Review of Anvil! The Story of Anvil (2008) by Craig H — 06 Oct 2009

The greatest heavy metal band that never was. Spinal Tap, you say? No, Anvil, real life Canadian metalheads, an influence on metal giants like Metallica, Anthrax, Slayer...who never hit it big, never had a platinum-selling album, never had the worldwide popularity of the bands that came after, and now toiling in obscurity some 30 plus years on.

Formed in 1973 in Toronto by guitarist/singer "Lips" Kudlow and drummer Robb Reiner (not to be confused with director Rob Reiner), this film of the eponymous band starts in 2005, with the band attempting once again to grasp at the brass ring, mailing demos, going on tours where sometimes no one shows up, sometimes they don't get paid, bad breaks, missed trains, shows in Japan and Europe, in-fighting, trying to pay the bills taking menial jobs, all with the dream of being rock stars.

They've got musical talent, but they are over the hill, overweight, not really easy on the eyes, and the years haven't been kind to Lips' voice, which wasn't that great to start with. In many ways, this film reminded me of a similar documentary, "American Movie", about the struggle of ordinary people with extraordinary dreams that refuse to give them up.

It's about family, it's about brotherhood, even if your "brother" is the drummer that's played with you since you were both 14. Directed by Sasha Gervasi, I think the appeal of this film is stronger than just for fans of the heavy metal scene.

And it's paid huge dividends for the band with the re-release of several albums, an opening act gig for AC/DC, their own headlining tour later this year. Has their ship finally come in? I hope so.

I really do. I mean, somebody's gotta make it some time to give the rest of us hope, right? Woodchuck sez, "Check it out.".