Rocktober Album #3: Anvil – Metal on Metal (1982)

Thanks to the documentary that bears their name (Anvil: The Story of Anvil – out on DVD tomorrow), early '80s Canadian metal giants Anvil have become relevant again. If you haven't seen the documentary yet, for the love of God, see it. As I have previously discussed, it's achingly hilarious, and you will love it whether or not you're into metal. In fact, the reason I chose Anvil today is because they are going to be on Conan tomorrow night, so check them out.

Metal on Metal, the band's second and most-successful album, is a solid metal album with great energy. It is generally considered a pioneer in the speed and thrash metal genres. Some of it may sound slightly dated now, but you have to realize that in 1982, this was some pretty heavy shit. Anvil effectively bridged the gap between '70s heavy metal/the New Wave of British Heavy Metal and what became '80s metal (speed, thrash, etc.). The Big 4 of speed/thrash metal (Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax, and Megadeth) hadn't broken onto the scene yet and, in fact, many of them cite Metal on Metal as a big influence. The drumming of Robb Reiner and the guitar work of Lips Kudlow are particularly good throughout the album. You can see how they influenced younger bands, particularly Reiner. No one was really drumming like that until that point.

1. Metal on Metal
This is Anvil's anthem. It has a great riff and great drumming, complemented by what sounds like someone banging on an anvil at the beginning of the song.
2. Mothra
Given that I considered Mothra as a possible name when I was naming Harley, I have a special place in my heart for any song, especially a metal song, about this beloved and oft-misunderstood giant moth.
3. Stop Me
A bit of a tawdry, slower song, "Stop Me" is about groupies who don't put out and then lose out on their chance to get railed by a guy named Lips.
4. March of the Crabs
This is a great instrumental that I hope has nothing to do with genital crabs.
5. Jackhammer
I really like this song. It's fast and furious (but not too fast or too furious).
6. Heat Sink
This is another fast-paced song, sounding a little like early Iron Maiden, although I guess all Iron Maiden was "early" in 1982, so technically, this song sounds like contemporary Iron Maiden.
7. Tag Team
Apparently the guys in Anvil were big professional wrestling fans.
8. Scenery
This song is slower, and essentially explains that the female subject of the song is and will forever be nothing more than scenery.
9. Tease Me, Please Me
Not to be confused with the Scorpions song of the same name, this song is a nice, fast-paced song with a catchy riff that's repeated throughout most of the song, and a great guitar solo.
10. 666
This one also has a wicked guitar solo and finishes the album with a punch.

Unfortunately, Playlist.com doesn't have much Anvil on it, so there are only two songs.