A lot of classic bands came back to the stage during last few years, but to be honest, I never thought that Sanctuary will become one of them. Well, to be honest I think that I wasn't the only one surprised in 2010, when band declared their reunion, and I've been waiting really long for their new studio record. And in 2014 it happened- "The Year The Sun Died" saw the daylight, and what's more- Sanctuary declared a lot of gigs, in 2015, while touring Europe with Overkill (one date in Cracow, and the second one in my hometown, Gdansk). As I find reactivation of Warrel Dane's previous band one of the most important things, that happened to oldschool metal in recent times, it was an obvious decision to me, that it's time to ask Sanctuary some questions.

Hi ! So here we got it, after so many years the new Sanctuary album! Congratulation for recording a great album. And here’s the first question- what caused the idea of band’s reunion and was it difficult for you, to write a new material after such a long time?
(LR)Hello, Thanks for taking the time to talk with us. This really just started off as some old friends revisiting an earlier musical venture. We had so much fun at our original reunion show that we decided to continue on and naturally new ideas began to develop. I do think we were all very aware that if we recorded something new it had to be great. There was a bit of a feeling that we needed to prove we could still be relevant after this many years.


New guitarist in Sanctuary is Forced Entry’s Brad Hull- how did you find him and was he the only candidate? How did he fit the band, as he’s the only new member after reunion?
(LR)Brad was a friend of ours in the metal scene back in the day. He filled in for Sean Blosl after he quit the band and joined us on our last tour back in 1991. This time around when we re-activated the band Loomis was actually playing with us for about 6 months but when he quit Nevermore in 2011 he also quit Sanctuary. At that point we asked Brad if he was interested.

And about this little line-up change- why Sean is no longer on a board?
(LR)Sean Blosl was asked but he was not interested at the time.


“The Year The Sun Died” is full of Nevermore influences. How big is in your opinion mark, that Jim’s and Warrel’s past put on Sanctuary?
(LR)I don’t know if we were influenced by NM other than we share the same vocalist / Lyricist so there are going to be many similarities. I know that Nevermore faced the same observations and criticisms when they first formed right after Sanctuary broke up.

Also graphic art and lyrics reminds on Nevermore, especially “Dreaming Neon Black” and “Politics Of Ecstasy” period- wasn’t it a bit Warrel’s attempt to continuate legacy of his previous band?
I don’t really know the answer to this. We are fans of both bands and we know there will be comparisons. It’s unavoidable. As far as the artwork goes we are also fans of Travis Smith so again we aren’t too worried about it.

“The Year The Sun Died” is a lyrical concept album, it’s easy to notice. Can you please tell us more about that concept?
(WD)It’s a concept record about a doom prophet in the future that predicts the death of our sun. If you read the liner notes between songs it explains much more.

Why caused you to put The Doors cover at the limited edition of the album? I know, that Nevermore also recorded that band’s song, so it’s like an echo from the past, or it’s just a coincidence?
(WD)This song was something we had talked about for years, it’s no secret that I’m a Morrison junkie and it kind of ties into the title. We made a raging heavy version.

(LR) Back before Sanctuary broke up we were talking about doing this song so it only seemed natural this time around.


During Nevermore years Warrel has been singing mostly with a medium or low vocal tune. The same is on the new Sanctuary album. Was it difficult to come back to this high-pitched, Halfordish vocal parts to sing them live?
(WD)Well I had to practice the high stuff quite a bit but it’s still there no matter what anyone says. It’s a different mindset than NM.

Producer of “Refuge Denied” was Dave Mustaine. Also, you had a tour with Megadeth and Flotsam&Jetsam in 1988. What’s your memories about that time, and how Dave influenced on Sanctuary in late eighties?
(LR) Dave was a mentor to all of us and we remember that as a great time in our lives. We played many shows with Megadeth. Dave was very instrumental in pointing us in the right direction.

Thank you very much for the interview ! The last question goes to you- is there something, that you want t say to our readers?
(LR) I have heard a rumor that we will be in Poland in March of 2015 so hopefully we will see you all there.

Interview Wojciech Michalak