Sanctuary (band)

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Origin Seattle, WA USA
Years active 1985 – 1991
Genres Power metal
Heavy metal
Thrash metal
Labels Epic Records
Members Warrel Dane
Lenny Rutledge
Sean Blosl
Jim Sheppard
Dave Budbill

Sanctuary was a heavy metal band founded in Seattle, Washington in 1985. The band consisted of Warrel Dane (vocals), Lenny Rutledge (guitar), Sean Blosl (guitar), Jim Sheppard (bass), and Dave Budbill (drums).

Before playing in Sanctuary, Warrel Dane was the vocalist of the heavy metal band Serpent's Knight, which released a full-length album in 1983. Jim Sheppard played in a hair metal band called Sleeze, with the vocalist Layne Staley (later in Alice in Chains), around 1985.

They released a demo in 1986, which was well received, and that lead them to sign with Epic Records in 1987. They released their debut album, Refuge Denied, in the same year. It was produced by Dave Mustaine, frontman of popular thrash metal band, Megadeth. Thus followed a tour alongside Megadeth and the German band Warlock.

After the tour, they entered the studio to record their second and final studio album, Into The Mirror Black, in 1990. A video clip for the song Future Tense was made and it received some air play on MTV's Headbanger's Ball. During the tour (with the bands Forbidden and Death Angel), the guitarist Sean Blosl left the band and was replaced by Jeff Loomis.

Shortly after, pressure from Epic Records to fit in with the flourishing Seattle grunge scene caused disagreements between band members (regarding the band's musical direction). So it followed that in 1991, Sanctuary officially disbanded.
Epic Records released a rare live EP, named Into The Mirror Live, to finish the contract.

After disbanding, Warrel Dane, Jim Sheppard and Jeff Loomis formed the band Nevermore in 1992.
Dave Budbill turned to religion. Recently, however, he is working in the solo project of Warrel Dane.
Sean Blosl is creating music and film independently.
Lenny Rutledge became a musical producer, and has his own studio. Additionally, he helped Nevermore on the demo sessions of their 1999 album, Dreaming Neon Black.

[edit] Discography

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