Sanctuary formed in Seattle in 1985, part of that city's metal scene. Their first album, Refuge Denied, came out in 1987, followed by Into the Mirror Black in 1989. The band's lineup included vocalist Warrel Dane and guitarist Jeff Loomis, along with Lenny Rutledge on bass and Dave Budbill on drums.
Songs like 'Long Since Dark' and 'Taste Revenge' showed their approach: heavy riffs with melodic vocals and harmonies. They released a third album, Nevermore, in 1992, then went quiet for a long stretch before returning with The Year the Sun Died in 2014.
They played shows with bands like Dio and Megadeth. The music had its own space between straightforward heavy metal and something a little more intricate, without losing the weight.
Keep it compact: a lyric you come back to, a live memory, or the part of the catalog you would point someone toward first.
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