ANVIL - Juggernaut Of Justice

May 5, 2011, 13 years ago

(The End)

Mark Gromen

Rating: 8.0

review anvil

ANVIL - Juggernaut Of Justice

Time was, if Lips planned to use Jug…anything in a title, would have bet it was targeted chest high. My how things have changed, for the better! The docu-drama kings of metal return with their first post-renaissance platter: stronger, more aggressive and cohesive than ANVIL has sounded in decades. Seems the movie helped them embrace their metal-ness, now proud to just bang, rather than attempt to pen that money-maker. The pre-release single/title track is neither the best, nor worst of this latest dozen, but would be the standout on most (all?) post-Forge In Fire albums. The secret is an infectious groove and only a pair of slow growers (‘New Orleans Voodoo’ and ‘Paranormal, which does eventually take off), of the variety that seemed to dominate the Canucks’ more recent output. ‘When All Hell Breaks Loose’ is easily as close to the initial pair of albums they’ve come since Ian Dickinson was in the band! A real stormer, can’t wait to hear this one live! The nonsensical ‘Fukeneh!’ has a simplistic, MOTÖRHEAD quality about it. The real surprises come at the end. The aforementioned ‘Paranormal’ is a lengthy (7:04) meandering boiler that ultimately kicks into guitar thrash (lots of speed riffs throughout JOJ) and the concluding trumpet/jazz drumming ‘Swing Thing’ instrumental, an obvious tip-of-the-hat to Lips' longtime bandmate, Robb Reiner. When the brass jumped out, actually flashbacked to hearing Raven’s The Pack Is Back. Less overtly socially conscious, preachy or bawdy silliness, the lyrics still touch on a myriad of subjects. Justice is done, winning is all!


Featured Video

KINGDOM IN FLAMES – “Black Widow”

KINGDOM IN FLAMES – “Black Widow”

Latest Reviews