Desmond's Daily Offerning - "Future Tense" by Sanctuary

Sanctuary was a radically awesome heavy metal band founded in Seattle, Washington in 1985. The band consisted of Warrel Dane (vocals), Lenny Rutledge (guitar), Sean Blosl (guitar), Jim Sheppard (bass), Dave Budbill (drums), and in the end Jeff Loomis.

They released a demo in 1986, which was well received, and that lead them to sign with Epic Records in 1987. They released their debut album, Refuge Denied, in the same year. It was produced by Dave Mustaine, the frontman of Megadeth. Thus followed a tour alongside Megadeth and the German band Warlock. \m/

After the tour, they entered the studio to record their second and final studio album, Into The Mirror Black, in 1990. A video clip for the song Future Tense was made and it received some air play on MTV's Headbanger's Ball. During the tour (with the bands Forbidden and Death Angel), the guitarist Sean Blosl left the band and was replaced by Jeff Loomis.

Shortly after, pressure from Epic Records to fit in with the flourishing Seattle grunge scene caused disagreements between band members (regarding the band's musical direction). So it followed that in 1991, Sanctuary officially disbanded. As killer as they were, this is probably a good thing. Can you picture Warrel singing "Heart Shaped Box?"

Epic Records was to release a full length live recording from this final tour but only a limited number of copies of a promotional live EP ever saw the light of day. It was named Into the Mirror Live.

Refuge Denied and Into The Mirror Black were re-released as a double CD set by IronBird Records on February 22, 2010.

After disbanding, Warrel Dane, Jim Sheppard and Jeff Loomis formed the band Nevermore in 1991. NEVERMORE RULES \M/\M/\M/\M/\M/

Desmond's Daily Offering - "Lost in the Headlights" by Pelican

What can I say? Pelican rules and this song is full of bad to the bone, triumphant riffery. Who needs vocals when the thunder is brought like this? If you are not down with the almighty Pelican, I think it is time you get with the program.....\m/.....

Desmond's Daily Offering - "Lament of a Minstrel" by Falconer

Did I ever tell you that Power Metal rules my Life? In my humble opinion, Falconer is one of the best on the scene these days. If you have not yet sampled the lovely tones of the Sweedish Power Metal Masters, I highly recommend that you pick up any one of the six fine offerings that they have delivered over the last 10 Years. With "Lament of a Minstrel," we find Falconer doing what they do best, transitioning from melodious and delicate folk metal to soaring and epic power metal. The cool thing about Falconer is that they love to tell stories. A good story always enhances the enjoyment of my listening experience. Check out some delicious riffery on this one right here......

Desmondo's Daily Offering - "Forsaken" by Dream Theater

The odd thing about Dream Theater is that they are so good that at times it causes me not to enjoy them. This is not because I am a jealous and bitter bassist who can't even think about trying to replicate some John Myung four string thunder. I am not in envy of the man but I am in awe of the galloping madness that he can unleash. The dude must have like 38 fingers or something. I am not even worthy of tuning his MusicMan! I say this because when they write, it seems that they focus primarily on using their songs as a platform to showcase their technical proficiency rather than just crafting some "bad to the bone" 4 chord gloriosity. Yes, the players of the Theater that Dreams are no doubt most excellent musicians but I must hereby proclaim that they would rock even harder if they simply spent more time on basic song structures (ala AC/DC Baby)! Dream Theater was formed in September 1985 when guitarist John Petrucci, bassist John Myung, and drummer Mike Portnoy decided to form a band in their spare time while studying at the Berklee College of Music. For those of you who are not familiar with Berklee, let's just say that the musicians that they cultivate generally do not suck (and like a fine Chateauneuf du Pape, they get better with age). Don't get me wrong, I am totally down with the "Art of Shredding" but come on guys, every once in a while it would be a delicious treat for the Metal Realm if in the immortal words of the "Z Man", you decided "pump your breaks," "grease yo skillet," whip up some tasty riffage and keep the Metal straightforward and under 10 minutes a song :)....For when they do embrace their inner Hetfield, Jupiter aligns with Mars, the Moon is in the 7th house, an onslaught of complete and utter awesomeness is unloaded and one divine worldwide face melting crusade is born. In my mind, if they did that more often, they just might be the greatest band of all time! "Forsaken" is a perfect example of the excellence I am referring to. Splendid riffery indeed \m/\m/\m/
P.S. Did I mention I am going to ride upon Cleveland in July to wacth them open for Maiden????????????????
Enjoy....

Do You know the RULES OF ENGAGEMENT?

Let's be honest. Most Christian music totally sucks. There. I said it. And I have not been struck dead because it is the truth. Back in the 80's it was so common for a group of Christian dudes to take perfectly good music like Motley Crue and then give it the Jesus-Twist and call it their own. This movement lasted for a bit....then it slowly died out...that is until the late 90's when a band emerged with more grit and ferocity then even some non-Christian bands.

Out of the ashes of what was left of the Thrash metal scene and heading into the direction of the Hardcore/Metalcore scene arose Living Sacrifice. In my opinion the best Christian Death Metal Band to boot.....If it weren't for the LS crew you would not have the As I Lay Dying, the Demon Hunter, or the August Burns Red.....

Unlike most bands, the have currently a nine album Discography. All of brutality. All of such fantastically fantastical Fantasticness that at first listen you would not conceive that these are a bunch of church boys. In fact, they are one of the only true bands that speak of things like blood, death, war, mutilation, and separation from God within the genre. They are fans of bands like Behemoth and others of brutalness.

So being that today is a Fine Sunday.....please do your soul a favor and get this latest release, The Infinite Order, and prepare to be Destroyed.

Amen to that ya Mutha Preacha.