Formed from the ashes of the Progressive Rock band LEVIATHAN and other Bay Area groups, assorted members of the defunct San Franciscan bands began jamming with another local act HEAD ON to eventually forg ANVIL CHORUS. The story has it that HEAD ON's manager was impressed enough to offer the guys a support slot to his band in 1982.

Adopting the name ANVIL CHORUS, the new group not only played the HEAD ON show but also opened up for MÖTLEY CRÜE's earliest forays into Northern California. Other ANVIL CHORUS gigs had METALLICA as the opening act. Early rehearsals were held with guitarists Thaen Rasmussen, previously with VY-KING, and Douglas Piercy, ex-COBRA and DELTA, bassist Grant Williams, drummer Michael Hegos and vocalist Tim Montana.

By early 1982 ANVIL CHORUS comprised ex-LEVIATHAN vocalist Aaron Zimpel, guitarists Thaen Rasmussen and Doug Piercy, bassist Bill Skinner and drummer Ken Farragen, both previously with LEVIATHAN. The latter was eventually replaced by Joe Bennett, Farragen seemingly having ideas to become a policeman. Gere Fennelly, Rasmussen's girlfriend and a member of BLEU FOOD, was brought in on keyboards.

There were strong links between ANVIL CHORUS and the Seattle Metal band METAL CHURCH, Aaron Zimple (a.k.a. Aaron Whymer) having played drums on some early demos. Both bands would also play the old LEVIATHAN track 'Red Skies' in their live sets.

METAL CHURCH mainman Kurdt Vanderhoof had once been in the San Franciscan Punk band THE LEWD and had formed METAL CHURCH with ex-LEVIATHAN guitarist Rick Condran, Aaron Whymer and bassist Steve Haat. For the group's first demo the act was titled ANVIL CHORUS- THE CHURCH OF METAL. When this early incarnation of METAL CHURCH folded Whymer took the name ANVIL CHORUS. The links between the two acts remained though as ANVIL CHORUS paid homage with their track 'Bow To The Church Of Metal'.

Despite strong sales of the ANVIL CHORUS single 'Blondes In Black', especially in Europe as an import, ANVIL CHORUS never released further product and drifted into a more keyboard orientated direction. Although Warner Brothers expressed some form of interest in the band, the Bay Area band faded into oblivion.

Fennelly and Zimpel quit in 1985. Piercy, having produced demos for LEGACY (later to be retitled TESTAMENT) and EXODUS wished to pursue harder material and joined CONTROL. After CONTROL's second guitarist Dino Carvosia bailed out Rasmussen joined the ranks of CONTROL too in a line-up comprising of the two ex-ANVIL CHORUS guitarists with vocalist Ed Bull, bassist Michael Thinger and drummer Eric Rasmussen (no relation). When the latter departed another ANVIL CHORUS refugee Joe Bennett joined.

Doug Piercy would appear with HEATHEN. For HEATHEN's second album the band recut the ANVIL CHORUS track 'Guitarmony' with a guesting Rasmussen. Percy quit HEATHEN in 1991 for ANGEL WITCH and the German based THE COMPANY. Gere Fennelli toured with RED KROSS circa the band's 'PhaseShifter' tour.

ANVIL CHORUS reformed for a one off San Francisco gig in 1987 opening for EXODUS and MEGADETH at the Kabuki venue. Rasmussen founded an ANVIL CHORUS II in the 90's with ex-RELEASE man Steve Kilgore, bassist Ryan Connor and the now jailed dan Brian. Later work included Pop act PORCELAIN.

Rasmussen and Piercy formed part of the HEATHEN reformation in 2000. In early 2006 Thaen Rasmussen joined VICIOUS RUMORS for a series of European concerts. Reforming once again, ANVIL CHORUS performed a one-off gig at Ron Quintana's KUSF Rampage Radio 24th anniversary show on April 21st at Annie's Social Club in San Francisco. Band line-up comprised Aaron Zimpel on vocals and bass, guitarists Thaen Rasmussen and BLACK SUN's Carlos Hernandez, keyboard player Phil Bennett, replacing Gere Fennelly, and Joe Bennett on drums.

ANVIL CHORUS reunited to perform alongside fellow Bay Area veterans MORDRED and MERCENARY to perform on April 12th 2007 at Bottom of the Hill in San Francisco for a a benefit concert for the family of late San Francisco rock musician Curtis Grant, of BLACK CHERRY, AMERICAN HEARTBREAK and TOUCH ME HOOKER, who lost his battle with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma on March 20th. This show marked the first ANVIL CHORUS appearance following the return of guitarist Doug Piercy.

ANVIL CHORUS contracted a deal with Rockadrome Records for the release of the group's new album, comprising re-recorded, brand new versions of the popular cassette demo songs that had been widely traded in the worldwide metal underground over the previous 25 years. The sessions were crafted by guitarist Thaen Rasmussen and vocalist/bassist Aaron Zimpel along with guitarist Doug Piercy, drummer Joe Bennett and keyboard player Phil Bennet. A membership change in 2008 saw Steve Kilgore taking over on drums and Carlos Hernandez added on guitar.