by Tasos Bouhoutsos

photos by Tasos Bouhoutsos

The doors opened a bit later than scheduled, but the room was already filling up steadily before Darklon hit the stage with a very clear sense of purpose and energy. They came in wanting to make an impression, both through their songs and their presence. With three full-length albums already under their belt in a relatively short span of time, there’s a clear sense of drive here, a band that’s pushing forward without standing still. On stage they felt tight and focused, an experienced instrumental trio locked in, with a vocalist who immediately stood out. There’s a confidence in the way they delivered the material, with enough variation and movement to keep the crowd engaged from early on. Given the limited set time, they made smart choices, playing almost with no gaps between songs, leaning mostly on their Mind Reaper material while still touching earlier work, all of it delivered with conviction. The only real note was the sound, a bit overloaded at times, almost too “dirty” in places. On one hand it suited the raw, aggressive edge of their US heavy/power-influenced style, but on the other it occasionally blurred some of the detail for first-time listeners. Even so, there’s a clear identity in formation here, and a band that already feels like it has room to grow into something even stronger if the lineup holds steady. The reactions from the crowd were solid and inarguably the tone was set for what was coming next.

Sanctuary weren’t on stage yet, but the room already had that low hum of anticipation running through it. The DJ’s selections filled the space, and there was this strange mix of doubt, darkness, and a kind of quiet, almost stubborn expectation in the air. This was the first time seeing them with their newer lineup, and everyone in the room knew exactly what was missing and at the same time, how unique this band has always been. Then, like a lightning taking these thoughts apart, the opening notes of “Die For My Sins” hit, and everything just snapped into place. Joseph Michael came in and immediately wiped away any hesitation with a vocal entrance that felt almost unreal in the room – sharp, high, and fully alive – triggering instant reactions across the crowd. Lenny Rutledge and Dave Budbill – the remaining members of the classic line up – looked completely locked in from the first second, ready to give everything and take it right back from a crowd that was clearly there for the same reason. And it wasn’t just about riffs or nostalgia, it was something deeper. Memory, loss, weight, release. The feeling of people meeting again after everything that’s happened in between along with the resilience and will for greater days ahead. “Battle Angels” followed, and at that point it was clear this wasn’t going to be anything less than a full immersion. The connection between band and crowd was immediate and unforced, and the whole room started shifting into something shared, almost communal. Lenny’s announcement that Into The Mirror Black would be played in it’s entiety only pushed things further, and Joseph carried it with a performance that felt both intense and strangely human at the same time, pulling the audience into the darker corners of the material but always letting a bit of light cut through. His dark, existential humor between songs added something very real to it all – not staged, just instinctive – and it worked perfectly within the atmosphere. “White Rabbit” gave a short breath, before they rolled into their excellent new single and the classic banger “Veil Of Disguise”. Even the small technical guitar issues that came up at one point didn’t really shake anything since the nessecary instrument chance, improved their already great sound. At that stage, it was clear that the night couldn’t slip off track even if it tried, with a couple of songs from their latest album to date, integrating perfectly with their classic stuff. The encore came with “Soldiers Of Steel”, closing things out with a sense of release rather than ending. The band looked fulfilled, the crowd looked drained in the best possible way – that quiet after the impact. Even after the set ended, people stayed, talking, taking photos, connecting with the band members, like the night didn’t really want to break apart yet.

Walking out, it was hard not to feel like something complete had just happened. Just two bands, but a full experience, nothing missing in terms of weight or impact. And what stood out just as much was the mix of ages in the room, which always says something about where the scene is standing, and where it might be going. If anything, it felt like one of those nights that sits somewhere in memory a bit longer than expected. Not just because it was nearly perfect, but because it felt real. All that’s left after this reviving experience is hoping this Sanctuary lineup keeps going, because clearly there’s still more in them to give. And if nothing else, nights like this prove that both sides – band and crowd – still need this kind of momentum. Until the next one.

Το άρθρο SANCTUARY, DARKLON – PIRAEUS CLUB ACADEMY, ATHENS, GREECE – 22/04/2026 εμφανίστηκε πρώτα στο Myth Of Rock.

legendary American heavy metal band SANCTUARY is proud to announce their official signing to BLKIIBLK. To celebrate, the band returns with a powerful new chapter in their storied career: the brand-new single “Not Of The Living.” A new lyric video comes along with the track and is available to view below.

On the signing to BLKIIBLK, SANCTUARY founder Lenny Rutledge comments:

“SANCTUARY is really excited to sign with BLKIIBLK. We are looking forward to working with our new team to bring future SANCTUARY music to metal fans all over the world!”

“Not Of The Living” marks SANCTUARY’s first new material since the passing of original vocalist Warrel Dane and stands as a bold statement of rebirth as they celebrate 40 years of uncompromising heavy metal.

Mike Gitter, Global Head of A&R for Frontiers Label Group and BLKIIBLK Label Head, exclaims:

“We’re excited to be working with SANCTUARY. Already a legendary band, in 2026, they’re building upon that legend and taking it one step further. When [European head of A&R] Aldo Lonobile and I heard the songs, they had begun recording for their first full-length since their last full-length ‘The Year The Sun Died’ [2014], it was clear, SANCTUARY were back making some of the most vital music of their career.

“Vocalist Joseph Michael (Witherfall) has stepped in for the late Warrell Dane(Nevermore) and carried the ball magnificently. Lenny Rutledge (SANCTUARY founding guitarist) is not only taking SANCTUARY’s legacy forward, but it already feels like he’s intent on exceeding it.”

Produced and mixed by acclaimed producer Zeuss (Queensrÿche, Metal Church, Rob Zombie, and Witherfall), “Not Of The Living” captures SANCTUARY’s classic blend of dramatic songwriting, soaring melodies, and crushing riffs while delivering a modern sonic impact. The track also features a blistering guest guitar solo by Jake Dreyer (Witherfall, Demons & Wizards, Iced Earth).

Joseph Michael, vocalist for SANCTUARY, shares:

“The band and I are very happy to announce our partnership with heavy metal’s PREEMINENT record label BLKIIBLK! We hope you enjoy this new chapter in the history of SANCTUARY. We look forward to bringing you new music while also honoring the past.”

Now, with more new music on the horizon, SANCTUARY are preparing to embark on a wide-ranging 40th Anniversary World Tour, celebrating four decades of metal history.

For the tour, SANCTUARY has recruited guitarist Will Wallner (Neon Dragon, Ex-White Wizzard) on 2nd lead guitar. The tour will span North America, South America, andEurope, featuring special sets highlighting the band’s classic albums ‘Refuge Denied’ and ‘Into the Mirror Black,’ alongside fan favorites and new material, including “Not Of The Living.”

Festival appearances confirmed for the tour include some of the most respected gatherings in the global metal community, including Keep It True, Hyperspace Metal Fest, and Hell’s Heroes. A full list of dates is below.

SANCTUARY Live:

4/18 – Vancouver, Canada @ The Rickshaw/Hyperspace Metal Festival
4/22 – Athens, GR @ Piraeus Club Academy
4/24 – Geiselwind, DE @ Tauberfrankenhalle/Keep It True
4/25 – Drachten, NL @ Iduna
4/26 – Hamburg, DE @ Logo
4/28 – London, UK @ The Underworld
4/29 – Kortrijk, BE @ Dvg Club
5/01 – Zoetermeer, NLS @ Boerderij
5/02 – Andernach Rheinland-Pfalz, DE @ Juz Live Club/Andernach Metal Days
8/16 – Washington, USA @ Substation/Soldiers Of Steel
8/22 – Mexico City @ TBD
8/23 – Mexico City @ TBD
8/25 – Lima, Peru @ TBD
8/27 – Chile @ Concepcion
8/28 – Santiago, Chile
8.29 – Buenos Aires, Argentina
8.30 – São Paulo, Brazil
9.18 – Wisconsin, USA @ Crucible-Blades Of Steel

With a new single, a worldwide anniversary tour, and a renewed creative drive, SANCTUARY continue to honor their past while forging ahead into the future.

Drummer Dave Budbill exclaims:

“Very stoked to be signing with such a kick ass Metal Label. SANCTUARY is Back!”.

Το άρθρο SANCTUARY: SIGNED WITH BLKIIBLK RECORDS, SHARE NEW SONG! εμφανίστηκε πρώτα στο Myth Of Rock.

by Dimitris Zacharopoulos

Sanctuary were formed in 1985 in Seattle, before flannel shirts and grunge took over the planet, and were part of a completely different movement. This wasn’t the Seattle people usually talk about. This was a city quietly building a heavy metal underground that could go toe-to-toe with anything coming out of the Bay Area or Europe. And Sanctuary? They were right in the middle of it, swinging hard.

Of course, at the core of it all was vocalist Warrel Dane, one of the most unique voices metal has ever produced. That high-pitched, almost operatic scream mixed with a darker, more theatrical tone? Instantly recognizable. You hear Dane for five seconds and you know it’s him. No clones, no imitators doing it quite right. He had that rare thing: personality into every note.

Backed by the riff machine of guitarist Lenny Rutledge and the band’s original lineup, Sanctuary started like many others (playing covers, grinding it out locally), but things escalated fast. Their demo caught serious attention on college radio, and then came one of those “right place, right time” moments that feels almost scripted: Megadeth’s Dave Mustaine hears the demo after a show and decides, “Yeah, I’m producing this”.

That led to “Refuge Denied” in 1988. Produced by Mustaine himself, the album was raw, aggressive and dramatic in the best way. It sat somewhere between thrash metal and power metal, but it didn’t fully belong to either. Tracks like “Battle Angels” and “Die for My Sins” had speed and melody, all colliding at once. It wasn’t polished, but that’s exactly why it hit so hard. And live? Sanctuary toured with absolute killers, Megadeth, Testament, Savatage, and held their own – that says everything!

Then came “Into the Mirror Black” in 1990. This is where things got darker, heavier, more refined. The songwriting tightened up, the atmosphere got thicker, and Dane’s vocals became even more haunting. “Future Tense” even got some MTV airtime, on “Headbangers Ball”, back when that actually meant something. Yet, this majestic album dropped at the exact wrong time … while Sanctuary were evolving, Seattle itself was about to flip the table. Enter Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, and the whole grunge explosion. Labels didn’t want high-pitched screams. Dirt, not drama. Simplicity over complexity. And no guitar solos at all.

Suddenly Sanctuary were the odd ones out in their own hometown. Pressure from their label to “adapt” didn’t sit well. Creative tension built up. And in 1992, just like that, they were gone. No farewell, no big final statement, just another great band crushed between industry trends and timing.

But was that the end of it all? No, because out of those ashes came Nevermore. Dane, bassist Jim Sheppard and a young guitar monster named Jeff Loomis took things in a darker, heavier, more progressive direction. But, while Nevermore gained recognition, that original Sanctuary spirit never really disappeared. For years, Sanctuary felt like a forgotten chapter. A cult band you discovered if you dug deep enough. But in 2010 Sanctuary was awakened and a reunion happened! It wasn’t supposed to be a full comeback, just a few shows. But the chemistry? Still there. The fans? Still hungry. And suddenly Sanctuary were alive again, not as a nostalgia act, but as a band with something to prove.

That led to “The Year the Sun Died’ in 2014. Honestly? It had no business being as good as it was after 24 years. Produced by Chris Harris, the album leaned into a heavier, more modern sound, closer in spirit to Nevermore but still unmistakably Sanctuary. Tracks like “Arise and Purify” and “Frozen” showed a band that aged without getting soft. I know, some fans complained it sounded too much like Nevermore, but come on. That’s Dane’s voice. That shadow was always going to be there. And yeah, it worked. The album felt like a bridge between eras, not a copy or anything.

Then came 2017. This is where things got heavy in a different way. Warrel Dane died suddenly in Brazil. Heart attack. Just like that. One of metal’s most unique voices, gone at 56. That hit hard. Not just for Sanctuary fans, but for anyone who followed his work. Dane wasn’t just a singer—he was a storyteller, a mood, a presence. You don’t replace that.

To their credit, Sanctuary didn’t try to pretend otherwise. When they eventually returned to the stage, they brought in Joseph Michael, a guy who respects the material without trying to be Dane. That’s the only way you can do it without it feeling fake.

Lineup changes came and went, tragedies happened, like the loss of founding guitarist Sean Blosl in 2024, but the band kept moving forward. Not chasing trends, not rewriting history, just existing on their own terms. If you go back now and listen to “Refuge Denied” or “Into the Mirror Black”, you’ll hear a band that didn’t quite belong to its era—and that’s why it still sounds fresh. No trend-chasing, no safe moves. Just pure, unfiltered metal with identity.

Raw. Dramatic. Underrated as hell. Absolutely essential.

Sanctuary continue to perform live to this day with the lineup of Lenny Rutledge (guitar), Joseph Michael (vocals), George Hernandez (bass), and Dave Budbill (drums). They are playing selected live shows, especially as they celebrate now their 40th anniversary. In a few days, we will get to enjoy this revolutionary band at Piraeus Club Academy! Don’t miss this historic rendezvous!

Το άρθρο SANCTUARY – US METAL REFUGE εμφανίστηκε πρώτα στο Myth Of Rock.