ANVIL - Metal On Metal

ANVIL - Metal On Metal

\r\nMetal! Heavy, Pure, raw stuff!! What else can we say about legendary ANVIL? The whole American metal scene from the mid 80’s and so, have them as an  icon. Bands that nowadays are regarded (anyway!!) as bigger than life such as Metallica and Megadeth, obey them!!Founded in Canada (Toronto) at 1978, they had already tried to discover music, back to 1972. Only their hometown, seems to be the warranty for them! Their guitarist and singer Lips, changed the name of his group from LIPS…to ANVIL. This was not only result of his pessimism (no way!) or his sarcasm, but most of all because there was another band which already existed under the same name. This was Lips inc, a group that didn’t realised the music with the same way, but they preferred more disco rhythm, contrary to ANVIL which had different way of thinking. \r\n

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\r\nThe first stroke came in 1981 with their depute album, "Hard and Heavy", a more hard rock album, before he masterpiece which this report is written about, released."Metal On Metal"! How many groups existed then, that they were embarrassed to say that they played heavy metal? Not only via interviews, but openly via their album’s name? Very few!And most of all? “You cannot judge a book from it’s cover artwork”, says a British motto. Well, there is no relationship to it. What is inside is what it reflects the cover artwork and is being mentioned it the album’s title! \r\n

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\r\nBeginning with the homonymous “Metal On Metal’! The trade mark of the group. Synonym of them as the years went by! Heavy, sharp, the way it must be the sound of the metal when it is forged in other metal, basically simple, but on the other hand bonded in paranoia!!But this is only the beginning for the album!! Before somebody can regain it’s senses, “Mortha”, starts with a guitar riff that takes your brains away, driven by psychotic rhythm changes! Power!Then, a small break with a more traditional forms, the “sweet” “Stop Me” and it’s emotional solo, talks directly to our heart, before we return to faster rhythms. The lyrical, instrumental “March Of The Crabbs”, technical, exciting. Personally, I regard it as one of the best ANVIL songs. \r\n

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\r\nWhat else does the…menu include? The dynamic "Jack Of The Hammer" with the playful riff and the wonderful melodic refrain. The fast “Heatsink”, becomes faster in some parts. The slow "Tag Team" with the awesome solo.Then, the "Scenery", in the same style of "Stop Me", rhythmic and tradional (I wonder what It reminds me of…) !The wonderful "Tease me, Please me", another successful song, based on a rhythm section, which constitutes the sound image of the Rocky Mountains. \r\n

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\r\nFor the end, they leave their signature over to the WHOLE thrash metal scene. Before everyone, in the steps of fast and “dirty” Motorhead, with the speedy and pompous “666”, with wonderful guitar solos, they give the tinderbox to hundreds of youths in America to change their way of thinking and give them the purpose of how extreme it can become! Pioneer, may be their…"Witching hour"!To sum up, "Metal on Metal" is maybe the best Anvil album. It is being characterized from poly-morfism, with fast, but basically mid-tempo songs, none of which lacks, making the choice of album highlights a very difficult situation.Impressive guitar to all of the songs, wonderful solos, sometimes fast and supersonic and sometimes sweet, sensitive, bonded in emotions.Also, we must not forget to mention the…giant Robb Reiner and his.. mass of rock drums.Of course, we must remind of the lyrical theme, which was sarcastic, sexist, but not vulgar. During whole their career Anvil and Lips, had the same perception for the music, the love and the life and this was something that you can found in their discography. And they continue, always with the same style, until today, because veterans keep on, many decades after, like the time remains still for them!! \r\n

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\r\nLine Up:
\r\nSteve "Lips" Kudlow - Vocals/Guitars
\r\nDave Allison - Rhythm Guitar
\r\nIan Dickson - Bass
\r\nRobb Reiner - Drums \r\n

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\r\nTranslated by: Manos Maragkos\r\n

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