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Anvil: Impact Is Imminent
Anvil - Impact Is Imminent Album Art

Anvil: Impact Is Imminent

Heavy/Power/Thrash Metal
4.0/5.0

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AFM Records
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 06.05.2022 | Released: 20.05.2022

Anvil is Anvil. Anvil is Steve "Lips" Kudlow and Robb Steiner. Has been since 1981. Yup. That's better than 40 years. Both founders are pushing their late Sixties. So, I guess, the days of Kudlow sporting a cod piece and sawing his guitar with a vibrator are gone. Perhaps not the latter. Anvil returns with their latest and nineteenth(!) studio album Impact Is Imminent, also continuing their tradition of (mostly) alliterated titles.

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Anvil

I won't bore my readers with a lengthy elaboration of Anvil's metal style. We all know it. Traditional heavy metal infused with thrash and power metal and undergirded by rock groove. The latter element seems to be heightened across this album. Of course, Kudlow gets to show off his fine guitar skills. He's perhaps one of the most underrated axe man in the genre. (And shows no chance of slowing down.)

Impact Is Imminent is a long album: 14 songs over about 50 minutes. While this makes me wish for the 40 minute vinyl recording of yesteryear, the album moves along rather quickly. Anvil being Anvil, you'll find many songs to be their classic heavy, speed metal: Ghost Shadow, Someone To Hate, or The Rabbit Hole. Conversely, Lockdown and Fire Rain may dial things down a tad, but not by much. But, by far, the most entertaining, and perhaps unique songs are seabag and Gomez. Mostly instrumental, the songs remind of a blend of metal and big band groove with some jazzy moments. The bass work from Robb Steiner is particularly creative and exciting. Are the songs some kind of new direction for Anvil? If you're thinking that silly moment within Spinal Tap were the band attempts free-form jazz, the answer is a hearty, no. But you could buy the album just for these two songs.

All said, Anvil's Impact Is Imminent is another consistent studio album of their traditional heavy, thrashy, power metal, with a twist or two. If your a fan, definitely get this album. Recommended.

BTW: For American fans: A US Tour begins June 1, running through the end of July,2020. Check the link for more info.




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The Take Away

Anvil's Impact Is Imminent is another consistent studio album of their traditional heavy, thrashy, power metal, with a twist or two. If your a fan, definitely get this album. Recommended.

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