A lesson about heavy metal spirit - A review of Anvil's Legal at Last

It was quite a shock to read how disrespectfully numerous self-proclaimed heavy metal fans on social media attacked Anvil before the release of the band's eighteenth studio album. People claimed the band has a lack of talent, doesn't deserve the recognition it got from the cult movie Anvil! The Story of Anvil released a decade ago and should just call it quits. Obviously, everyone is entitled to dislike the band's repetitive style, predictable patterns and old-fashioned underground image. If you however claim this band lacks skills and purpose, you are objectively wrong and shouldn't dare call yourself a heavy metal fan. Few bands, if any, symbolize heavy metal spirit as authentically as Anvil does. 

First of all, the band has been around since the late seventies, long before most genre veterans even saw the light of day or achieved success. Secondly, Anvil pioneered heavy metal in Canada as this genre was only known to a few obscure underground fans in the late seventies. Thirdly, Anvil are regularly quoted as major influence by the world's biggest metal bands such as Anthrax, Megadeth, Metallica and Slayer which also proves that the band didn't only influence heavy metal groups but also doom, power and thrash metal bands around the world. Fourthly, the band got a tough break when its label exploited the group and the band couldn't release any new material for years in the mid-eighties which made the group lose momentum under circumstances that were out of its control. Fifthly, the band never gave up nonetheless, carried on playing its type of music and never split up when other genre groups called it quits, went though extensive line-up changes or flirted with commercially successful genres such as alternative rock, grunge and industrial rock and metal in the mid-nineties. Sixth, the band never changed its style to please anyone or achieve commercial acclaim even if it meant losing money, playing small clubs and performing in front of ridiculously small audiences. Seventh, the band members sacrificed time with family and friends, went back to regular jobs and worked relentlessly to hold on to their dream. Eighth, the band is still touring the world, has released eighteen studio albums and doesn't release vapid live records or greatest hits effort every few years like so many other groups do to cash in. Ninth, the fan-friendly band members have always kept a great sense of humour and remained positive despite all the hardships they met. Tenth, there are numerous reasons why this is one of the few bands that has a cult documentary dedicated to its career that wasn't even the band's own idea when other genre groups need to claim how great they are themselves to show off with flashy self-made documentaries, endless retrospective tours and lots of fireworks and special effects that distract from routine performances on stage.

This band deserves even more acclaim, attention and respect than it has gotten in more than forty years of existence under the Lips and Anvil banners. If this type of music isn't your cup of tea, then ignore it and listen to something else. But if you are going to claim the band doesn't have enough guts, heart and soul, then let it be known that this band has accomplished more in its career than anyone who criticizes them will ever achieve. If you think Lemmy Kilmister, an alcohol- and drug addict who quit school, slept with any woman he could possibly lay his hands on and never even remotely changed his approach to music, is a legend, then you should consider Steve Kudlow a God among heavy metal musicians if you consider yourself authentic, credible and honest.

Anvil's Legal at Last doesn't reinvent, progress or innovate the band's sound but remains faithful to its roots as it has always been. Tight heavy metal soundscapes meet ecstatic hard rock reminiscences and doom metal components. The band's chemistry consisting of sweaty yet melodic riffs, dynamic and skillful bass guitar sounds, tight and precise drumming and roughly charismatic vocals is second to none. The timeless organic production makes the final result sound even more efficient. 

Legal At Last might not be the band's masterpiece but it's really solid and doesn't include any stinkers at all. Instead of describing any particular songs on here, let me simply suggest you to listen to the whole thing. If you don't feel anything while listening to these twelve heavy metal anthems, you should either go see a doctor or listen to something trendy like Billie Eilish. I will spin this record again and again and attend one of the band's fantastic live shows as soon as they are coming back to my region. Anvil is more than a heavy metal band, it's a resilient ideology to hold on to your dreams no matter what. Long live Anvil!

Final rating: 70%