Despite the overwhelming wave of affection that enabled Anvil to enjoy some hard-earned glory after the unexpected triumph of their heartwarming 2008 documentary Anvil! The Story of Anvil, it never seemed particularly likely that the Canadians would sustain their newfound success. Mainstream interest in the band has waned considerably over the last five years, but thanks to the unerring dedication that enabled Anvil to survive in obscurity for three decades, 2013 sees them still riding that wave.

Tonight is primarily about the ongoing love-in between Anvil and a metal fraternity that seldom fails to recognise the real thing in action. Support band Asomvel certainly help to establish the mood of the night, pummelling everyone present into cheerful submission with an exhilarating squall of unapologetic Motörhead-and-Venom-worship that pulls off the neat trick of being both utterly authentic and thrillingly relevant. The best heavy metal has plenty of dirt under its fingernails: this lot must never be allowed to work in a food preparation area.

The headliners grab their warmup act's momentum and run with it. The goofy grin plastered across frontman Steve "Lips" Kudlow's face as he leads his brothers into March of the Crabs is so ridiculously disarming that he could probably sell us a hooky bridge in between riffs. In truth, Anvil have a sturdy repertoire and more than enough showmanship to win over recalcitrant crowds, but tonight is a breeze, with everything from a fiery Winged Assassins through to exuberant new songs like Badass Rock'N'Roll and Through With You being rapturously received. There is something hugely refreshing about watching Anvil: here is a band that, spiritually at least, have never left their parents' garage. Unfussy, unpretentious and joyously rough around the edges, they remain a glowing advertisement for old-school metal and its principal values of fun, friendship and getting hammered. The dream lives.

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