Steeler

The timing couldn’t be better to witness a revival of Steeler, former outfit for ’80s cock rock maven Ron Keel (Keel) and guitar virtuoso Yngwie Malmsteen. Rivalling the furious fret board pyrotechnics and falsetto wailing of fellow scenesters Mötley Crüe, this denim’n’leather quartet are the epitome of glam rock sans overstated hair and pseudo-warrior paint. Compiling live and previously unreleased versions of tracks from the band’s brief yet furious four year existence in the early ’80s, long-forgotten tracks such as "Cold Day In Hell,” "Take Her Down” and the CD’s namesake are crunchy blasts of soaring musicality that are impressive yet border on obscene with their endless bravado (most notably with Keel’s endless shrieks for verse caps). There’s an aura of darkness that pervades the dirty rock’n’roll lifestyle party that otherwise rules this roost that lends American Metal to a newfound relevance in a day and age where more and more young bands are citing the likes of GN’R and other stalwarts of that era as main influences…or kitschy ones at that.