Anvil "Pounding the Pavement" Album Review
Of course there are bands that have garnered higher chart positions, sold more albums and filled bigger venues than Anvil. Yet there are few metal acts that have earned as much respect from their colleagues as the Canadian act surrounding vocalist/guitarist Steve ´Lips` Kudlow and drummer Robb Reiner. The most renowned Anvil aficionados include, among others, international stars such as Metallica and the late Lemmy of Motörhead, who have expressed their unreserved admiration time and again. The reasons for this evident respect are obvious: since 1978, Anvil have been the epitome of a passionate heavy metal band that refuses to be thrown off course by setbacks, adverse conditions and inconsistencies on the business side of things. Their latest album Pounding The Pavement proves their impressive stamina: never before have Anvil sounded as diverse, determined and inspiring.
Opening track ‘Bitch In The Box’ has a cool main riff that instantly has you nodding along. Great track to get things started . ‘Ego’ the first single from the album is a full throttle rocker that showcases the rhythm section Robb as Chris Robertson. More cool riffing on ‘Doing What I Want’ with Lips’ standing up and giving a big middle finger salute to the critics…….. “Critics try to bash you, take your worth away, doesn’t matter what they think, even less in what they say”.
‘Smash Your Face’ is a thundering tune, Lips’ lyrics describing the experience of being at a metal concert. “Pounding the Pavement” is a kick ass instrumental. Screaming guitar, hard driving drums, it checks all the boxes of a good instrumental track.
‘Rock That Shit’ would’ve been right at home on a Motorhead release. If you close your eyes you can picture Lemmy “Rocking the Shit” out of this song. The heavy chugging of ‘Nanook Of The North’ tells the story of an Inuit called Nanook and his family trying to survive the harsh conditions Northern Quebec in the 1920’s, the band proudly waving the flag for all things Canada . ‘Black Smoke’ is a tribute to the world of motor racing, it’s full-on from the get go. ‘World Of Tomorrow’ is a heavy Sabbath like number. ‘Warming Up’ kicks off with some thundering drums, face melting guitar solos, a song once again that reminds me a bit of the late Lemmy Kilmister. Closing out the album two bonus tracks ‘Don’t Tell Me’ and ‘Spark It Up’
The band isn’t out to re-invent the wheel with their latest release. If you were a fan of Anvil going in then you will probably love this new album. If you’ve never given the band a listen before, or only know of them from the documentary “Anvil! The Story of Anvil” then Pounding the Pavement” is a good place to start.
TRACK LIST
1. Bitch In The Box
2. Ego 3. Doing What I Want 4. Smash Your Face 5. Pounding The Pavement 6. Rock That Shit 7. Let It Go 8. Nanook Of The North 9. Black Smoke 10. World Of Tomorrow 11. Warming Up 12. Don´t Tell Me (bonus track)
