Corners Of Sanctuary offer rough & dirty new material on Gatefold LP

The new material the Philadelphia based traditional metallers have put out this year feels like being more on point. The sounds are heavier, hard-hitting and they feel like a layer of darkness has been added to the overall sound structures.

The year-long release reign finishes with a chance for a vinyl album.

Anyway the songs didn't flew in as one release but have been distributed as two EPs called Blood and Steel Volume One and Two. Now the time has come to finish the move with a decent album "Blood and Steel: Fight Till the End".

This installment combines Volumes One and Two plus additional tracks completing the year long journey. The fine thing is that besides the digital release and a CD this particular one has the chance to come as a vinyl LP into your hands.

Currently 100 units are on offer as a 150g Black gatefold vinyl through a pre-order page of RFL Records.

This format feels different and I think its suits very well to the sound Corners Of Sanctuary are working on so it would add a rougher and more dirty tone to your listening enjoyment.

The newest video “Into the Night (I Still Remember)” reflects to what I've written above. Besides the sound it's also the video that kicks me so heavy into their music.

Finally you can also see them live in 2022 if that's the best experience for you.

January 29th 2022

Room Two Twenty One

An old fashion freeze

Dixon City, PA

March 6th 2022

Reverb

w / Doyle

Reading, PA

Check the band's Facebook - maybe you can purchase tickets directly from them.

EP Review: Out Of Darkness - Seize The Day (Modern Metal, 2020)

Brent Smedley is widely known as the longtime drummer of Iced Earth. I was surprised to learn that he has a side-project with vocalist/guitarist Eric Barrios called Out Of Darkness. The seven songs that he has put out via Bandcamp are heavy music no question. But they are far more.

Can the release shed some light into your day?

They offer a look outside of the box. The opener "OH MY" already spreads this open mindness. Other tracks like "I surrender" are heavier material with a very modern metal take to the sound. I disliked the high-toned sound. It's way to harsh in my ears. 

Happily it's not the common sound of the release. The title-track "Seize the day" features rough vocals but riffs lighter through the speakers. It's going more into the groove metal style. It's also modern but not stressing my nerves like so many modern releases only going for brutality. 

"KNTRL" varies between direct and straight metal notes and more vocal heavyness. I like the moments when it's lighter with melodies flying around. My favorite of the EP since it has a slightly calming effect on me.

A ballad is also present of this first attempt. It's called "Freedom to be free" and shines with spoken elements at the proper moments. But the refrain is big and massive as you would expect of such a track with multiple vocal layers as a special in here.

Finally a midtemp song closes the package. It's riffs keep it compact and and the duration short so it may have been the last ideas the guys had at the rehearsals. Anyway it shows that this is a release of the moment - a authentic one.

All in all a solid release that opened my ears. The former duo surely has ambitions and I'm curious to see where this project may go to in the future. The album is available as download or CD on Bandcamp.