Finding dedicated people to start a band isn't always easy. Just ask Matt Anderson.
"I’ve been trying to start Chorus of Demons for a few years," the vocalist of the Chicagoland / Ohio-based group told me over email. "The name stems from a conversation between Mike Ryan from Missing Link and I, in regards to us doing a song together for their track 'Chain Link Heart.' I couldn’t find anyone serious, I had quit my prior band, Dayz Lost [he also previously played in Purgatory], and was talking to my friend Mike Herman about wanting to do a death metal band, he was looking to do the same so we just start pumping out material together starting back in I’d say September 2024."
With things finally coming together for Matt's Chorus of Demons plans, it was time to get busy in the studio. "We wrote our EP Dominion of Pure Suffering and self-released it December 2024. Our friend Jordan played bass and brought Justin in with him who plays drums. Erik is the other guitar player we met through a mutual friend. Recently we have added a third guitar player, Devin, who helped us fill in for a couple shows who comes in by way of Justin and Jordan. We’re based out of Chicagoland and Mike is in Ohio."
So, how does Matt classify Chorus of Demons? "'Hard Death Metal' is a good description. Classic and brutal bands like Dying Fetus to Suffocation, Cannibal Corpse to Morbid Angel and sprinkle in a little Visceral Disgorge, Internal Bleeding stuff. We touch a little on the hardcore element since that’s where we’re rooted from past bands."
Iron Fortress Records loved what they heard and inked a deal with Chorus of Demons to release Dominion of Pure Suffering on both CD and cassette. The partnership has also yielded a new Kai Reinhard-directed music video for the EP's title track:
"'Dominion of Pure Suffering' was written by Mike and I," said Matt. "We’re both rather unstable humans so projecting a 'kill anything that moves' feeling through music was the targeted objective. Lyrical content touches base on the general distaste for the population and the sadistic thoughts that come with those feelings. Essentially. It was mixed and mastered by Collin St. Mary at Nineteen Stars Recording in Northwest Indiana."
With Chorus of Demons now a full-on unit, Matt is excited to play out more in their backyard(s). "Where I live at in NWI, we have a reborn scene that’s been thriving with a new venue and a couple of friends running shows through 219 Booking. Chicago obviously always has a scene with multiple venues and an array of bands.
"Mike is near the Columbus, Ohio scene which is thriving. Bands in our respective areas to check out would be Primal Code, Weeping, Anatomize, Limb from Limb, Tomb Sentinel, Punctured, Gored Embrace, Anhedonia."
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Dominion of Pure Suffering is available on both CD and cassette via Iron Fortress Records.
Chorus of Demons on social media: Instagram
Upcoming shows:
April 26 in Columbus OH at the Summit w/ Ringworm, Earthburner and more
May 8th in Pontiac MI at The Crofoot for the Chaos and Carnage tour w/ Dying Fetus, Cradle of Filth and more
May 16 in Columbus OH at Donatos Basement w/ Vomit Forth, Anatomize and more
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