Anvil

SYNOPSIS

The spirit of Spinal Tap lives on in this documentary about a real Canadian heavy metal band who enjoyed brief success back in the 1980s, touring with the likes of Bon Jovi, Whitesnake and The Scorpions. The director, former roadie and devoted fan Sacha Gervasi, catches up with his idols years later, as the now 50-something rockers go on a tour of Europe and make plans for their 13th studio album - the absurdly titled, fake-satanic This Is Thirteen. As with Spinal Tap, their story is rich in idiocy and pathos, particularly in a scene where just 174 people show up to see them play at a 10,000-capacity stadium in Transylvania. But the band - singer and guitarist Steve "Lips" Kudlow and drummer Robb Reiner - are lovable characters beneath the hair, studs and leather, giving this short, sharp film a warm glow and an infectious good humour that banish any thoughts of a freak show.