Mapletastic Metal

Rock fans have noted the numerous similarities between "This Is Spinal Tap" and "Anvil! The Story Of Anvil", the only difference to many being that Spinal Tap is the more famous of the two. While the first of these bands is a spoof heavy rock outfit, Anvil are a real ongoing concern who have been down on their luck since the late eighties - a factor that vocalist and lead guitarist Steve "Lips" Kudlow blames on shoddy production values and record companies who have been less than non-committal to their cause. Trying to fabricate their own lucky horseshoe was tough without a proper blacksmith (or manager) to guide them along the way.

The film introduces us to the Canadian demi-gods of maple leaf metal with a vintage clip of them in happier times playing a Japanese stadium rock festival on the same bill as Whitesnake and Bon Jovi in front of a large but far from sold out crowd. The dated stage outfits are hilarious, all spandex pants and bondage body harnesses which accompany arm-length fishnet gloves. The viewer is soon brought back to the present with soundbites from rock luminaries such as Slash, Lars Ulrich, Lemmy, Tom Araya and Scott Ian, all gushing buckets of respect and praise upon a group who are currently residing in the "where are they now?" file.A horrendously organised European tour by the second guitarist's fiancee (Anvil would go on to play at their wedding reception) sees the metal outsiders perform to audiences of thousands, diminishing to hundreds and eventually to no more than five people at one particular venue. It's at this point that you stop laughing at the band and you start sympathising with them and at what is a highly demoralising exercise in entertainment. How despairing it must feel to have a manager as useless as Ian Faith when your audience becomes "more selective".

But it's tough to distinguish whether this is an authentic portrayal of the group. Director and long term fan Sacha Gervasi has a passing resemblance to one of the film's larger than life characters, a telesales boss by the name of "Cut Loose" who gives Kudlow a job in his company in order for the band to raise the thirteen grand needed to record their next album. Not being a natural salesman, Kudlow fails to raise any interest whatsoever but is instead loaned the money by his loving sister in a very touching moment when he concludes that "...family is important shit, man". Indeed. The Tapisms come at you thick and fast; the flavour of the cinematography and editing are all done in that familiar rockumentary style. The talking of utter bollocks (describing the first song they wrote together whilst being filmed in a restaurant), the disastrous gig promotion, the unsupportive record companies, the lukewarm water personality of the studio producer in between the two bickering original members who love each other like brothers, the visit to Stonehenge...I could go on. During all this adversity, Kudlow keeps true to his unwavering vision and strong belief in his band that it leaves the viewer wondering whether he's amazingly focused or just truly deluded. Best line comes from drummer Robb Reiner after a bad gig: "I'm doing everything right and I'm getting shit on". The film successfully explores the social interaction around relationships between band and family members and how they stick together through rough times but beware, watching this could make you feel more gooey than maple syrup. I admired the comically heartwarming tone and as Anvil's adventures unravelled before me, feelings of mirth turned to compassion and support for these underdogs of thrash. Forget Slumdog Millionaire's feel good factor, this is far more enjoyable. Anvil! The Story Of Anvil has its UK DVD release next Monday 15th June and they play the Download festival on Saturday 13th June.