ANVIL – LEGAL AT LAST album review #anvil #legalatlast

Band – ANVIL
Album – LEGAL AT LAST
Label – AFM Records
Release Date – February 14, 2020
Band Members:
Lips – vocals/guitars
Robb Reiner – drums
Chris Robertson-bass
Links –
ANVIL on Twitter
ANVIL on Instagram
ANVIL on Facebook
ANVIL website
ANVIL – Legal At Last on AFM records, order the album here

Review by – John Erigo

OK here go again!! Another ANVIL album is about to hit the World and that is always a good thing! The band’s latest album LEGAL AT LAST is full of what you would expect from these metal veterans. There’s plenty of firepower here, which is what has kept ANVIL going after all these years. From the opening face melter, the title track LEGAL AT LAST, with a great galloping type of riff that Lips can sing over with catchy cadence, nice vocal harmonies on the chorus, the always awesome drumming of Robb Reiner, and the foundation shaking bass work of Chris Robertson, ANVIL blasts right out of the gates so buckle up for a HEAVY METAL RIDE!!

There’s a track on the album that kind of tells a story about the band getting “nabbed” or “caught” in a certain State in the USA. If you know about the band you can figure out what the illegal substance was – guess it wasn’t legal at last there huh boys? LOL! I am referring to the song “NABBED IN NEBRASKA” which is a real life event that happened to the band, depicted in the video below. More ANVIL, more metal!!!!

There are plenty of upbeat ass kicking metal tunes here on Legal At Last – songs like BOTTOM LINE, FOOD FOR THE VULTURE, GLASS HOUSE and CHEMTRAILS. I mean I have said it so many times before but it has to be said again. ANVIL is a legendary band, the ability to be going and relevant all these years later is such a rare commodity. But it is because of the songs and ability the band displays on every album (and just killer live shows) that keeps it going. Hey man, parties and concerts keep it alive. The production gets better, the level of playing is of high standards too. I hear more and more vocalizing in the tunes. Subtle nuances with backing vocals that add great depth to songs. I like some of the nods to their influences too.

A band like ANVIL is known for its ferocious metal execution, if you go back in time and listen to the older albums, there’s some mighty fast songs going on waaaaaay before thrash, speed or death metal. Some say it was thrash before thrash which is pretty accurate. BUT you also get some slower songs but not ballads, nope! You get bludgeoned with Black Sabbath like songs like GASOLINE. PLASTIC IN PARADISE has that kind of riffing too. These tunes are almost hypnotic but full of power and really heavy sounding riffs. Like I had mentioned, it’s a tip of the cap to a band like Black Sabbath who used those slow and heavy riffs to knock out the listener.

OK so now we get to the fun song! Having a long standing friendship with the band, I fully know there’s always going to be at least one song that has that good old Anvil-Ted Nugent riffing in it! I’M ALIVE is that song on LEGAL AT LAST. I mean damn, the main riff screams ROCK n ROLL! “I’m alive and kicking ass” – yeah that sums it up quite nicely. Robb Reiner’s non stop drum attack adds to the infectious riffs by Lips and makes this song a fun listen. there’s a lot going on in this one. The production gives this song a great live feel, and it just jumps out of your speakers! Chris Robertson’s bass lines are always cool, and it seems like the Anvil machine is so cohesive now, there’s just no end in sight!

There’s also a “bonus track”, a tune called “NO TIME”. Well worth it to get it rockers. The song is really upbeat and has some great Anvil trademarks in it – that’d be intricate guitar riffing, impossible drumming and crushing bass lines. Great song to close out this album. Gang chorus vocals bring the point home that there’s no time, accompanied by almost Mongolian Monk type of chants, wow!

So yes, the album proves that ANVIL are still here and still going strong. Alive and kicking ass……..FOREVER!!!!!

Special thanks to AFM RECORDS for getting me this album in advance!!!