For those that missed their rapid burst onto the scene, Steel Panther are along the same vein as the Darkness, in that they poke fun at '80s glam metal bands like Motley Crüe and Poison – they’re just dirtier, a lot dirtier. With a first album that included titles like “Fat Girl (Thar She Blows)” and “Asian Hooker”, I’m sure you get the picture. This is a theme the second album continues with such deep titles as “Weenie Ride” and “It Won’t Suck Itself”. So their biggest challenge coming into Balls Out was whether the joke could remain funny. Well it does.

To perceive these guys as just a joke band would be being incredibly harsh on them, however. They genuinely love the bands they mimic and are serious about what they do. Having plied the LA Strip together since 2000, previously under the name of Metal Skool, they’re tight and there’s no doubting their musical talent. Strip away the ridiculous lyrics, and the music sounds just as good as any of the bands they are paying tribute to ever did. However if you choose to strip away the lyrics you’re missing out on some genuine laugh out loud moments. Tracks such as “Just like Tiger Wood” can’t fail to raise a chuckle, while “Weenie Ride” follows in the footsteps of first album’s “Community Property”, lulling the unaware into believing they are hearing the typical rock ballad while in reality they are hearing the message hidden behind every rock ballad ever written.

If crude humour is likely to offend you, stay far away from this album. If, however, you can chuckle at that kind of thing and hold a love for the Crüe, Poison and so on (which let’s face it everyone does deep down) then get your hands on this and party away.