A TASTE FROM ABROAD #2: ANVIL

This week on our tasting menu of music we introduce you to the band that we are probably all most excited to see at Sled Island ‘09: Anvil.  If BRAIDS are fusion cuisine and Sub-linguals a local ginger beef-like treasure, then Anvil are honest to goodness fan-fucking-tastic street food.  Anvil is unhealthily fast, has guiltily tasty licks and is something that, well, Calgary just generally needs a whole lot more of…

Watch: Anvil: The Story of Anvil (Youtube trailer)

The subjects of what Michael Moore called “…the best documentary film I’ve seen in years!” (Anvil: The Story of Anvil), Anvil’s moment in the sun is long, long overdue.  Influenced by the new wave of British heavy metal, Anvil were purveyors of some of the earliest speed metal ever recorded, laying the ground work for a decade of thrash metal.  A musician’s band — cited as an influence in larger quantities than their records sold — they’ve been plugging away as a band since 1978.  And folks, in that time, I don’t think they’ve ever stopped being that perfect balance of lovable charming lads playing skull-crushingly heavy music.  I can tell you that when I met them 9 or 10 years ago, they were the most humble and enthusiastic band I’ve, to this day, ever met.

Check out Anvil: The Story of Anvil at the Globe Theatre (it opens tomorrow!).  You won’t be disapointed.  And honestly, after watching that film, if you don’t want to headbang along to the show at Sled Island, then you’re probably just not a music fan!