SilentScream213 Back in 1990, making a sullen, introspective USPM album was certainly new ground in itself. Sanctuary’s small dosages of technicality and prog along with a pinch of Thrash in both the vocal delivery and riffs further make this a standout release for the time. Indeed, you could certainly call this thinking man’s metal, with its more philosophical approach to the genre.

Underneath all that though, it’s not pretentious in the slightest. It’s just very competent USPM with some fantastic riffs and melodies, good vocal performance and lyrics, and always interesting rhythm section. It’s not exactly mind-blowing music, but everything comes together here quite perfectly, and it has a very fresh sound to it even now. Every track is top quality, not a minute of wasted space, what more could you want.

UMUR "Into The Mirror Black" is the 2nd full-length studio album by US power metal act Sanctuary. The album was released through CBS/Epic Records in late 1989 (Europe)/early 1990 (US and Japan). Sanctuary were formed in 1985 and released their debut full-length studio album "Refuge Denied" in 1987. The album was quite successful and also received some additional attention as a result of Dave Mustaine (Megadeth) acting as producer. A few years down the line and Sanctuary were ready with a new batch of original tracks. This time they chose Howard Benson (Motörhead, Apocalyptica, Sepultura) to produce. It´s interesting to note that Joe Barresi is credited as engineering assistent on the album. Barresi later became quite prolific and has worked with artists like Tool, Isis, Melvins, Kyuss, Soundgarden, and Enslaved.

Stylistically the music on "Into The Mirror Black" continues the US power metal style initiated on "Refuge Denied (1987)". It´s quite hard edged, pretty heavy, and even thrashy at times, but ultimately still closer to power metal than to thrash metal. In addition to heavy riffs, blistering solo work, and heavy and more up-tempo rhythms, the music features the distinct sounding vocals of Warrel Dane. While the music is both well played and well written too, it´s the vocals which make the whole difference. They are the defining element of Sanctuary´s sound, and the feature in the music which makes Sanctuary stand out on the scene. Compared to the dominant use of high pitched vocals on "Refuge Denied (1987)", Dane´s vocals on "Into The Mirror Black" are a bit more varied with use of lower registers too. He still screams and sings in a very high register when that is called for though.

Sanctuary released a promotional video for "Future Tense", which is understandable as that particular track kicks off the album in great heavy power metal style and also is among the highlights of the album. It´s apparent from the get go that the band have stepped up in all departments. Songwriting, musicianship, and production values. There is great bite, aggression, and conviction in the delivery of the music and paired with the relatively powerful sound production the album comes off as a high quality product. The lyrics are also worth reading, dealing with both politics, organized religion, and more personal issues. So "Into The Mirror Black" is all in all a great quality sophomore album by Sanctuary. Sadly it would also be their last album before disbanding in 1992. A 4 star (80%) rating is deserved.

UMUR "Inception" is a compilation album release by US, Seattle based power/heavy metal act Sanctuary. The compilation was released through Century Media Records in February 2017. "Inception" consists of the two tracks which were featured on the band´s 1986 demo ("I Am Insane" and "Dream of the Incubus". The titles are slightly altered compared to the demo), and seven unreleased early demo versions of tracks, which in their final studio versions would appear on the band´s debut full-length studio album "Refuge Denied (1988)".

I am one of those people who felt that Dave Mustaine´s production job ruined "Refuge Denied (1988)", and I have always wondered what better production values would have done to what was clearly promising US power/heavy metal material, and while the material on "Inception" isn´t one to one a better produced "Refuge Denied (1988)" it´s as close as it gets. All tracks on "Inception" were recorded in 1986 but during three different recording sessions. It´s not audible in a disturbing way and the overall flow and stylistic consistency of the material featured on the compilation work well.

The tracks have been remixed and remastered, and while you would expect remixed and remastered demo material to feature an acceptable sound quality, it´s still amazing how great the sound quality on the material on "Inception" have turned out. I haven´t listened to the original source material, but it must have been pretty great even back then, because otherwise this is close to a production miracle. Sure it´s occasionally a bit rough around the edges and it doesn´t exactly sound like a 2017 production job, but it´s raw, powerful, and detailed, and suits the material perfectly.

The musicianship is of a high quality on all posts, and with the new improved mix it´s suddenly obvious what a great drummer Dave Budbill was/is. Warrel Dane deserves a mention too for his incredible vocal skills and strong and versatile voice. The rest of the band are also well playing and considering that Sanctuary at this point were still in their formative years, the musicianship is generally quite impressive.

So upon conclusion this is one of those "archive" releases that is worth spending time and money on. While these are demo recordings, they were recorded at professional recording studios and with the new remixed and remastered sound, these doesn´t sound much like demos anymore. This could just as well have been a regular studio album from those days. In addition to the well sounding mix the material is of course also strong, and it´s a real joy listening to tracks like "Soldiers of Steel", "Death Rider / Third War", and "Battle Angels" (although all tracks are actually worth a mention). A 4 star (80%) rating is deserved.

Warthur On Into the Mirror Black, Sanctuary offer an intriguing and thoughtful take on the US style of power metal which to my ears sounds like it takes on the best aspects of that sound as practiced by the likes of early Queensryche. We aren't quite dealing with the darkly progressive territory that successor band Nevermore would delve into with their work, but there are certainly signposts pointing in that general direction here and there. With lyrical references to school shootings and religious warfare, it's an album capable of embarrassing humanity as a whole that we haven't come all that much further than we did when it came out on those fronts, and which remains relevant and credible to this day.

adg211288 Into the Mirror Black (1989) is the second full-length album by US power metal act Sanctuary. Sanctuary would break up in 1992 making Into the Mirror Black their last record until getting back together in 2010 and then later releasing their comeback album The Year the Sun Died (2014), a twenty-five year gap. While the band was inactive members Warrel Dane (vocals) and Jim Sheppard (bass) made more of a name for themselves with Nevermore.

While Into the Mirror Black mixes the same sort of blend of styles, US power metal, traditional metal and thrash metal, it's actually quite a different sounding album compared to the band's debut Refuge Denied (1987). The reason for this is Warrel Dane, whose vocals sound a lot more restrained on Into the Mirror Black compared to Refuge Denied. He still hits some high notes but doesn't dominant the album with them. Although I quite like the high register singing on the debut I can imagine it's an acquired taste which would make Into the Mirror Black a more accessible release from Sanctuary.

The song-writing remains pretty strong on the album. Future Tense is especially a really great way the kick the album off. I rarely pay attention to lyrical themes, but I have to take note of the lyrics of the song this one time as although partially dated with lines like 'what will the nineties hold?' the 1989 song still otherwise holds a lot of relevance even now, twenty-six years later, in 2015. Maybe more so, even. I mean the first lines are 'What do you see on the news when you watch T.V. War in the name of God, or a playground killing spree'. Sounds pretty damn familiar doesn't it? I hope I'm wrong, but I honestly don't think the song will have lost any meaning in another twenty-six years.

Back to the music now. as I said, Future Tense is a great song, my favourite from the album and one of my favourites from Sanctuary in general too. I don't find that every song on Into the Mirror Black stays with me in the same way as those from Refuge Denied do, but this is a high quality record on all fronts too. Another highlight for me is One More Murder. Like Future Tense it has a pretty catchy chorus that sticks with me long after the album has ended. 4.5 stars.