Philly heavy metal band Corners of Sanctuary performs in Scranton on Jan. 28 before U.K. tour
From a press release:
2023 is off and running, and so are the traditional metalheads in Corners of Sanctuary. The prolific Philly boys have hit the ground running with a host of shows, including an upcoming Scranton performance, a United Kingdom tour, and a new extended EP release.
The latest addition to their ever-growing catalog of music is appropriately titled “This Is Metal.” It is due out on Friday, Feb. 17 via Sonic Velocity Records and can be pre-saved now on Spotify.
“Hard, heavy, and fresh with a touch of nostalgia, Corners of Sanctuary has delivered once again!” exclaimed Billy Loney of Keep It Metal Promotions.
“I have checked the EP ‘This Is Metal’ and wow… I have been blown away. These songs are absolutely killer,” said Jacopo Vigezzi of WormHoleDeath Records.
“I like the production sound and the W.A.S.P. vibes on it,” added Fernando Reis, the international promotion coordinator of Mighty Music/Target Group.
The album contains seven new songs and two bonus tracks, including an adrenalized cover of Judas Priest smash hit “Breaking the Law” from 1980’s “British Steel.”
“We wanted to present this EP in a way that calls back to the glory days of classic metal,” CoS guitarist Mick Michaels emphasized.
“Since we had so much fun last year working on the [EP of] Def Leppard songs, we knew the next time around we wanted to do a Priest cover. After seeing Priest’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction performance and seeing K.K. with the band, we all knew this was the song to do.”
The first original single on the EP, “Rockin’ the Night Away,” is now streaming on YouTube.
Corners of Sanctuary has also announced a number of concert dates, including SonarFest 2023; Pennsylvania and New Jersey shows supporting Enuff Z’Nuff, Aetheria, and A Light Divided; ShamRock’n’Roll at The Rusty Nail in Ardmore; and a return to the U.K. in April. The full itinerary can be found on cornersofsanctuary.com.
Up first, they will perform this Saturday, Jan. 28 at Scranton Blizzard Blast at Finnegan’s Irish Rock Club (514 Ash St., Scranton) with the Russello Project, Stars Burn Red, Look Back Luna, and Fatal Misconception. Doors open at 7 p.m., and the show begins at 8 p.m. Tickets, which are $8 in advance or $10 at the door, are on sale now via Keep It Metal Promotions.
After having to cancel the remainder of their 2020 U.K. tour due to the pandemic, the band was determined to go back and finish what they started.
“We are excited to be going back to the U.K.,” Michaels said. “We have unfinished business… there’s definitely a connection. The U.K. is where our style of metal was born, and it’s still fully embraced there.”
The This Is Metal: Finish What We Started Tour kicks off on April 21 in Leicestershire and is being presented by Pure Power Darkside Management. CoS will be accompanied by U.K. acts Sour Tusk and Viral Strain on select shows.
Hailing from Philadelphia, the group formed in 2011 with a desire to bring back the sounds of classic heavy metal, calling themselves a New Wave of Traditional American Heavy Metal band. They have performed across the United States, Europe, and the U.K. with many notable artists, including Saxon, Anvil, Stryper, U.D.O., Butcher Babies, Grim Reaper, Saving Abel, Tim “Ripper” Owens (Judas Priest), Tracii Guns, Enuff Z’Nuff, Tantric, Joey Belladonna (Anthrax), Black Lodge, Don Jamieson, Blaze Bayley, Green Jello, Act of Defiance, Britny Fox, Bulletboys, Last in Line, Janet Gardner (Vixen), Jackie Chambers (Girlschool), Sponge, The Iron Maidens, Teeze/Roughhouse, and Damon Johnson, among others.
2012 marked the release of their debut album “Breakout.” Being well-received, it was quickly followed up by “Harlequin,” which released in 2013 through Pure Steel Records in Germany. Later that same year, their third album “Axe to Grind” come out under La Mazakuata Records in Mexico. In 2014, Pure Steel Records re-released “Axe to Grind” in Europe. In 2015, they signed with Metalizer Records in Germany for the album “Metal Machine.” Mastered by Death Dealer guitarist and producer Stu “The Hammer” Marshall, “Metal Machine” was met with critical acclaim worldwide.
In 2018, CoS released “The Galloping Hordes” on Killer Metal Records in Germany. The album was mastered by legendary producer Bill Metoyer (Slayer, W.A.S.P., Armored Saint, Fates Warning). That year, they also completed a European tour and a second U.S. West Coast tour as they started work on their next album.
In 2019, they supported Bulletboys, Grim Reaper, Blaze Bayley, Last in Line, Janet Gardner, and The Iron Maidens and performed at the legendary Whisky a Go-Go on Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood. Before the year came to a close, they released three EPs: “Hold onto Christmas,” “Metal Brigade” on seven-inch vinyl, and “What We Leave Behind.”
Corners of Sanctuary signed with RFL Records in June of 2020 and released the album “Heroes Never Die” in October. In 2021, they followed up with “Blood and Steel,” volumes one and two, and the album “Fight Till the End” on digital, CD, and vinyl, along with their annual holiday music package. They also worked with Faster Pussycat, The Three Tremors, Enuff Z’Nuff, and appeared again at the Whisky a Go-Go with Kill Devil Hill.
2022 saw the band sharing stages with Canedy (led by Carbondale-based drummer Carl Canedy) at Finnegan’s, Doyle, Tantric, The Iron Maidens, Trapt, and an appearance at SonarFest. Following the success of recording their first cover song of Def Leppard’s “Mirror, Mirror,” they released a tribute EP to the English rockers titled “Defying,” along with their second “best of” compilation, “Metal Never Dies.”
This year, the four-piece will continue working on their next full-length album of new material, “Vengeance of the Fallen,” as they prepare to release the extended EP “This Is Metal” soon.
