RESURRECTIONS: SOULBURN AND SANCTUARY

Soulburn 2014

This morning brought news of new albums on the way from two bands whose last recorded efforts date back many years. I’m intrigued by both announcements, and thought you might be, too.

SOULBURN

Soulburn are a Dutch band formed in the mid-90’s by original Asphyx drummer Bob Bagchus and his former Asphyx bandmate, guitarist Eric Daniels, with Wannes Gubbels from Pentacle on bass and vocals. Century Media released their well-regarded debut album Feeding on Angels in 1998 (reissued in 2009) — and there has been no recorded music from Soulburn since then. But that’s about to change.

According to an interview with Bob Bagchus published today by Terrorizer, a revived Soulburn will finish recording a new album in July, with the working title of In Suffocating Darkness. Bagchus says it will be released by Century Media and he describes the music as “our darkest one since Asphyx’s Embrace The Death, with lots of old Bathory/Venom/Celtic Frost love in it”. The new vocalist/bassist is Twan van Geel (Bunkur), and Bagchus says, “Instead of the typical deathgrunt he sings in the more aggressive way like Dissection/Watain kind of vocals which fit our music 100% perfectly.” The current band also includes guitarist Remco Kreft (Grand Supreme Blood Court).

Everything about this news appeals to me, from the pedigrees of the band’s members to the influences cited by Bagchus for the new album to the black/doom/death description of the sound. Bring it on!

You can follow Soulburn on FB here. Here are a couple of tracks from the first album, though Bagchus says the new sound will be infiltrated by black metal to a much greater degree.

 

 

 

 

 

Sanctuary — photo by Patrick Häberli

SANCTUARY

Sanctuary were formed in Seattle in 1985 and released two albums on Epic Records, Refuge Denied in 1987 and Into the Mirror Black in 1989. The band broke up in 1992, with vocalist Warrel Dane and live guitarist Jeff Loomis going on to form Nevermore. In 2010 the band regrouped to play festivals in Europe and the U.S., and today brought news about their new album.

Its title is The Year the Sun Died and it’s scheduled for release by Century Media on September 29 in Europe and on September 30 in North America. It was recorded at Soundhouse Studios in Seattle by Zeuss and is supposed to include 11 tracks plus a bonus cover of “Waiting For the Sun” by The Doors. Here’s a quote by Warrel Dane from the press release I received:

“Now that hell has officially frozen over and the pigs have flown, I can proudly say ‘The Year The Sun Died’ is finished. The record that nobody thought would ever get here has come in kicking…and yes, there is screaming! Working with Zeuss (aka the commander) was great. He really pushed us all to be better. This is a very modern sounding record with roots still firmly planted in old school, six-string metal, and I gotta give him creds for that.”

Here’s the band’s current line-up:

Warrel Dane – Vocals
Jim Sheppard – Bass
Brad Hull – Guitars
Lenny Rutledge – Guitar
Dave Budbill – Drums

I’m not sure I will enjoy the new album — as you know, I have certain preferences when it comes to metal vocals. But I’m in Seattle, and this is pretty big news for heavy music in this town, and I must say, I’m interested in what this will sound like.