Street Lethal
Street Lethal is the first studio album by heavy metal band Racer X, released on January 1, 1986 through Shrapnel Records. The instrumental track "Y.R.O." stands for "Yngwie Rip-Off", as it bears similarities to "Black Star" by guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen (from his 1984 album Rising Force), with an almost identical bassline. It later appeared in the 2009 video game Brütal Legend.
Critical reception
Andy Hinds at AllMusic gave Street Lethal 4.5 stars out of 5, calling it "essentially a showcase for then teenaged guitar prodigy Paul Gilbert" and "skillfully executed, Judas Priest-style metal". Jeff Martin's singing was also likened to that of Judas Priest's Rob Halford and the rhythm section praised for "their part in maintaining the excitement." Hinds recommended the album for fans of shred, saying that it "has plenty to drool over."
Track listing
Personnel
Street Lethal
Street Lethal
Movin' down the back streets
Pass the speed of light
Sparks burn inside me
Gas and air adjusted right
Layin' down some rubber
Needle's in the red
I'm blowin' away
On the edge
Never ceasing, never ending
My machine's what I live for
Don't ever try to pass me
Cause I'll even up the score
Cool, and lean and righteous
Slipping through the air
I play for keeps
But won't play fair
And I'm street, street lethal
Poundin' down the back roads
Higher than a steeple
Street, street lethal
Come and watch me ride
Movin' down the pavement
Don't get in my hair
Exploding in your faces
Like a match to liquid air
Bolting down the back straights
Spilling round the curves
I'll give you all
Your just desserts
One explosion then another
Feeling it excel
Put the road behind me
Keep my feet out of hell
Pulling up into the heavens
Blowing past a shooting star
First I'm near
Then I'm far
And I'm street, street lethal
Poundin' down the back roads
Higher than a steeple
Street, street lethal
Come and watch me ride
On this four wheel heart attack
Customized to cut no slack
And I'm street, street lethal
Poundin' down the back roads
Higher than a steeple
Street, street lethal
Come and watch me ride
Street, street lethal
Poundin' down the back roads
Higher than a steeple
Street, street lethal
Come and watch me