Synopsis

There’s always a band that should have made it but never did. Anvil are such a band. Friends since age 14 and now in their 50s, Steve 'Lips' Kudlow and drummer Robb Reiner (yes, his real name) have led the Canadian metal/thrash group Anvil through various incarnations and helped inspire the likes of Anthrax, Metallica and Slayer.

Directed by Sasha Gervasi (the band’s former roadie), it’s touching, painfully real (we see Lips and Reiner work crap jobs while refusing to give up the dream) and full of unintentional hilarity (getting lost on their way to gigs - yep, it happens). You can’t help but root for these guys.

Best bit

When the normally upbeat Lips goes ape and physically threatens a Czech promoter who refuses to pay Anvil after they’ve played a half-full club.

Metalness

You can’t get more metal than a band with a song called Thumb Hang (about the Spanish Inquisition) - that is, unless the same band has a number called Metal On Metal. Says it all, really.

Available?

Yup, it's on DVD and Blu-ray.

Buy

HMV | Amazon