Sanctum & Solace Go All Out On Their Brutally Pained New Single, 'Slave'

'Slave' is an extreme expression of bitterness, pain and love loss. And I fucking love it! 

I hadn't the foggiest on whom Sanctum & Solace were before I stumbled upon their latest single just the other day, but I am so very glad that I discovered this Mackay-based group.

Titled 'Slave', the band's newest cut is an abrasive, angular and groovy hardcore tune; not unlike what fellow Aussies DriveTime Commute, The Orphan, Life Pilot and Junkhead all do respectively. But this musically heavy and thematically emotive journey is one that also sees the band finding time to flex out their melodic muscles within this gripping track's three and a half minute runtime come the dynamic finale.

According to the band themselves, this song was "Written in third person viewing a loved ones poisonous relationships. Being a slave to love, losing yourself to another for the promise of love, taken advantage of in both mental and physical manners". Jesus Christ, that's heavy.

Similarly, guitarist James Levin told Hysteria Mag last week that “We put everything we have into our music and these new tracks are 100% the best things we have created to date – so I couldn’t be more excited to get them out, to be honest". And that's really evident throughout this fast-paced single; from its sudden chaotic start of aggressive screams, jagged drum rhythms and caustic riffs to its tamer ending of melodic guitar leads and restrained drumming. 

'Slave' comes from the Queensland group's EP, 'Made Wrong', which also features their previous single, the incendiary 'Taedium Vitae' (meaning: "a state of extreme ennui; weariness of life". Cheery). However, there's zero fucking information on this particular EP from what I can find. So whether or not it's already out, is coming out soon, or is still a while off yet is completely unclear to me, but I'll be keeping close tabs on this band. And you should too if you know what's good for ya!

Check out the lyric video for 'Slave', edited and illustrated by Callan Nicholson at Achiever Visuals, below.