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 

Download the Song HERE:

Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82wrBg39TSs&feature=youtu.be 
 

 

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...

 

Get Yours now!

 

Photo by Neil Lim Sang

 

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:

https://youtu.be/GNIVfSiOENA

 

 

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”!

With special guests: Ghost Ship Octavius

July 11 Atlanta, GA - Basement

July 12 Chapel Hill, NC – Local 586

July 13 Frederick, MD – Cafe 611

July 14 Brooklyn, NY – Saint Vitus Bar

July 16 Somerville, MA – Once Ballroom

July 17 Pittsburgh, PA – Crafthouse

July 18 Cincinnati, OH – North Side Yacht Club

July 19 Indianapolis, IN – Black Circle Brewery

July 20 Detroit, MI – Sanctuary

July 21 Chicago, IL – Reggies

August 16 Portland, OR – Bossanova Ballroom *

August 17 Seattle, WA – El Corazon *

* only SANCTUARY performing

 

Tickets and merch available at https://www.sanctuaryofficial.com/home

 

2019 European festival shows:

25. - 27.07.2019 Brande-Hörnerkichen (DE) Headbangers Open Air        

10.08.2019 Kortrijk (BE) Alcatraz Festival

 

Latest release:

SANCTUARY “Inception” (Remixed & Remastered 1986 Demos) http://smarturl.it/SanctuaryINCEPTION  

 

Also check out:

WARREL DANE “Shadow Work” https://warreldane.lnk.to/ShadowWorkID

WITHERFALL “A Prelude To Sorrow” https://witherfallband.lnk.to/APreludeToSorrow

WITHERFALL “Vintage – EP” https://witherfallband.lnk.to/vintageID

 

 

Happy New Years from all of us in WItherfall, we have exciting news to share with you within the next  two weeks!

Here is a discount code good until the morning for 20% off  enter NEWYEAR at checkout

Sanctuary founding guitarist/songwriter gives an interview with Decibel Magazine regarding the future of Sanctuary and new Vocalist Joseph Michael..

 

https://bit.ly/2SOaEJY

 

Watch a clip from the Iced Earth/Sanctuary tour earlier this year...

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTBeW1-x3X0&start_radio=1&list=RDcTBeW1-x3X0&t=5

 

listen to more and get more info at:

 

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. 

 

Last day Sale on this bundle!

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. 

The following limited vinyl colors are available: 

•        400x transparent blue vinyl – only available at www.witherfall.com/merch 

•        200x clear vinyl – only available at Century Media’s European store http://bit.ly/WitherfallCMD 

•        CD/LP plus t-shirt bundles available here: https://merchnow.com/catalogs/witherfall 

View all “A Prelude To Sorrow” order options: https://witherfallband.lnk.to/APreludeToSorrow 

 

 

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: 

400x transparent blue vinyl – only available at www.witherfall.com/merch 

200x clear vinyl – only available at Century Media’s European store http://bit.ly/WitherfallCMD 

All “A Prelude To Sorrow” pre-orders are available here: https://witherfallband.lnk.to/APreludeToSorrow 

WITHERFALL is: 

Jake Dreyer - Guitars 

Joseph Michael - Vocals/Keyboards 

Anthony Crawford - Bass 

Fili Bibiano - Guitar 

Steve Bolognese- Drums 

WITHERFALL online: 

www.witherfall.com 

https://www.facebook.com/witherfall 

www.instagram.com/witherfallofficial 

https://twitter.com/witherfall 

http://youtube.com/witherfall

 

Stream the latest track from Witherfall. It is available on the Japanese ReIssue via Ward Records.

Trouble viewing? Click Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jENy4QvPR_o&feature=youtu.be

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 ...

Read more: http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/video-sanctuary-plays-first-show-with-witherfall-singer-joseph-michael/

 

more info at http://www.witherfall.com

 

Nocturnes and Requiems is Witherfall’s debut album. How do you feel it represents your sound? 
Jake Dreyer: I think that we really did a good job on capturing the sound and atmosphere that we were going for. We just wanted to have a record that we personally wanted to listen to. The songs have to come first, we love memorable hooks but also complex instrumental passages that keep us as players interested. All of the parts just flowed during the writing process; nothing was forced. We are currently working on the follow up to Nocturnes, expected in the third quarter of 2018. The sound on that is just an expansion of Nocturnes and Requiems. It’s darker, heavier in some sections and lighter and more dynamic than Nocturnes in others. It might look ridiculous on paper but when one listens, they will understand.  

Joseph Michael:  I think that the record is exactly  as we imagined it. Jake and I sat down to write this record about a month after we left White Wizzard. I could not be happier with the result. The reception from the fans has been remarkable and long lasting. The album is still doing well a year later. READ MORE AT DECIBEL:

 

Photo by Stephanie Cabral

More at http://www.witherfall.com