On April 15, 1982, ANVIL released "Metal on Metal," their second studio album and a record that proved enormously influential on the development of speed and thrash metal. The Canadian power trio, led by guitarist and vocalist Steve "Lips" Kudlow and drummer Robb Reiner, delivered a blistering collection of fast, heavy tracks that pushed the boundaries of how hard and fast metal could be played in the early 1980s. The title track and "March of the Crabs" became underground classics, inspiring a generation of thrash bands including METALLICA, SLAYER, and ANTHRAX, all of whom have cited ANVIL as a key influence. Reiner's innovative double bass drumming techniques were years ahead of their time, while Lips's aggressive riffing and the album's raw production created a sonic template for what would become thrash metal. Despite ANVIL's criminal lack of mainstream success, "Metal on Metal" remains one of the most important heavy metal albums of the 1980s, a true proto-thrash landmark.
