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LP REVIEW |
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01.
BLOOD LUST
(3:30)
Length: 39:09 (min:secs) Line-up:
www.sanctorum.co.uk
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The band formerly known as Devolution - having undergone the name change to help reduce the number of bands with that moniker - have resurfaced as Sanctorum with their debut full-length album produced by maestro Mark Daghorn. The question is; have there been many other radical changes since the promising “Penumbra” EP? Thankfully the answer is ‘not too much’ as they have evolved rather than devolved and the album shows a steady progressive development on their already sturdy foundations. Taking their queue from the unadulterated old school thrash bands of the 80’s with no apology or compromise, there are loud echoes of such contemporaries as Slayer, Metallica and especially Testament. However, with an infusion of more modern influences and the injection of some very impressive and fitting lead breaks, the sound is more individualistic than one might expect and has a decidedly British flavour. The only minor grumble is down to the vocals, which overall feel too one dimensional and have almost no deviation from the deathly gruff, guttural, snarling that’s exclusively maintained from song to song. You feel that a little variation would not only add depth but help sustain further interest throughout the album. That said it doesn’t spoil the recording as there is simply too much quality here to allow that to happen. Songs such as “Blood Lust” and “Stand Alone” for example display such powerful aggression, which is entwined with subtle melodies and guitar hero antics such as the cool lead breaks during “Watch Me Suffer” and “My Sickness”. “Lifeless Love” features some awesome heartfelt guitar work, while there’s an amazing epic feel to “Ancient Words”, which sounds like it could have been written by a band with ten years of experience under their belt. As it was with their EP, it’s hard to believe the youthfulness of this band (with ages around seventeen/eighteen), as these songs have an astonishing maturity coming from ones so young. That together with their undoubted quality and an appropriately raw feel to the production makes for an impressive debut that should cause quite a buzz amongst discerning metal-heads everywhere.
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- Rigsby
(5th September, 2006)
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