Seattle thrash metal warriors
Sanctuary launch a long-delayed comeback with 2014's
The Year the Sun Died. The group disbanded in 1992 after two fine albums on
Epic, with singer
Warrel Dane and bassist
Jim Sheppard going on to form the highly successful
Nevermore shortly thereafter. The band's remaining members essentially left the music business and a
Sanctuary reunion seemed unlikely, though they'd taken on somewhat of a cult status over the years. Suddenly in 2010, the band announced a slew of festival appearances, leaving fans to wonder if a new album might possibly follow. Sure enough, in 2014 prominent metal label
Century Media announced the arrival of
The Year the Sun Died,
Sanctuary's first new album in 25 years. Aggressive, heavy, and tuneful, the band hasn't missed a beat, combining bits of dark, creepy thrash and strong melodic leads.
Dane's voice doesn't quite reach the high octaves of his late-'80s peak with the band, but sounds confident and his style here is more in keeping with efforts in
Nevermore. It's a nice mix of classic thrash and modern metal by an often overlooked band getting a second chance to make its stand. ~ Timothy Monger
