Author: Rok Klemše
Artist: Sanctity
Label: Roadrunner Records
Release: 2007
Sanctity is a pretty new and unknown name on the metal scene, at least if you leave out their home turf of Asheville, North Carolina, where the band has been around since 2000. Here we have their debut Road to Bloodshed, and they’re already getting big props from both the old and new school. Megadeth mainman Dave Mustaine personally picked the band as one of the acts for the second incarnation of the Gigantour festival, and Trivium frontman Matt Heafy was so stoked about them that he recommended them to Roadrunner, who snapped them up with both hands. Heafy also stuck Trivium producer Jason Suecof in the producer’s chair.
Yeah, most of you are probably cringing at the mention of Trivium… I did too, but bear with me a little longer. Sanctity are proof that the student can surpass the teacher (let’s say Trivium is the teacher in this case). Road to Bloodshed is a very impressive debut record. Sanctity successfully mix “old-school” Bay Area thrash metal with modern melodic metal, and the comparison of Megadeth meets Trivium might be spot on. The real thrashers are already getting the nails and the cross ready to nail me to, but bear with me a little longer anyway. Road to Bloodshed is a highly potent mix of technical thrash metal and the thrash of big names like Testament, Slayer, Megadeth and Metallica.
There’s plenty of staccato riffing, lead-heavy beats and the “thrash growl” of vocalist Jared MacEachern. Unfortunately, far too often (at least for my taste) he swaps that growl for clean, neutered vocals that remind you of Trivium so much it gives you chills. That’s the record’s biggest minus. If Sanctity had stayed neatly within the bounds of modern thrash, I’d happily write them odes, but I just can’t get past the, at times, so direct copying and imitating of Trivium. Mostly because the clean vocals sound almost like pathetic emocore whining. Still, even though I keep mentioning copying Trivium, it’s funny that the Sanctity “copy” actually comes out better than the original. The rhythm of the record rolls along for the full 45 minutes and adds up to some excellent grooves. The interesting and fairly original guitar parts kick Trivium’s ass. Where Trivium disappoint with super technical but totally unoriginal and soulless soloing, Zeff Childress serves up a whole palette of killer riffs and mighty solos on Road to Bloodshed. You won’t find long intros, intros and interludes on Road to Bloodshed, since this is a three-quarter-hour marathon of modern metal.
Still, something is missing from the Americans’ first record (let’s leave Trivium aside now). On paper Road to Bloodshed looks like a good record, but after three or four listens it becomes just another metal record I can’t remember a single track from. Maybe that’s down to too many new releases piling up on my playlist lately. Would it blow me away as your average metal record buyer? Maybe. The younger metal generation will definitely cling to Road to Bloodshed like a drunk to a fence. The record does have some appeal, and it’s definitely way better than the last Trivium record. On the surface, Road to Bloodshed is a good record, but metalheads looking for something deeper and more original… keep looking. My heart also stays pledged to good old-fashioned, “real” thrash metal. Call me an “old fart” if you like, I’m always happy to give new, young bands a chance, but sadly Sanctity aren’t one of them. If I want to hear quality modern thrash metal, I’ll reach for Nevermore.
Road to Bloodshed is metal tailor-made for the iPod generation. If you count yourself among them, you’ll take Sanctity’s debut with open arms.
Lineup
Jared MacEachern – vocals, rhythm guitar
Zeff Childress – lead guitar
Derek Anderson – bass guitar
Jeremy London – drums
Production
Jason Suecof
Tracklist
1. Beneath The Machine
2. Brotherhood Of Destruction
3. Road To Bloodshed
4. Laws Of Reason
5. Billy Seals
6. Zeppo
7. Beloved Killer
8. Shape Of Things
9. Flatline
10. Rift Between
11. Seconds
12. Once Again
