Canadian metal legends ANVIL will play Celebration Canada in Taiwan on July 1st. The show, being held at the Legacy Club in Taipei, Taiwan, is part of a two day festival to celebrate Canada’s 145th birthday being organized by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce of Taiwan. It will be the first time that the trio, including new bass player Sal Italiano, have played in Taiwan.

Frontman Steve "Lips" Kudlow is featured in a new interview with Marcus Aurelius at the Taipei Times. An excerpt is available below:

TT: Do you pay attention to current metal and rock and roll? What do you think of the state of metal at the moment?

Lips: "I sometimes listen to something new but rarely enjoy it. For me good or listenable metal has to have a strong powerful feel that is consistent and steady with a memorable level of melody. I think a lot of metal music in this day and age lacks these qualities."

TT: How has your definition of metal changed over the years?

Lips: "My personal definition of metal has not changed. I still love and listen to the music I grew up with and continue to be inspired to create in the same vein. Metal is a timeless format of music. What was good 40 years ago is still good today. Case in point — BLACK SABBATH."

TT: You and Anvil co-founder, drummer Robb Reiner, have been through the highs and the lows of Anvil. Was there ever a time when you thought that you two would never be friends again? What happened? How did you make up?

Lips: "For whatever reason, we have never been faced with this type of breakdown. We certainly can have arguments and even sometimes push each other around but never to the point that would cause permanent damage physically or emotionally. There is a true honest friendship between us and even at the worst of times we have been able to resolve our differences."

Go to this location for the complete interview.

Celebration Canada is the largest Canada Day celebration outside of Canada. The popularity of Anvil! The Story of Anvil in Taiwan was the catalyst to the promoter approaching Anvil to play the show. The movie did extraordinarily well in theatres and via pay-per-view in Taiwan.

“I'm a proud Canadian and playing on Canada Day in Taiwan is living proof Canadians are proud of Anvil,” says Steve “Lips” Kudlow. “It’s such an honor and privilege for Anvil to be part of this celebration.”

Following their performance in Taiwan and the success of their Canadian tour earlier this year, Anvil will embark on another block of Canadian dates which will take them from Toronto to Vancouver. Anvil also plays at the Skogsröjet Festivival in Skogsröjet, Sweden on August 10th, and Bloodstock Festival in Catton Hall, England on August 12th.

Anvil is also currently writing for their next album, which is expected to be released in spring 2013.

For more on Anvil, including tour dates, visit Facebook.