LET THE SERPENT FOLLOW ME
EXITIUM (ANTHEM OF THE LIVING)
QUESTION EXISTENCE FADING
I AM LOW
FROZEN
ONE FINAL DAY (SWORN TO BELIEVE)
THE WORLD IS WIRED
THE DYING AGE
AD VITAM AETERNAM
THE YEAR THE SUN DIED
"As much as Nevermore felt like a logical jump from the direction laid out on Sanctuary's "Into The Mirror Black", "The Year The Sun Died" feels like a section of the bridge between the two and it is also a logical progression. Most importantly, it’s easily one of the best records I’ve heard all year. It’s as good a comeback as I could have ever expected, the next step in Sanctuary’s evolution. It took us a quarter century to find out where Sanctuary was going next, but regardless, I’m still on board. This one’s a killer, kids…"
Formata a Seattle nel 1985, la band originariamente era formata da Warrel Dane (voce), Lenny Rutledge (chitarra), Sean Blosl (chitarra), Jim Sheppard (basso) e Dave Budbill (batteria). I Sanctuary furono una scoperta del chitarrista dei Megadeth Dave Mustaine. Li aiutò a firmare per la CBS/Epic Records, produsse il loro primo album e li portò in tour con i Megadeth. Rilasciarono solo due, ma seminali e influenti, album in studio, "Refuge Denied" nel 1987 e "Into the Mirror Black" nel 1990, che si rivelano come una potente miscela di progressive, thrash e power metal ben apprezzata per le sue intricate composizioni e lo stile vocale lirico e svettante del compianto Warrel Dane. La sua voce cristallina, combinata con i classici riff thrash del chitarrista Lenny Rutledge salvo' i Sanctuary dalla agonia delle band metal che lottavano per farsi notare all'epoca. Semplicemente i Sanctuary offrivano qualcosa di fresco nel confuso mondo del thrash degli anni '80. Rappresentarono il perfetto anello di congiunzione tra l'US Power Metal, il Thrash tecnico e le sonorità oscure che avrebbero più tardi ridefinito il metal degli anni '90. Nel momento in cui il 1991 giunse al termine, il panorama della musica heavy americana appariva completamente diverso. Si ritrovarono senza un contratto discografico e supporto, così nel 1992 si sciolsero ufficialmente. Dane e il bassista Jim Sheppard andarono a formare i Nevermore con un giovane chitarrista appena reclutato, Jeff Loomis, che era gia' pronto ad unirsi ai Sanctuary prima del loro scioglimento .Il batterista David Budbill, il chitarrista Sean Blosl e Rutledge si allontanarono dall'industria musicale una volta che i Sanctuary si dissolsero, mentre i Nevermore rilasciarono diversi album acclamati e sono riconosciuti come una delle band più influenti del metal "moderno", sebbene verso i suoi anni più recenti, tumulti interni portarono la band a girare meno in tour, i suoi membri a focalizzarsi su album solisti e infine a trovarsi in pausa. I Sanctuary annunciano nel 2010 una reunion e suonano in festival metal sia in Europa che negli Stati Uniti con la formazione originale eccetto Blosl. L'ex chitarrista dei Forced Entry, Brad Hull, subentra come membro permanente in tour e in registrazione. All'inizio del 2014 entrano nei Soundhouse Studios e quasi 25 anni dopo dal debutto, riprendono esattamente da dove avevano lasciato: progredendo e spingendo i confini di ciò che il metal nell' album "The Year The Sun Died". Considerando che Rutledge, che ha scritto tutta la musica con Dane, è essenzialmente rimasto fuori l'ultimo quarto di secolo da registrazioni e dal suonare musica, alcuni potrebbero chiedersi come sia stato capace di scrivere alcune delle canzoni metal più notevoli e di impatto degli ultimi anni.
Formed in Seattle in 1985 the band originally consisted of Warrel Dane (vocals), Lenny Rutledge (guitar), Sean Blosl (guitar), Jim Sheppard (bass), and Dave Budbill (drums).
Sanctuary was a discovery of Megadeth guitarist Dave Mustaine. He helped get the band signed to CBS/Epic Records, produced their first album, and took them on the road with Megadeth. They released only two, but seminal and influential, studio albums, "Refuge Denied" in 1987 and "Into the Mirror Black" in 1990, showing a potent blend of progressive metal, thrash metal, and power metal well appreciated for its intricate compositions and the soaring, operatic vocal style of the late Warrel Dane.
His sky high vocals combined with guitarist Lenny Rutledge’s classic thrash riffs, separated Sanctuary from the throes of metal bands struggling to get noticed at the time. Simply Sanctuary offered something fresh sounding in the muddled world of ‘80s thrash. They represented the perfect link between US Power Metal, technical Thrash, and the dark sounds that would later redefine 90s metal.
By the time 1991 came to an end, the landscape of American heavy music looked completely different. They found themselves without a record deal or much support anywhere so in 1992 they officially disbanded. Dane and bassist Jim Sheppard went on to form Nevermore with a newly recruited young guitar player Jeff Loomis, who was set to join Sanctuary right before its collapse. Drummer David Budbill, guitarist Sean Blosl and Rutledge shied away from the music industry once Sanctuary dissolved, while Nevermore released several acclaimed albums and are recognized as one of modern metal’s most influential bands, though towards its later years, inner turmoil found the band touring less, its members focusing on solo albums and eventually finding themselves on hiatus.
Sanctuary announced in 2010 that they would be reuniting and played metal festivals in both Europe and the US with the original line up save for Blosl. Former Forced Entry guitarist, Brad Hull stepped in to fill his shoes as a permanent touring and recording member.
In early 2014, they entered Soundhouse Studios and almost 25 years later, picked up right where they left off: progressing and pushing the boundaries of what metal is in the album "The Year The Sun Died".
Given the fact that Rutledge, who wrote all the music with Dane, has essentially sat out the last quarter century of recording and playing music, some might question how he was able to write some of the most notable and striking metal songs heard in years.
.jpg "Sanctuary - The Year the Sun Died")
.jpg "Radakka - Malice and Tranquility")
