On December 13th, 2017, Warrel Dane, the legendary lead singer of Sanctuary and Nevermore passed away while recording his posthumously released studio album “Shadow Work”. At that time, Sanctuary had already confirmed and announced a US tour supporting Iced Earth in February/March 2018 and while shocked by Warrel Dane’s passing, decided to turn it into a tribute to his legacy with exceptionally talented Witherfall vocalist Joseph Michael. Performing tracks from 1988’s “Refuge Denied”, 1990’s “Into the Mirror Black” and 2014’s “The Year the Sun Died”, Joseph Michael delivered a stunning performance and received very positive feedback from the fans attending the shows. Remaining founding members Lenny Rutledge (guitars) and Dave Budbill (drums) ultimately made the decision to continue with Sanctuary and new singer Joseph Michael not only as a live act, but also compose and record a new album, which is currently expected to surface in 2020.
Now, the band has confirmed two European festival shows this summer and will tour North America in July performing the entire “Refuge Denied” album as Lenny Rutledge explains:
“Sanctuary are looking forward to playing two special festival shows in Europe this summer in addition to our commemorative “Refuge Denied” dates in the US where we will perform our classic debut album in full. If you’re an old school Sanctuary fan or a fan of classic metal, you don’t what to miss this run of dates! Joseph Michael (Witherfall) is the new singer of Sanctuary and we will be playing songs from all 3 albums but focusing on the earlier material. Come check out the return of Sanctuary!”
Lenny Rutledge and Joseph Michael reveal more about Sanctuary’s future in this new video:
While the new album is still months away, Sanctuary will continue to perform live as Joseph Michael enables the group to do intense old school sets including the soaring vocals and high screams, fans know and love on albums such as “Refuge Denied” and “Into the Mirror Black”. Sometimes, great triumph comes from great tragedy, and this sounds true in regards to Sanctuary!
SANCTUARY live 2019
2019 North American tour – Performing all of “Refuge Denied”!
With special guests: Ghost Ship Octavius
July 11 Atlanta, GA – Basement
July 12 Chapel Hill, NC – Local 586
July 13 Frederick, MO – Cafe 611
July 14 Brooklyn, NY – Saint Vitus Bar
July 16 Somerville, MA – Once Ballroom
July 17 Pittsburgh, PA – Crafthouse
July 18 Cincinnati, OH – North Side Yacht Club
July 19 Indianapolis, IN – Black Circle Brewery
July 20 Detroit, MI – Sanctuary
July 21 Chicago, IL – Reggies
August 16 Portland, OR – Bossanova Ballroom *
August 17 Seattle, WA – El Corazon *
On December 13th, 2017, the worldwide metal community mourned the passing of a truly unique voice, an extremely gifted songwriter, and above all a wonderful human being, that will be dearly missed: WARREL DANE, who died of a heart attack during the recordings of his second solo album in São Paulo, Brazil.
Renowned for his work in Sanctuary and Nevermore as well as a solo artist, in 2014 Warrel had teamed up with Brazilian musicians Johnny Moraes (guitar), Thiago Oliveira (guitar), Fabio Carito (bass) and Marcus Dotta (drums) as his touring band and ultimately this successful collaboration led to plans for a new studio album. Recordings for “Shadow Work”, the follow-up to 2008’s “Praises to the War Machine”, started in fall 2017 and Travis Smith commenced to create the artwork following a concept and ideas previously discussed with Warrel.
After reviewing the material that could actually be completed using vocals from various studio and pre-production sessions with Warrel, the decision was made to release these recordings as “Shadow Work”on October 26th, 2018.
Recorded by Wagner Meirinho at Orra Meu and Loud Factory Studios, “Shadow Work” was mixed and mastered by Lasse Lammert at LSD Studio and a first song from the release – “Disconnection System” – can be heard here:
“Shadow Work” will be released as Special Edition CD Mediabook offering a 44-page booklet, as Gatefold LP plus CD and 12-page LP booklet and on all digital platforms. Each song is illustrated by Travis Smith’s art, created as his personal tribute to Warrel and further explained in his personal liner notes. Furthermore, photos, lyrics and moving statements from the musicians are included as well.
WARREL DANE – Shadow Work tracklist:
Ethereal Blessing
Madame Satan
Disconnection System
As Fast as the Others
Shadow Work
The Hanging Garden (The Cure cover)
Rain
Mother is the Word for God
On March 9th, 2018, Century Media Records will release “The Complete Collection” by NEVERMORE, an impressive 12-disc CD box set including all studio releases, the “Year Of The Voyager” live album as well as a disc of rarities. Limited to 2.000 copies, it also includes a numbered collector’s certificate, an 80-page booklet (with lyrics, photos, liner notes) plus a poster flag depicting the band’s line-up on 2005’s masterpiece “This Godless Endeavor”. Guitarist Jeff Loomis and drummer Van Williams have been involved in this project since early October 2017, with Williams also creating the artwork for this set.
Originally, “The Complete Collection” was supposed to be an attractive format celebrating one of Century Media Records’ finest bands on time with the label’s 30th anniversary in 2018.
Unfortunately, it now marks the first release coming out after vocalist Warrel Dane passed away on December 13th, 2017, which was not only a shock to his family, fans, friends, and fellow musicians, but also to the many current and former employees at Century Media Records who had been working with him since the early 90’s. At this time, however, all parts of the box set were already being manufactured, except for the booklet, which was completed in early 2018.
Featuring quotes from historical interviews with main songwriters Jeff Loomis and Warrel Dane, “The Complete Collection” offers a detailed journey through one of metal’s most consistent and inspired discographies, but it was never meant to be a tribute.
An unboxing video of “The Complete Collection” can be viewed here:
Furthermore, Century Media Records announce the following NEVERMORE vinyl releases in 2018:
May 11th, 2018 – “Enemies Of Reality (Remixed & Remastered)”
Black / limited colored LP+CD & Poster
First ever vinyl edition of the Andy Sneap remix/remaster created in 2005.
June 15th, 2018 – “This Godless Endeavor (Reissue 2018)”
Black / limited colored Gatefold 2LP+CD & Poster
This album has never been repressed since its original release back in 2005.
“Century Media Records fully understands that some people might be upset by seeing releases related to Warrel Dane and his past bands coming out, but we consider it mandatory to treat his artistic works with utmost respect and in cooperation with his former band members will keep his body of work available.” “He is a tremendous loss. His lyrics changed the way I view the world. He was one of a kind and his bigger than life character will always be with us …all we have to do is listen!”
Jim Sheppard
NEVERMORE “The Complete Collection” track-listing can be viewed below
Disc 1: Nevermore (1995)
1. What Tomorrow Knows
2. C.B.F.
3. The Sanity Assassin
4. Garden Of Gray
5. Sea Of Possibilities
6. The Hurting Words
7. Timothy Leary
8. Godmoney – Bonus tracks –
9. The System’s Failing
10. The Dreaming Mind (Demo 1992)
11. World Unborn (Demo 1992)
12. Chances Three (Demo 1992)
13. Utopia (Demo 1992)
Disc 2: In Memory (1996)
1. Optimist Or Pessimist
2. Matricide
3. In Memory
4. Silent Hedges/Double Dare (Bauhaus cover)
5. The Sorrowed Man – Bonus tracks –
6. The Tiananmen Man (Demo 1996)
7. The Seven Tongues of God (Demo 1996)
8. Passenger (Demo 1996)
9. This Sacrament (Demo 1996)
10. 42147 (Instrumental Demo 1996)
Disc 3: The Politics Of Ecstasy (1996)
1. The Seven Tongues Of God
2. This Sacrament
3. Next In Line
4. Passenger
5. The Politics Of Ecstasy
6. Lost
7. The Tiananmen Man
8. Precognition
9. 42147
10. The Learning
Disc 4: Dreaming Neon Black (1999)
1. Ophidian
2. Beyond Within
3. The Death of Passion
4. I Am the Dog
5. Dreaming Neon Black
6. Deconstruction
7. The Fault of the Flesh
8. The Lotus Eaters
9. Poison Godmachine
10. All Play Dead
11. Cenotaph
12. No More Will
13. Forever
Disc 5: Dead Heart In A Dead World (2000)
1. Narcosynthesis
2. We Disintegrate
3. Inside Four Walls
4. Evolution 169
5. The River Dragon Has Come
6. The Heart Collector
7. Engines Of Hate
8. The Sound Of Silence (Simon & Garfunkel cover)
9. Insignificant
10. Believe In Nothing
11. Dead Heart In A Dead World
Disc 6: Enemies Of Reality – Original Mix (2003)
1. Enemies Of Reality
2. Ambivalent
3. Never Purify
4. Tomorrow Turned Into Yesterday
5. I, Voyager
6. Create The Infinite
7. Who Decides
8. Noumenon
9. Seed Awakening
Disc 7: Enemies Of Reality – Remix & Remastered (2005)
1. Enemies Of Reality
2. Ambivalent
3. Never Purify
4. Tomorrow Turned Into Yesterday
5. I, Voyager
6. Create The Infinite
7. Who Decides
8. Noumenon
9. Seed Awakening
Disc 8: This Godless Endeavor (2005)
1. Born
2. Final Product
3. My Acid Words
4. Bittersweet Feast
5. Sentient 6
6. Medicated Nation
7. The Holocaust Of Thought
8. Sell My Heart For Stones
9. The Psalm Of Lydia
10. A Future Uncertain
11. This Godless Endeavor
Disc 9: The Year Of The Voyager (2008) live album – CD1
1. Final Product
2. My Acid Words
3. What Tomorrow Knows/Garden Of Gray
4. Next In Line
5. Enemies Of Reality
6. I, Voyager
7. The Politics Of Ecstasy
8. The River Dragon Has Come
9. I Am The Dog
10. Dreaming Neon Black
Disc 10: The Year Of The Voyager (2008) live album – CD2
1. Matricide
2. Dead Heart In A Dead World
3. Inside Four Walls
4. The Learning
5. Sentient 6
6. Narcosynthesis
7. The Heart Collector
8. Born
9. This Godless Endeavor
Disc 11: The Obsidian Conspiracy (2010)
1. The Termination Proclamation
2. Your Poison Throne
3. Moonrise (Through Mirrors of Death)
4. And The Maiden Spoke
5. Emptiness Unobstructed
6. The Blue Marble and the New Soul
7. Without Morals
8. The Day You Built the Wall
9. She Comes in Colors
10. The Obsidian Conspiracy
Disc 12: Rarities & Demos
1. Temptation (The Tea Party cover)
2. The Purist’s Drug
3. Crystal Ship (The Doors cover) Recorded during the “The Obsidian Conspiracy” sessions
4. All The Cowards Hide Recorded during the “Dreaming Neon Black” sessions
5. Chances Three Recorded during the “Dead Heart In A Dead World” sessions
6. Love Bites (Judas Priest cover) Recorded during the “The Politics Of Ecstasy” sessions
7. Termination Proclamation (Live in London 2010) – previously unreleased
8. Your Poison Throne (Live in London 2010) – previously unreleased
9. Emptiness Unobstructed (Live in London 2010) – previously unreleased
10. The Obsidian Conspiracy (Live in London 2010) – previously unreleased Recorded on May 18th, 2010 at the O2 Academy in London, UK
11. Dead Heart In A Dead World (Demo 2000) – previously unreleased
12. We Disintegrate (Demo 2000) – previously unreleased
13. Insignificant (Demo 2000) – previously unreleased
14. Engines Of Hate (Instrumental Demo 2000) – previously unreleased
15. Acoustic Instrumental (Demo 2000) – previously unreleased Rough demo versions recorded in 2000 www.facebook.com/nevermorefans/
Warrel Dane, the legendary vocalist of Sanctuary and Nevermore, has passed away at 48, having suffered a heart attack Wednesday (December 13th) in São Paulo, Brazil, according to reports surfacing online, reported Bravewords.com. Dane was in Brazil working on his second solo album, Shadow Work.
According to Brazil’s UOLDane’s guitarist, Johnny Moraes, says he was with Warrel when he began to feel bad around midnight.
“He tonight had a heart attack. It was in the flat where he stayed for the recording of the record, when it happened. I got to do cardiac massage, we called the SAMU (Mobile Emergency Care Service), who arrived very fast, but when they arrived, he had already died,” said Johnny.
According to the guitarist, Dane already suffered from health problems. “His health was already very weak because of diabetes and his problems with alcoholism. He was already facing many health problems.”
The report reveals that Warrel Dane had a long-standing relationship with the Brazilians, not only because of the shows. Since 2014 he has been recruiting Brazilian musicians to do some solo touring. Since Nevermore dissolved, he went on to do two European tours with the Brazilian musicians and then decided to record the new album with them.
Dane released his first solo album, “Praises To The War Machine”, in 2008. Now, he was already in the advanced stages of the recordings for his new album
“The record had almost all the instruments completed and we started to record the voice. Much of it was done,” said Johnny. The musicians are already thinking about how to use the material for a posthumous tribute. “Maybe we can count on guests. But there’s nothing official about it.”
European matrix death metallers DESECRATE have released their new video “Nevermore”, directed by Ildo Brizi. The song is part of the horror movie soundtrack STRIDOR, directed by Ildo Brizi and it’s featuring in the lastest DESECRATE full length, “Orpheus”.
Watch “Nevermore” here:
The band stated: “We are proud of the collaboration established between the band and the world of independent filmmakers of our circuit. Earlier we had the pleasure of shooting the video of the first single “To the Hades and Back” directed by Alberto Bogo. Now the collaboration born with Ildo Brizi for his horror movie STRIDOR allowed to realize this new video and we are enthusiastic!”
Formed in 1995, DESECRATE immediately became protagonist in the Italian underground scene. Their debut full-length album “Moonshiny Tales (The Torment and the Rapture)” came out in 1998 via Mephisto Records. Due to several musical disagreements, the band went to hiatus in 2001, but after nine years, in 2010, DESECRATE raised from the ashes again, releasing a new album, “XIII The Death” in 2012, via Inverse Records. The band’s sound has remained faithful to the European matrix death metal of the 90’s aggressive and scratching sonority, with several arrangement innovations which together with the constant use of the piano, create a very personal sound. Recently the band has toured in Italy, having one of the highlights the final show with Dark Tranquillity. DESECRATE‘s latest effort “Orpheus” came out in January 2015, followed by a promotional tour in Italy.
European matrix death metallers DESECRATE‘s song “Nevermore”, from their latest album “Orpheus”, will be featuring in the movie, entitled “Stridor”. The film will come out in late January/early February 2017.
DESECRATE stated: “We are proud to announce that our piece “Nevermore” was choosen for the ILDO BRIZI and ANDREA LIONETTI’s new movie “STRIDOR”, directed by ILDO BRIZI. DESECRATE is going to be engaged with a small part in this Horror Gothic Slasher movie and from this cooperation will be extracted the new videoclip that will come out at the beginning of 2017, when the promotional activity of the band will continue, they also will be committed in several dates abroad.”
Formed in 1995, DESECRATE immediately became protagonist in the Italian underground scene. Their debut full-length album “Moonshiny Tales (The Torment and the Rapture)” came out in 1998 via Mephisto Records. Due to several musical disagreements, the band went to hiatus in 2001, but after nine years, in 2010, DESECRATE raised from the ashes again, releasing a new album, “XIII The Death” in 2012, via Inverse Records. The band’s sound has remained faithful to the European matrix death metal of the 90’s aggressive and scratching sonority, with several arrangement innovations which together with the constant use of the piano, create a very personal sound. Recently the band has toured in Italy, having one of the highlights the final show with Dark Tranquillity. DESECRATE‘s latest effort “Orpheus” came out in January 2015, followed by a promotional tour in Italy.
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 