Carling academy, newcastle

27th October 2008 - My Ruin w/Sanctorum, Illuminatus, Speed Theory

RockTheNorth.com

Taking the stage as the third support band must be a hard job, considering that at most gigs Ive been to, the crowd are calling for blood if the headliners aren't on stage after the first hour. Sanctorum took to this role with finesse.
The North Essex-based foursome quickly demonstrated that they possessed more talent in their little finger than most other bands can ever dream of. To me Sanctorum gave the feel that they were far too big for the stage they were on, both coaxing the audience closer with one hand before continually blowing them away again with the other.

Launching straight into their first song I was amazed at the passion and skill that each member employed, from the unobtrusive, driving drums of Matt Alston to the awe-inspiring, frequently perfect solos of does-his-mother-know-he-is-out-this-late lead guitarist Ash Lewis. Also, singer-come-guitarist Aaron Sly knew very well how to work an audience and urged the hitherto-uninvolved crowd into the spirit of things, beckoning them to come forward before the band exploded into new song “Fallen” and Maiden-esque closing track “Take It All”.

All in all Sanctorum were an amazing spectacle to watch, very talented, all in their early twenties and with a firm grasp of what makes great metal.