s a n c t u m

lupus in fabula - CMI.46

I had no idea what to expect from this group, but I must admit to being surprised by how good it is. Stylistically, we're talking about a complete clash of styles... a fusion of edgey 'industrial', dark orchestrations, driving rhythms, quirky noises, pop sensibilities, strange atmospheres, and fragile gothic delicacies... something like a cross between Mental Destruction, Dead Can Dance, and Devil Doll, if you can imagine that! Each piece carries a spirit and mood entirely of its own, yet the whole thing holds itself together amazingly well. As to whom it may appeal to exactly? Mostly just those with an open mind. Definitely worth exploring. CMI.

Jason Mantis.

Sanctum's Lupus in Fabula has to be one of the most interesting releases to come out in a long time. A carnival of musical styles amalgamated into one giant freak show. Elements of jazz clash with industrial which joins a broadway-ish occasional vocal to combine to form this remarkable album. I have to admit that the first few times I heard this I didn't like it. But I think it was Picasso (or was it Duchamps?) that said "all great art is ugly at first". After a few listens, this became a valuable part of my collection. A hint at what is to come, perhaps, for music in the next millenium. It is such a strange collection of songs that I thought the best way to describe it would be to let you know what it reminded me of as I listened to it... Turn out the lights....picture:
a rapidly aging David Bowie in the Hunger....four hours of camels in Laurence of Arabia...a young Coltrane playing live....a screaming Dracula....Webber's Phantom of the Opera...Keats....mid 90's ministry....nightmares of people in cages and beasts roaming the land....You've just heard Sanctum.. I found it amazing that after I had written this I learned that the music was written for a play...it is so dramatic, and wild, it was exactly what came to mind. I would recommend this to anyone who would like to hear something complete different.

There is a tightrope wire between poetry and pretentiousness, between heaven and Hell, and Sanctum walks it with an enviable sense of balance and grace...

Karen Collins.

A mighty blend of medieval music & industrial sounds, violins, flutes and rumbling drums, delightful and hypnotic female voices mixed with the anguish-filled and rough screams a'la Mental Destruction... Does it sound pleasant? That's just what it is and that's what you get from Sanctum on their debut album.

There's a wide range in the songs, like the relatively soft Juniper Dream that sounds much like folk/medieval, and Decay (which, by the way, is the most boring and messy track of the album) that leans more towards the industrial with distorted guitars and aggressive singing.

It gets most successful when these styles are mixed as in the opening Dragonfly...
Nice packaging, which is mostly the case when it comes from Cold Meat Industry, including lyrics which is also a plus...

daNiel WIBerG