Just how many pies does Josh Homme want to have his fingers stuck in? He has his own stoner rock outfit the Queens of the Stone Age, and when he feels a little more creative he takes time out to collaborate with various rock celebrities in the Desert Sessions.

His most recent project, the Eagles of Death Metal, sees the regular front man take a back seat on the drums whilst lending more than a drummer’s fair share of vocals. So, as in all of his side projects, Josh still firmly wears the pants.

Since Josh is quite hands on, the Eagles tend to sound like his other side project, and also therefore also like the Queens. There is no use in disputing this at all, as soon as the first riffs of ‘I Want You So Hard’ erupts from the hi-fi, coupled with Josh’s trademark moan, you are hard pushed not to draw any parallels. This is by no means a bad thing, and in fact acts as a stamp of quality. Simply put, the Eagles are a daft, smutty, tongue in cheek Queens of the Stone Age, which more than fills the gap left by the very brief encounter known as Electric 6.

Being their second release, Death by Sexy, goes on to prove that the Eagles of Death Metal are by no means just a throwaway novelty factor. This is basically due to the fact that it is packed to the hilt with danceable pure pop-rock with a bite, a wink and a grope. Highlights ‘Cherry Cola’ and ‘I Want You So Bad’ are camp cock-rock, but since they are rammed with pure riffage and a mean groove they are far more than just plain silly.    

Theoretically the Eagles run the risk of becoming the next shortly lived novelty act. But no fear, it bears the Homme seal of quality: it is piss funny and rawks. If you don’t like a bit of a laugh while you mosh, then bugger off. 
(4/5)

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