Sanctus. A supremely superb “lost” band from the early New Wave of British Heavy Metal days. They didn’t last long, but man, they were good. Different from the accepted norm too.
The band was formed by guitarist San Remo after the collapse of Marquis De Sade (note to self: must do an article of them too…….). However Sanctus would have a short lifespan of only a couple of years or so in the early 1980s.
A handful of gigs and nine Demos amounted to their career – and what a shame it wasn’t much more than that given the quality of those demos. Heavy, progressive, excellent use of keys and synths to add to the mix – often with guitar and keys in perfect compliment.
Think something like late 1970s Rush crossed with a heavy metal version of Hawkwind, some Eloy and a spot of quirky “new romantic” Style sprinkled in. Inventive, different, high class. The guitar work is noteworthy both for the riffs and lead runs all of which is effective without being flashy.
Creature from Vercenta being a prime example of what Sanctus were all about. The spacey, synth-swooping driven introduction with drums and guitar chugging away for a while until the vocals come in and the song turns in to a proper epic. Seven minutes in heaven indeed. Check it out:
A King for a King and Welcome to the Graveyard follow similar formats each being around the seven minute mark allowing the band to stretch out and how their individual and collective talents in more progressive/heavy/spacey style.
The next trio of demos (from 1983) feature two shorter more “punchy” songs in the NWOBHM style before Temple in the Sky gets us back to that wonderful progressive/heavy/atmospheric territory this time clocking in at a tad over eight minutes. Marvellous stuff.
The final set (also from 1983) demonstrates another switch in delivery showing how inventive Sanctus were. Three short cuts this time edging towards an almost quirky, stuttering style not too far removed from the “other” new wave around at the time yet without losing any power of delivery.
With talent like this, why didn’t Sanctus enjoy success instead of disappearing so quickly? I don’t have an answer to that. Perhaps their style was too “out there” for the NWOBHM traditionalists at the time.
Whilst the likes of early Iron Maiden, Diamond Head et al had the industry fawning all over them, it may have been that a band with seven minute progressively-styled songs were seen as uncommercial.
Either way – Sanctus most certainly had the chops and that prog/spacey difference would under different circumstances perhaps been seen as a USP.
I can’t recommend enough that you check Sanctus out. Those nine demos are available via HRR and (at least in my opinion) essential listening. ‘Nuff said.
