Sanctuary – Into the Mirror Black 30

Sanctuary

‘Into the Mirror Black: 30^th Anniversary Edition’

Century Media

Heavy/Power Metal

FFO: Iced Earth, Metal Church, Crimson Glory, Savatage, Queensrÿche, Helstar

Metal Fact #3582; Sanctuary are one of heavy metal’s most overlooked and often underappreciated bands. The Seattle band delivered two of the US’s best heavy/power metal albums in the shape of ‘Refuge Denied’ and ‘Into the Mirror Black’, the latter of which has been the subject of an all-star remaster for its 30^th birthday.

                There is nothing that can be said for ‘…Mirror Black’ that hasn’t already been written about extensively already. The listener gets top quality genre defining late 80’s heavy metal with touches of soaring power metal comparable to the likes of Savatage. But you already knew that. So, what does this 30^th Anniversary edition offer? Well, besides an absolute barnstorming sound remaster from Zeuss, there are some demo tracks to explore that give an insight into how Sanctuary ended up at a finished product. But, the main point here is the live concert previously only available as a limited EP back in 1990. Once again touched up by Zeuss, this concert shows Sanctuary firing on all cylinders, a band in their prime and just how good the late Warrell Dane’s voice was at its most primal and raw and for those who never got to witness Sanctuary in their prime, then this live performance will sadly be the closest you’ll ever get.

                For those who already have this album, this expanded edition will serve as a wonderful edition to your collection and for those fans of the genre who still don’t own it? Why are you still reading this? Go, go out and get it, it is worth every penny.

Adam McCann