Customer Reviews

Metal On Metal

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

"Metal on Metal" is one of the defining Metallic statements of the early 80s. A loud, brash and completley infectious mixture of traditional Hard Rock melded with OTT theatrics and speed riffery that predates what will follow in Thrash by a year. This album blew away most of the competition at the time and few could truly compare to such a princely Metal feast.

After a mediocre first album("Hard and Heavy") the band really found themselves on this second release. Several of the band's all-time classics are available on this album including the ferocious anthem of a title track that ranks among the true gems about celebrating the Metal lifestyle. Simple as hell it would become a genre classic.

"Mothra" with it's speed riff and melodic passages stomped all over Blue Oyster Cult's predecessor in Monster mayhem with "Godzilla" by taking the sound out of the seventies and Hard Rock and into a fully Metal realm. The sound recalls in many ways the progresive side of later Power Metal releases.

"666" is about one of the most delightfully evil Metal anthems of the pre-Black Metal days and was a decided improvement over the far more poppier directions of the classic "Number of the Beast" by Iron Maiden as Anvil's sound predates a much more brutal take that reminds one of early Slayer crossed with a NWOBHM acid trip. It's the heaviest track on the album.

Other gems include frantic instrumental, "March of the Crabs". The silly pornographic nature of both "Jackhammer" and "Tag Team" which are both delights as well as the Van Halen like nature of "Stop Me".

The album is a great retro classic that still can crack a head or two while still remaining highly original and fun. It's a pity that this band remained in such obscurity for so long for they really were original and certainly paved a way for much Metal to follow.
Recognition is due and all serious Metal scholars need this one in his/her collection.

After watching "Anvil the Story of Anvil", I felt the need to go out a pick up an Anvil cd. I purchased "Metal on Metal" cause I remember the song from the movie, and it stuck in my head. I put this cd on and was blown away! The musicianship of Anvil is great! A few highlights are "Metal on Metal" and "666", but I really enjoyed the whole album a lot and went back to the record store and bought "Hard 'n' Heavy" and "This is Thirteen", the only other cds the store had in stock. I'm glad I watched the movie, cause I probably never would have discovered Anvil's music otherwise. Simply put "Metal on Metal" is a heavy metal masterpiece andn should be in any good music collection.

Metal On Metal rocks from start to finish! A must have for anyone trying to round out their classic metal collection. Yeah, sure it sounds a bit dated, doesn't everything from the eighties? I actually dig that classic Gibson/Marshall sound that Lips achieved on this rager. Rob Reiner's drum work is exceptional,not because he's fast, but because he was all over his kit. He would throw tripletts and quads where most guys would just keep a steady beat, Stop Me would be a weak song if it weren't for his killer drumming. I was fortunate enough to see these guys in a small club on the Forged In Fire tour and they blew me away! Most of you reading this probably already owned this on vynal, but for the few who are trying to get to the "roots" of thrash/speed metal, this is a must have!!! Up go the hammers!

While it was only suggested that on Anvil's first album the cringe inducing titled Hard 'N Heavy, that the band could cut it with major (at the time) metal acts like Priest, Maiden, Motorhead, Venom, Tygers Of Pan Tang, Diamond Head etc. Their 1982 follow up MOM certainly proved Anvil's stance. While there is a definte cheese factor to songs like Tag Team, Tease Me Please Me, and the obvious leap into satanic metal lore, 666, and the obvious anthemic title track. These songs are really good and they do rock. Especially the title track, which may be one of the most underlooked metal songs of all time, and easily is Anvil's best song. It all comes together on this album though some agree that their next album Forged In Fire reached the ultimate level of metal musicianship for Anvil. It's possible to hear a lot of influence in this record, like on March Of The Crabs seems to at times to have inspired Metallica's The Four Horsemen. While some of the above mentioned songs recal a lot of the simple big dumb but very fun lyrics and attitude a lot of the NWOBHM bands enployed, years later it adds on to the genuine metal feel. That is, of course if you support the theory that metal bands dont need to be evil, brutal or oozing with corpse make up to be "metal". While tracks like Heat Sink, Scenary, or the Godzilla/BOC send up Mothra would be construte as filler, they all have surprising hooks that will tell you otherwise. The most interesting track here though is Stop Me, which has a some surprising melodic edge to it and kinda reminds you of another 'lost' ballad from the early 80's metal heyday, Quiet Riot's Don't Wanna Let You Go (despite Anvil being a much better band than QR). This turned out to be my fav song off this album as the opening riff has something more laid back and musical than most metal bands (or at least the limited ones in the vein of Anvil) could pull off. So in the end, it's good to see this band finally getting some attention, and hopefully these early era Anvil albums will see some reissues or perhaps better availiability in the near future. Indeed, 666, the title track, and March Of The Crabs have gone on to be lost thrash nuggets and it is very possible that Metal On Metal is in fact the proto type speed metal record. How other pre Metallica speed and/or Canadian outfits like Exciter's albums stay in print over Anvil's is a lame mystery.

These guys are no joke. This album, as one reviewer described Anvil's live shows, kicks solid balls of awesomeness. Many of us discovered these guys through the Anvil documentary only to then discover that these guys really rock. When you put this cd into your stereo it comes alive. You don't get the full power of the actual music from the movie or your iPod. This is music meant to be cranked loud and with quality stereo sound. These guys are even more powerful than bands like Metallica that they inspired. March of the Crabs is a metal masterpiece- brilliant sound and beat. I saw them live at The House of Blues (Boston) in January and they held the entire crowd's attention throughout the entire show. Many of their greatest songs come from this album and in their show they feature several from here including Metal On Metal, March of the Crabs, Jackhammer, Mothra and 666. Lips made a point to stay for every single person who wanted an autograph or picture. How many rock stars will do that? My next Anvil cd will be to hear School Love loud!

I purchased this on vinyl when it first came out and still have it. I loved it back then and all these years later
it still kicks all kinds of butt. This is as good as anything that's out there now, and better than a lot of it.
There isn't a bad track on the disc and there are enough great riffs for any metalhead. Robb Reiner's superb
and tasteful drumming really drives home the point and powers the band beautifully. 'Metal on Metal' and 'March
of The Crabs' should be metal classics if they aren't already. THIS is why I love metal.

I encourage those of you who haven't yet seen Anvil: The Story of Anvil to check that out. To show the kind of determination
and resiliency that Robb and Lips have shown in the face of extreme frustration is simply amazing. The film is funny, heartwarming
and sad. You can't help but root for these guys. I think it's safe to say most people don't show this kind of determination in
most things in their lives. These guys get knocked down time and time again and keep bouncing back. God bless them for it.
I only hope that after all those years of frustration, false starts and getting screwed they can finally enjoy some long
overdue success. If anyone has earned that then Robb and Lips surely have.

[...]

I recently watched the film about Anvil, which is a great story about metal and friendship, and right after that purchased 'Metal on Metal'. How can somebody who has enjoyed heavy metal since 1980 miss this?

This is pure, raw heavy metal at its best. If you are into 80's Metallica, Judas Priest and other great metal bands you'll love this album.

Anvil rocks. No doubt about it.