Search - Anvil :: Metal On Metal

A METAL MILESTONE

J. Beaver | Lutz, FL USA | 03/23/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Finally! I've been waiting years for this album to be released on CD. Frequently overlooked in the history of metal, Anvil is worth remebering. And although their more recent discs have been available, those of us who remember the days before Metallica and Slayer are fondly nostalgic about the early days when the metal scene was fresh and unpredictable.
"Metal on Metal" is an outstanding second effort by early-80's pioneers Anvil. This band was ahead of the curve in 1981, and although their music contained elements that would feature prominently in the infant speed/thrash movement that was rapidly fermenting in the wake of the NWOBHM, Anvil never achieved the same mainstream acceptance in the U.S. as many of their contemporaries. Perhaps their status is a result of unfortunate timing: they were introduced to the world in that narrow interval between the NWOBHM and the thrash era and consequently didn't fit precisely with either the second generation metal that preceded them, or the third generation metal that followed.
The most remarkable thing about this album is its incredible versatility. The straightforward metal anthem "Metal on Metal" sets the stage for "Mothra", "March of the Crabs", and "666", which highlight the power-production, speed-picking rhythms that would define the sound of the speed metal movement flagship bands like Metallica, Anthrax, Megadeth, Exodus, and Metal Church a few years later. "Jackhammer" strongly reminds me of old Aerosmith, while "Stop Me" and "Scenery" are solid FM rock, in the vein of Ratt or Nightranger. All the songs have their own character, unlike many of the keeping-up-with-the-Joneses bands so common after 1987, and the inclusion of these latter examples of metal with a more melodic, polished approach only serves to highlight the range of their talent.
The lyrical content of the album consists primarily of typical adolescent ...fantasies, but the drumming is something special. The drum sound is outstanding, benefitting from the excellent production quality and tight performances by all the band's members, which characterize this disc. Robb Reiner is one of the great metal drummers-- along with Wacko, from Raven-- of all time, and this album is worth the price for this reason alone, if its other virtues aren't sufficient to entice anyone interested in 'roots metal' to give this CD a spin."

A superlative sophmore effort

E. Gaumann | NAPLES, FL USA | 11/14/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Their first album was kinda like Rush's first album: it left ya wondering. Their second was a big step forward as Anvil's second album contained an alltime, *alltime*, classic metal tune ('Metal On Metal' (just like Rush's 'By-Tor')). Anvil hit their highwater mark with their 3rd album, and Rush with their 4th but this particular Anvil album shows just how in-tune Anvil was the metal scene back in the day. Bear in mind 'Kill Em All' was released a year *after* this album. 'Metal On Metal' was, in 1982, one of the hardest and heaviest metal albums ever, period. Today it sounds quite a bit dated, as does 'Kill Em All', but trust me.....back in the day this band friggin' *rocked*! Hard!

One other thing of note: many bands of note originating from the early 80s have some sort of Venomish "black"metal past. Anvil never really jumped on that Mercyful Fate/Venom bandwagon. Apart from one song ("666") they seemed to decide their own way was the only way to go. Hats off to them for being that original."

Anvil - 'Metal On Metal' (Attic)

Mike Reed | USA | 11/28/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Way to go! Originally released in 1982, this is Anvil's follow-up to their first record 'Hard 'N Heavy' (see my review)and SO much better. This CD totally shows us just what this Canadian power metal band is fully capable of. More than dug the straight-head heavy rockers, like "Mothra", the bootie-stomping "March Of The Crabs", "Jackhammer" and "Tag Team". This one KICKS! A definite should-have."