Today i learned that one of my oldest and dearest friends passed away from cancer. Paul was one a kind. Some how managing to be both curmudgeon yet good spirited at the same time. Paul was one of the first people i met when i came back to Los Angeles in the mid 2000's we played in a few ridiculous cover bands. In 2007 he joined my psuedo-goth prog band Midnight Reign...
I'm most proud of this song We wrote together while working on his 2nd Solo CD... His solo is really special on this one.
Anyone that knows me, knows that i have little time for friends and zero time for acquaintances... I can count on my left hand my great friends... Paul was one of them. I love and will miss him. Travel on...
Paul is survived by his wife and co-curmudgeon Teresa Sternquist. Per his wishes she will have him cremated. If you'd like to contribute the Cancer fund is still up and taking donations to pay for this final expense.
Joseph Michael (Witherfall,Sanctuary) Van Williams (ex-Nevermore, Ghost Ship Octavious), Anthony Crawford (Witherfall, Chon), Joey Concepcion (Sanctuary, Jasta), Alex Nasla (Witherfall) and Will Wallner (White Wizzard) have collaborated on an epic recreation of the Savatage Song "Chance". The Song includes all of the Vocal insanity of the original and more. The song is set for a digital release July 18th, 2019.
Right now Joseph Michael is out with SANCTUARY performing it's 1988 debut album, "Refuge Denied", in its entirety on the band's upcoming North American tour. The trek will kick off on July 11 in Atlanta and conclude on August 17 in Seattle. Support on the tour will come from GHOST SHIP OCTAVIUS, the band featuring former NEVERMORE drummer Van Williams.
"It is with great pleasure that we can finally announce that SANCTUARY are officially continuing on," the group said in a statement.
"This small string of U.S. dates will serve as the starting point of many more things to come. "To celebrate the deep history of the band and the connection the fans have with us, we will perform 'Refuge Denied' in its entirety, along with other popular songs. Along for this journey, GHOST SHIP OCTAVIUS will be joining us. "2019 will be an exciting year." Tour dates:
Jul. 11 - Atlanta, GA - Basement Jul. 12 - Chapel Hill, NC - Local 506 Jul. 13 - Frederick, MD - Cafe 611 Jul. 14 - Brooklyn, NY - Saint Vitus Bar Jul. 16 - Somerville, MA - Once Ballroom Jul. 17 - Pittsburgh, PA - Crafthouse Jul. 18 - Cincinnati, OH - North Side Yacht Club Jul. 19 - Indianapolis, IN - Black Circle Brewery Jul. 20 - Detroit, MI - Sanctuary Jul. 21 - Chicago, IL - Reggies Jul. 27 - HOA Germany Aug. 09 - Alcatraz Festival Aug. 16 - Portland, OR - Bossanova Ballroom Aug. 17 - Seattle, WA - El Corazon Sept. 04 - Atlanta, GA ProgPower USA
So, the new Sanctuary album is coming together. We are in rehearsals for our East Coast tour and some festival dates in Europe as well. Here is the artwork that is featured on a T-Shirt at http://www.SanctuaryOfficial.com
The artwork features Lyrics to the new Sanctuary song "Not Of The Living" Details coming soon...
SANCTUARY – return to Europe for special festival shows and discuss future plans in new video
On December 13th, 2017, Warrel Dane, the legendary lead singer of Sanctuary and Nevermore passed away while recording his posthumously released studio album “Shadow Work”. At that time, Sanctuary had already confirmed and announced a US tour supporting Iced Earth in February/March 2018 and while shocked by Warrel Dane’s passing, decided to turn it into a tribute to his legacy with exceptionally talented Witherfall vocalist Joseph Michael. Performing tracks from 1988’s “Refuge Denied”, 1990’s “Into the Mirror Black” and 2014’s “The Year the Sun Died”, Joseph Michael delivered a stunning performance and received very positive feedback from the fans attending the shows. Remaining founding members Lenny Rutledge (guitars) and Dave Budbill (drums) ultimately made the decision to continue with Sanctuary and new singer Joseph Michael not only as a live act, but also compose and record a new album, which is currently expected to surface in 2020.
Now, the band has confirmed two European festival shows this summer and will tour North America in July performing the entire “Refuge Denied” album as Lenny Rutledge explains:
“Sanctuary are looking forward to playing two special festival shows in Europe this summer in addition to our commemorative “Refuge Denied” dates in the US where we will perform our classic debut album in full. If you’re an old school Sanctuary fan or a fan of classic metal, you don’t what to miss this run of dates! Joseph Michael (Witherfall) is the new singer of Sanctuary and we will be playing songs from all 3 albums but focusing on the earlier material. Come check out the return of Sanctuary!”
Lenny Rutledge and Joseph Michael reveal more about Sanctuary’s future in this new video:
While the new album is still months away, Sanctuary will continue to perform live as Joseph Michael enables the group to do intense old school sets including the soaring vocals and high screams, fans know and love on albums such as “Refuge Denied” and “Into the Mirror Black”. Sometimes, great triumph comes from great tragedy, and this sounds true in regards to Sanctuary!
SANCTUARY live 2019
2019 North American tour - Performing all of “Refuge Denied”!
Today US dark melodic metal masters WITHERFALL have released “A Prelude to Sorrow”, the highly anticipated follow-up to 2017’s “Nocturnes and Requiems”. Listen to the album in its entirety HERE.
Watch an unboxing video of “A Prelude To Sorrow” HERE.
The media reaction to the album has been nothing short of extraordinary:
"A Prelude To Sorrow" provides the listener a cathartic release through some of the most mesmerizing music I have ever heard. The savage brilliance of this album is stunning
-9.5/10 -Metal Wani-
One of the most talented acts in metal; check this out and be impressed
-Angry Metal Guy-
The turmoil of WITHERFALL‘s chaotic, highly technical and dramatic performance is as impressive as ever.
-Distorted Sound Magazine-
-5/5 Metal Hammer.de-
I implore you listen to ‘A Prelude to Sorrow’ so that you too can share in an album that is as moving as it is memorable, as emotional as it is engaging, as intelligent as it is intimate and that is as heavy lyrically as it is musically. In short, it’s a sonic tour-de-force.
- 9.8/10 Man of Much Metal-
A Prelude To Sorrow" is one of the recordings of the year.
-Rock Hard Greece-
‘We are Nothing’ and ‘Vintage’ being the shining stars. Both songs are 11 minute compositions reminding of the best, progressive metal offered till today.
-9/10 Markusheavymusicblog-
WITHERFALL understand how to package perfectly negative emotions in such a way that a large whole emerges. Despite the blows of fate (or maybe just because of that), the band grows beyond itself. Actually, it cannot get better.
- 9/10 Hell-fire magazine-
8.5 / 10 Joseph Michael’s powerful voice belongs to the best of the genre.
-ROCK HARD (Ger) Soundcheck #9-
-AARDSCHOK (NL) Soundcheck #3-
90 / 100 A blasting album where technique and vibe fit perfectly together!
-LORDSOFMETAL.NL-
9 / 10 – WITHERFALL have delivered an impressive follow-up
-BURNYOUREARS.DE-
Magnificent!
-9/10 Rock Tribune (B)-
‘A Prelude To Sorrow’ overwhelmed me upon first listen and has enough interesting details to keep surprising me"
-Gitarist (NL)-
Bolstered by a clear, crisp recording, this album is an essential listen for any heavy/power/progressive metal fan.
-Wonder Box Metal-
On “A Prelude to Sorrow”, main songwriters Joseph Michael (vocals, Sanctuary – live) and Jake Dreyer (Iced Earth) succeeded in perfectly combining the group’s technical proficiency with an appropriate eerie and somber atmosphere, manifesting also in Kristian Wåhlin’s majestic cover painting. “A Prelude to Sorrow” was mixed and mastered by Chris “Zeuss” Harris. (Sanctuary, Queensryche, Iced Earth)
The album is available as a Limited Edition Digipak, jewel case CD (US only), gatefold 2LP plus poster and etching on Side D as well as digital album.
US dark melodic metal masters WITHERFALL will release the highly anticipated follow-up to 2017’s “Nocturnes and Requiems” on November 2nd, 2018. The band reveals more details about this stunning new offering:
“A Prelude To Sorrow is a concept record, though not in the sense that most people have come to know the form. Ours is not a story where each song acts as a chapter. The inspiration lays in the supremely dark reality that was the passing of our drummer and one of our best friends Adam Sagan. These songs are raw emotional reflections, composed in the witching hours under the influence of wine and sorrow, while watching and helping our friend fight and ultimately lose his battle with Lymphoma. Nocturnes and Requiems was dedicated to Adam after the fact. A Prelude to Sorrow is written specifically about his and our personal tragedy. Like Nocturnes and Requiems the songs have been arranged to still have the peaks and valleys that any great record should. With “Prelude” these peaks just might be a little steeper and the valleys might be a little deeper, alternating between violence and beauty. The titles initials are an acronym for “Adam Paul Sagan”, He came up with Nocturnes and Requiems so we suppose it is kind of fitting that he also inspired this title. Hope he doesn’t come knocking on our door for royalties. We hope that this will be a fitting requiem for our friend and talented musician.”
Given its tragic background, main songwriters Joseph Michael (vocals, Sanctuary – live) and Jake Dreyer (guitars, Iced Earth) succeeded in perfectly combining the group’s technical proficiency with an appropriate eerie and somber atmosphere, manifesting also in Kristian Wåhlin’s majestic cover painting. For mix and mastering, WITHERFALL again worked with Chris “Zeuss” Harris (Sanctuary, Queensryche, Iced Earth).
An album artwork trailer can be seen here: https://youtu.be/-P18I1viXGA
The “A Prelude To Sorrow” track list can be viewed below:
WITHERFALL – A Prelude To Sorrow
1. A Prelude To Sorrow (1:21)
2. We Are Nothing (11:15)
3. Moment Of Silence (6:50)
4. Communion Of The Wicked (6:35)
5. Maridian’s Visitation (3:30)
6. Shadows (7:03)
7. Ode To Despair (3:51)
8. The Call (3:52)
9. Vintage (11:06)
10. Epilogue (2:53)
The album will be released as Limited Edition Digipak, jewelcase CD (US only), gatefold 2LP plus poster and etching on Side D as well as digital album.
The following limited vinyl colours are available:
Seattle metal legends SANCTUARY kicked off their North American tour with ICED EARTH (Thursday, February 22) at Old National Centre in Indianapolis, Indiana.
These shows are acting as a tribute to the musical legacy of SANCTUARY singer Warrel Dane, who passed away last December. Guest vocals for SANCTUARY on the trek are being provided by Joseph Michael (WITHERFALL). Also joining the band on the road is second guitarist Joey Concepcion ...
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