ANVIL Metal on Metal from 1982 was for many years the best known of their albums. Mainly due to the anthemic fist pounder “Metal on Metal” which opened the album up. Great riffage and an extremely catchy vocal line, But more importantly beyond that song what else does the album contain?
Quite a bit I have to say. Once we get past the first song I’m pleased to say the band have some great material which would give Judas priest a run for their money. In fact, I’ll scrap that comment and say its probably the next step in heaviness and pace. “Mothra” is a really good. The album is really well produced and so far there’s some really catchy stuff on display here. Third track “Stop Me” is a little on the cheesy side but thats cool everyone had their ballads back then and for what its worth its quite well written. “March of the Crabs” is a great instrumental riff fest that kind of brings to mind Iron Maiden with the guitar work, but probably a bit heavier. I can’t help but wonder if it was inspired by Maiden. Lastly for side one we get the song “Jackhammer” a bit of a Zepplin-ish rocker. It becomes clear at this point Anvil have managed to meld a few styles of metal into their alloy of metal mainly appealing to the NWOBHM scene but a bit of Heavy Rock sensibilities as included as well.
I have to say I’m impressed with this. It’s been ages since I’ve given these guys a proper listen and this is rather rewarding. “Heat Sink” opens up side two and its a good Maidenesque style rocker. I can see why these guys were championed by the metal magazines at the time. The next couple songs are not classics but still fairly decent “Tag Team” has a great and quite addictive main riff as with “Scenery” sounding a little like the Scorpions in some parts. Next up back to some more upbeat stuff with “Tease Me, Please Me” again bringing back the Priest Influences and Lastly “666” Bringing back the thrash, great way to close off the album.
Over all this is a fun collection of songs by a then young band on the way up to big things, which those who’ve seen the movie didn’t eventuate for years and years to come. My only complaint (and its not really a complaint but more an observation) about this is the band tend to make their influences very obvious on each song. But hey, they’re young, most bands at this point in their career do the same thing.
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