Into the Mirror Black is an improvement on Sanctuary's debut. The tones have more heft and the songwriting has become both more complex and melodic. I really miss this era of metal when it was just as important to craft a composition as it was to demonstrate how complex they can play. Everything here has balance and it never feels like it's going off the cliff. Late 80s Fates Warning comes to mind here, though Sanctuary were more grounded in thrash. And Warrel Dale is the perfect singer for this kind of music. He sings at the higher registers, which was de rigueur back then, but it's well within his range and control. No ball squeezing shrieks here. From here, Dale and bassist Jim Sheppard went on to form the heavier Nevermore, a band that achieved great underground success before Dale's untimely passing in 2017.
Ownership: 1990 Epic (LP)
5/28/24 (review)
Refuge Denied (1987)
Debut album from Seattle based power metal band that is more famous for their subsequent group Nevermore. The stakes were pretty high for 1987, and while Sanctuary puts in a strong power metal effort, it does pale to some of the competition. Good riffage, but it seems there isn't enough of them. Warrel Dane screams with the best of them, though. Not too fond of Dave Mustaine's hollow and slick production either. Lacks oomph.
This is one of those albums I feel compelled to keep, primarily because I probably won't find it again. But when the great purge happens, I doubt this one will make the cut. From a release perspective, Refuge Denied was initially issued as a CD, and the LP was an afterthought released a year later. Only one US pressing, demonstrating that Sony didn't expect too much demand, and I'm sure they were right. Hence its obscurity today, like many other albums of its ilk.
Ownership: 1988 Epic (LP)
7/20/23 (review)
7/20/23 (new entry)
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