Into the Mirror Black

Sanctuary: Warrell Dane (vocals); Lenny Rutledge, Sean Blosl (guitar); Jim Sheppard (bass); Dave Budbill (drums).Recorded at Sound City, Van Nuys, California.Sanctuary's second -- and, regrettably, final -- album is an oft-overlooked masterpiece, blurring the lines between technical, Bay Area-style thrash, traditional heavy metal, and European power metal. Part of what separates Into the Mirror Black from the rest of the late-'80s/early-'90s pack is its relentless adherence to memorable songcraft; relatively restrained musicianship; Warrel Dane's aggressive-yet-melodic, helium-lung vocal chops; and a thoroughly dark, stark production boasting an intriguingly cavernous, hallowed and hollowed, gothy guitar sound that leaves plenty of room for the riffs and rhythm section to breathe (with bass guitar -- bass! -- prevalent in the mix, something that eludes even the best '80s thrash albums; just ask Jason Newsted). Dane's impressive and dramatic yowl is deservedly front-and-center -- his ma