Nothing stops Anvil. Defying time, fashions and pandemic, the Canadian trio continues its road and comes back with a nineteenth album, "Impact Is Imminent". Delivered with an efficient cover with the famous anvil seeming to dominate our planet, the record offers 14 tracks. After so many years of career the risk of weariness exists but until now Anvil has always known how to do the job with a subtle balance between hard rock and heavy metal.
The heart of the album contains tracks that are cut in classic heavy metal, but without any pastism or softness. Age seems to have no hold on the Lips-Reiner duo. Lips' hoarse voice has lost none of its power, especially on the effective choruses, and as far as guitar is concerned, it's a delicious orgy of riffs and sharp solos worthy of the golden age of the 80s. As for Reiner, he hits like a young man bursting with energy.
Anvil also finds his roots and signs two hard rock fireworks that AC/DC or Motörhead would not deny: 'Teabag' and 'Explosive Energy', carried by simple and effective riffs, pure discharges of raw energy with remarkable instantaneous choruses. Finally "Impact Is Imminent" contains two instrumentals - an exercise that Anvil has always loved -, 'Teabag' already named and 'Gomez' mixing hard rock, boogie and rockabilly with burning horns for a dancing result in a very 50's spirit.
After more than 40 years of career, Anvil shows a dazzling shape. "Impact Is Imminent" is a tasty new vintage from the Canadians. The joy of playing and the freshness released in the album is a real pleasure and will delight all the fans of good old heavy metal.