Anvil Chorus - The Killing Sun CD. Nearly 3 decades after the group's formation and a couple of years after their recent reformation, this legendary underground San Francisco progressive heavy metal band unleashes their first full-length debut album for the Rockadrome label. Consisting solely of newly recorded material from their early 80s heyday, it's destined to be the classic album everyone has long awaited from this magical group. Led by guitarist Thaen Rasmussen and vocalist/bassist Aaron Zimpel (who have also had roles in various bands such as Heathen, Metal Church, Vicious Rumors, Release and Control), the integrity of their original sound is fully maintained and should please anyone who has followed the band through the years or owned any of their heavily circulated demo tapes. A 12-page color booklet with liner notes written by San Francisco metal legend Ron Quintana (KUSF/Metal Mania), cover art by Mark Devito (Motorhead), and packed with lyrics and photos, completes this magnificent and much-anticipated release.
Anvil Chorus. The name itself suggests something a little more than the typical hard rock band; something intelligent and complex, even sophisticated -- and they were. Anvil Chorus made a thinking man's metal. There was such a thing and it wasn't thought of as a style, just good music that put some structure and challenges into a normally repetitive form. Clearly influenced by the prevailing titans of progressive rock and heavy metal of the day, Anvil Chorus was a fount of unique inspirations. A group of talented individuals, half of them multi-instrumentalists and all of them bringing to the table a creative flair. The composition, arrangement, and melodic skills enjoyed a harmonic and contrapuntal implementation that was delivered crushingly hugely. The sound was Big with a capital B. The guitar harmonies, keyboard wizardry, and bottled-lightning rhythm section were a powerful collision. Heavy riffs, catchy melodies, belting vocals, and a refined aesthetic completed the signature sound; Anvil Chorus, in the early 1980s, rightly earned a buzz of their own for their unique and exquisite style, which to this day continues to be regarded as significant and influential.
Musicians featured on the recording include:
Aaron Zimpel Vocals, Bass, Synthesizer
Thaen Ramussen Guitar, Vocals
Joe Bennett Drums
Phil Bennett - Keyboards, Piano, Hammond B3
Doug Piercy Guitar (Deadly Weapons, Red Skies, Man Made Machines, Death of a Dream, Tales, Blade, Once Again, Such is Life)
Additional musicians:
Carlos Hernandez Guitar (Death of a Dream)
Mark Bradley Piano (Once Again)
Jon Simon - Keyboards (Once Again)
Produced by Thaen Rasmussen and Aaron Zimpel. Recorded at: Denmark Studios, San Francisco CA., Bennett Studio, Walnut Creek CA., Redlight Studio, Martinez CA. Mixed and Mastered By Damien Rasmussen @ Catacombs, San Francisco
Anvil Chorus 2009's touring line-up is:
Aaron Zimpel, Thaen Rasmussen, Carlos Hernandez, Steve Kilgore
Track Listing:
- Deadly Weapons
- Red Skies
- Phase to Phase
- Man Made Machines
- After Time
- Death of a Dream
- Blue Flames
- Tales
- The Blade
- European
- Such is Life
- Once Again
Total Running Time: [57:03]
Press:
These new recordings on this disc are representative of some of the best moments of those years when Metal was evolving from the depths of obscurity to becoming the huge force it was in the eighties. This Music is Awesome! - Ron Quintana KUSF/Metal Mania
"Just imagine what it would have been like if there had only existed a demo version of Saints In Hell up until now and Priest had finally recorded it like the monster you knew it was and laid it on you full-force. Thats what this sum-bitch is like. Ignoring The Killing Sun is not an option. Buy it now." - Raysrealm
"9.5 / 10" - powermetal.de
"The Killing Sun is so expensive-sounding and flawlessly executed one quickly forgets the historical tie, save for the interesting mix of styles that builds and envelops as this engaging album plows on, most amusing being the touch of Saga or Kansas an otherwise kickin Shrapnel/Metal Blade/Queensryche EP-aggressive record." - Brave Words
"Anvil Chorus was ahead of their time. The way that they mix progressive music with heavy metal was just not done back then, at least not to the extent that they did. These guys can play." - Sea of Tranquility
"The Killing Sun" delivers everything an old-school prog metal fan could want: heaviness, daring musicianship, and great songs. - Peacedogman.com
"Overall, The Killing Sun is a magnificent effort from the long-neglected Anvil Chorus, a strong and well-appreciated dose of classic melodic heavy metal. Strongly recommended." - Dangerdog.com
"This is the album of the year, period. San Francisco-based Progressive Heavy Metallers Anvil Chorus have been re united and their comeback album is a real masterpiece." - Forgotten-scroll.net
From Germany's HEAVY MAG!:
