Draft:Sacrosanct (band)

Sacrosanct is a thrash metal-Band based in the Netherlands, that has been established in 1988 by two former Members of Pestilence and disbanded in 1994 after three albums. Since 2016 a reunion is in the making.

From foundation to Truth is - what is
Sacrosanct was established in 1988 by guitarrist Randy Meinhard and drummer Marco Foddis, who had learned to know each either while joining Pestilence. Briefly thereafter the band had been completed by singer Michael "Mike" Lucarelli, Milan Nyitrai (Bass) und Michael Cerrone (guitar). Marco Foddis left the band after a short while and had been replaced by Ronny Scholten. In 1990 Sacrosanct released its debut album "Truth is – what is", produced by Charly Rinne and Stefan Josefus at Franz "K" Tonstudio in Witten. The album is characterized by technically sophisticated thrash metal. The dual guitars create a straight as well as spherical and melodious tapestry of sound, interrupted by the tight drumming and the moaning, but angry and rude voice. Creative band head Randy Meinhard considered guitar duos of bands like Queensrÿche, Exodus or Iron Maiden as a main influence, and Ace Frehley of Kiss as initial spark. In Rock Hard magazine the later Publisher Holger Stratmann claimed: "The record contains as many riffs as all Slayer-albums altogether." Although the album gained such attraction it failed to reach a larger crowd, due to the fact that their company No Remorse Records struggled from financial problems and eventually had to face bankruptcy.

Reccesses for the Depraved
Sacrosanct signed a new deal with 1MF Records. Meanwhile there were further changes in line-up. With new members Gerrit Knol (Guitar), Christian Colli (Bass) and Haico van Atticum (Drums) the band created their second album Recesses for the depraved in 1991 at Dust Music Studio in Hilchenbach. With a more edgy sound it was little melodious and spheric than the debut. Nevertheless the intro of the album's last Song The silence of being foreshadowed the change in sound that eventually lead to the Sacrosanct's further work. "We developed as a band, had new members and it was my desire to let the album sound more sinister but still thrashy", Randy Meinhard later recognized. Sadly there had been no, progress as far as commercial aspects were concerned. Although this time the new label booked ads in mainstream Metal magazines. For the album cover Sacrosanct even managed to deal with the rights for H. R. Giger's picture Das Spiegelbild. When Giger died, 23 years later, the Rolling Stone magazine stated "the disturbing Giger cover art accurately conveyed the savage nature of the music".

Tragic Intense
After Recesses for the depraved again the lie up changed, thus Randy Meinhard solidified as the band's only constant, also responsible for creating all songs. Michael "Mike" Lucarelli and Gerrit Knol left Sacrosanct to join Genetic Wisdom along with Ronny Scholten already. On Humanity on parole in a way they continued with the rough sound of Recesses for the depraved. As substitutes brothers Michael  and Collin Kock were hired. Randy Meinhard later said: "It was hard for me, since Michael has been a good friend. On the other hand it became clearly to see, that his voice had been perfect for the first two albums, but no further for the songs, we composed at that time."

Since Collin Kock is capable of clear singing the album Tragic Intense got even more melodious and spherical than the debut. On the other hand staccato-parts are rarely on it. In an interview for the music mag Iron Pages Randy Meinhard stated in April of 1993 that the dark basic mood ''is what we intended to do. (...) It just should sound sinister''. In that issue Markus Wosgien described the album as a mixture of Thrash-, Doom- and Power Metal, and classified it as a milestone in this genre. Frank Albrecht rated it with nine out of ten points. The opening song At least pain lasts – a sung suicide note should become predictive: A short while after Tragic Intense the band broke up.

Reunion since 2016
In 2016 Randy Meinhard, Collin Kock and Michael Kock began working on Remasters of old songs, which should be released in 2017 or 2018. On may 13th Randy Meinhard announced on Facebook a new album titled Necropolis. Both shall be released by the record company Vic Records, along with labelmates like Sinister or Infernäl Mäjesty. In autumn the reborn Sacrosanct recorded the album at Morton Studios''. In november they released Only One God online for Independent Music Awards.

Discography

 * The Die Is Cast (1989, Demo)
 * Truth Is - What Is (1990)
 * Recesses For The Depraved (1991)
 * Tragic Intense (1993)