Sanctity
Road To Bloodshed
Roadrunner


'Road To Bloodshed' is the debut release for metal outfit Sanctity, who are yet another band from the seemingly endless New Wave Of American Heavy Metal production line. One of the striking things for me about the NWOAHM is not just there are so many bands but so many are of such high quality. With 'Road To Bloodshed', Sanctity show they are no exception.

Their sound combines aggressive 'eighties thrash a-la Exodus, Megadeth and Testament with the soaring choruses, melodies and punishing breakdowns more typical of modern metal. Vocalist Jared MacEachern possesses a deep, powerful roar somewhere between Phil Anselmo and Killing Joke's Jaz Coleman, but also shows an ability to sing in more melodic fashion. Guitarist Zeff Childress provides fast, furious and very heavy riffing along with some blazing solos, most notably on the title track and Laws Of Reason. The rhythm section of Derek Anderson (bass) and drummer Jeremy London are solid and tight.

The album kicks off in fine style with the ferocious Beneath The Machine, a barnstorming and quite technical thrash track. The old school influences are also very evident on Beloved Killer and Zeppo. Elsewhere the band successfully employ complex arrangements and disconcerting tempo shifts on Brotherhood Of Destruction and the afore-mentioned title track. Other standouts include The Rift Between and Billy Seals, which almost veers into melodic death metal territory. Producer Jason Suecof deserves credit for delivering a dense, powerful but very crisp sound.

The second half of the album does have a couple of flat spots, namely Flatline and Seconds, which are formulaic and uninspiring compared to the quality on offer elsewhere. Overall though, this is a promising first album, with enough intensity and variety to suggest a long and healthy future.

James McKenzie