Canada’s and the world’s favourite heavy metal underdogs were back in Hastings again, two years after their storming gig at The Crypt. This time they are at The Carlisle and if that legendary but compact sounds on the small side for a band like Anvil, it is reassuringly ram-packed when I walk in.

First up are the Belgian heavy metal power trio, Killer. Formed in 1980 and still fronted by guitarist/vocalist Paul Van Camp, they are part of the NWOBHM (New Wave Of Belgian Heavy Metal) I suppose. Some great songs and heavy riffs, they proved a highly entertaining show opener and worth exploring for vintage metal fans who aren’t familiar with them.

Then it’s not long to wait until Anvil themselves take the stage. Although as far as Anvil legend and frontman Steve ‘Lips’ Kudlow is concerned he doesn’t take the stage for long as he’s out in the crowd, blasting out the entire first number ‘March of the Crabs’ from the floor. His unadulterated enthusiasm for playing and his instant rapport with an audience are always immediately infectious and that doesn’t dissipate for the entire show.

With no new album to promote at the current time (the last One and Only came out two years ago), this tour is very much about celebrating the band’s early years with the vast bulk of the set-list being taken from the first four Anvil albums: Metal On Metal, Forged in Fire, Hard & Heavy and Strength of Steel. It means pretty much everyone gets a chance to hear their favourites from the band’s classic years and Anvil are on fine form with a line-up that’s now been in place some twelve years. Joining the inimitable duo of founder members, Steve Kudlow and Robb Reiner, is long-time bass-player Chris Robertson and the three make an impregnable trio as they blast through those early classics.

As we come up to an epic rendition of ‘Forged in Fire’ I sense things are starting to draw to a close and it wouldn’t be long before the trademark vibrating dildo comes out for a thunderously fast and furious ‘Mothra’. Then, in the night’s one departure from the early years, Kudlow announces that next up would be ‘Swing Thing’ the big-band-meets-heavy-metal track from the 2011 Juggernaut of Justice album which serves as a showcase for an insanely energetic extended solo by Reiner.

The night is brought to a close with an encore of ‘Jackhammer’ and, of course, that 100% bona-fide, all-time heavy metal anthem ‘Metal on Metal’. Anvil well and truly blew the proverbial roof off the Carlisle this evening.

Related post:

Live review: Anvil at The Crypt, Hastings 15/10/24

Metal: album review – Anvil ‘Pounding The Pavement’

Live review: Anvil / Burnt Out Wreck / VOiD at The Underworld, Camden 6/2/18