Sanktuary: Something Fierce

Thrash metal is one of the most energetic and exciting metal genres out there. For me, listening to thrash always has a strongly nostalgic aspect, mostly because I remember the thrill of discovering bands like Metallica, Anthrax, Exodus, and Testament. Back in those days, these bands were honing their craft and delivering some of their best—at least their most groundbreaking—work. Those were good days for metal fans. Nowadays, music critics speak of the Big Four of thrash, but fans have always known there was something wrong with that designation. There were always other lesser known bands, bands that were awesome in their own right, bands that knew how to thrash but never reached those higher echelons of fortune making.

Sanktuary is one of those bands I would have loved back in the 80s. In saying that, I don't mean to suggest that they are a mere throwback. Actually, these guys are deliberately trying to capture a retro musical feel, offering fans a chance to relish a time in which thrash was something new and fresh and exciting, something that was still being discovered and defined. My first impression of Something Fierce was that this was the kind of album I would have saved my allowance for. It represents everything that is good and exciting about thrash and doesn't sacrifice musical quality for ego or showmanship. It just thrashes, from beginning to end. The best tracks on this album are those that go for sheer speed—check out "Thrill of the Kill," "Screeching for Vengeance," and "Fire in the Sky"—for the way these guys dive in to the speed and energy, the thrill, of the music itself. These are good thrash songs, contributions to a beloved musical style, not karaoke-style imitations.

Sanktuary hails all the way from the Yukon Territory, a faraway place in the furthest reaches of Northern Canada. It isn't the most populated region of Canada, but it certainly is home to a solid and strong metal band.

Check these guys out.

Track Listing:
1. Deadly Prey
2. Heat Lightening
3. Hail the Villain
4. Thrill of the Kill
5. Screeching for Vengeance
6. Fire in the Sky
7. Beyond the Wall
8. Midnite Mass

Added: June 22nd 2013
Reviewer: Carl Sederholm
Score:
Related Link: Band Facebook Page
Hits: 1918
Language: english

[ Printer Friendly Page ]
[ Send to a Friend ]