ANVIL CHORUS: 'The Killing Sun' Album Details Revealed

August 18, 2009

Rockadrome Records has set a September 29 release date for "The Killing Sun", the new album from the influential '80s progressive NWOSFHM (New Wave of San Francisco Heavy Metal) band ANVIL CHORUS.

Nearly three decades after the group's formation and a couple years after their recent reformation, this legendary underground band unleashes its full-length debut. Consisting solely of newly recorded material from ANVIL CHORUS' early '80s heyday, it's destined to be the classic album everyone has long expected from this magical group. Led by guitarist Thaen Rasmussen and vocalist/bassist Aaron Zimpel, the group's integrity 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 16-page color booklet with liner notes written by San Francisco metal legend Ron Quintana (KUSF radio, Metal Mania fanzine) and cover art by Mark Devito (MOTÖRHEAD),packed with lyrics, photos and memories, complete 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 challenge 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.

"The Killing Sun" track listing:

01. Deadly Weapons
02. Red Skies
03. Phase to Phase
04. Man Made Machines
05. After Time
06. Death of a Dream
07. Blue Flames
08. Tales
09. The Blade
10. European
11. Such is Life
12. Once Again

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)

ANVIL CHORUS' 2009 touring lineup is:

Aaron Zimpel
Thaen Rasmussen
Carlos Hernandez
Steve Kilgore

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