Wild Hunt" and "Atlantean Dawn", even though the latter is a "ballad" have more than a passing resemblance to MANOWAR.  You can see the sweat and smell the furry loincloths (or it that the other way around?).  Manly Metal played loud.

To the odd cod-Mexican ditty about the hellish "El Pollo Diablo", I can see some of the more dubious heavier Hair Metal bands including this on an album or as much-loved B side.  The Mexican dueling guitars are great fun.  I defy you after a few Tequilas to not want to sing along. The rest of the songs, well it is not an understatement to say drinking is a big theme for STEELPREACHER.  Just look at their previous release, "Drinking With The Devil," for example.  "We Don't Get Drunk (We Just Get Awesome)" is a brilliant boozy sing along rocker and "Lets Get Loaded" drops up back in Hair Metal territory again and is probably the closest to the PANTHERS in delivery. It is, for me at least, the weakest song of the collection.

The musicianship and vocals are consistently good, whichever style they are using at the time. Which is why they save themselves for going into the joke band category. You get the feeling that whilst they are having bags of fun with these songs, it isn't at the expense of their peers. Now for some reason I really fancy a beer?