ANVIL
Impact Is Imminent
AFM Canada’s heavy metal heroes still wave the flag proudly after 44 years
Anvil’s 19th album is part fist-in-the-air triumphant heavy metal of the kind they’ve been championing for over 40 years, part passages of ploddiness that sit in the gut like a wheel of mouldy cheese. Ghost Shadow, Wizard’s Wand, Teabag and Gomez evoke heavy metal’s finest moments via Painkiller-era Priest, Uriah Heep and early Van Halen instrumental jams. Unfortunately, Lockdown is so simplistic it makes Spinal Tap sound like Public Enemy: further proof old-school bands should avoid singing about the pandemic. Thankfully, the gems outweigh the cheese, Anvil putting their expertise to full use in another triumphant outing for the heavy metal band that could.