Famous for being considered rightly as the ultimate & eternal up-rising underground challenger, since the early 80's, their career is an overwhelming destiny,a fated down of evil luck, an example of successive misfortunes, bad choices and a lot of missing opportunities. However their honest determination, their will to keep going in this ever changing business, is intact and exemplary!

Nevertheless, thanks to a twist of luck, the legendary ANVIL is enjoying a resurgence of popularity in recent years, reaching a cult status upon our little community, but also on a larger scale elsewhere!

Reaching finally late recognition as being the unexpected star and essential part of the Hollywood awarded 2008's documentary film "Anvil! The Story of Anvil" (directed by screenwriter Sacha"Teabag"Gervasi), which showcased the band's storyline, their onstage antics and their everyday ordinary routine! This sixteenth studio effort produced by Martin 'Mattes' Pfeiffer, sees a new refreshed line-up with bassist Chris Robertson in the team for his first recording with ANVIL after replacing Sal Italiano in 2014...After the lacklustre Fiasco of "Hope In Hell" that was slashed and critized by your truly, here in 2013, -the Konfidence was Kaput -but enough !!! This the review for the brand new 2016 album, titled "Anvil Is Anvil "...This time more tenacious...Very interesting and positive!

The title itself is another strong proud statement and a declaration of war and a middle finger sign to those who were in temptation to reproach to Lips & co their immobilism, or even their repetitive musical behavior...Of course they will never be in position to reinvent the wheel or to improve the butter cutting wire, but they surely know how to forged the timeless Classic Canadian Steel, and some could argues that ANVIL is running out of new concepts...This time I will see the glass half full and giving a kudos for those Canadians MetalHeads, a bunch of guys like you and me ; passionate and not cynical, not worn out, who are still authentic honest, devoted and enthusiastic as in their youthful prime, moons ago!

Musically, it's of course another proof of their savoir faire with their iconic traditional heavy metal, akin to NWoBHM, updated with some large emphasis upon Speed Metal, this recipe is a perfect match for a band that thrives on the respect of Old School Heavy Metal virtues...The Mad Dogs Hailing from Toronto, Ontario known as ANVIL are proudly back on a fast track lane with their 16th full-length album, "Anvil Is Anvil"...With a renewed edge, but with the same unchanged formula, so please don't ask for Symphonic arrangements or last hi-technology tricks...Just the tryptich : Rock/Sweat and Beers!

You don't need a track by track analysis, but songs such as the politically & symbolically engaged, "Gun Control", needs to be cited , also interesting the entertaining & simplistic, "Runaway Train", with its stomping pace will federate the most picky among us. Another highlight is the furious "Ambushed", which is set in a vintage mood, yet fresh somehow and it grooves along perfectly for a promise to be the next energetic anthemic number designed for the stage, indeed a real fist pumper machine!

Well obviously, as always with the Canadian Heavy Metal icons sound, I have always detected a pure Rock 'n' Roll spirit like Ted NUGENT meets the early British Metallurgy..."Fire On The Highway" or the prophetic closing "Never Going To Stop" which is still faithful to their signature sound and it stands in my top pick for this collection of Songs, in fact along with "It's Your Move", it could be the most credible hommage to MOTÖRHEAD, it sounds like the most coherent & convincing tribute to the memory of the late Lemmy Kilmister (R.I.P.).

I could have been more comfortable and the album could have done better without the Pirate influenced opening "Daggers and Rum" with its drunk tavern choir but finally this cut it's funny enough, in my humble opinion, just weird for a starter! <