Sanctuary is an American heavy metal band formed in Seattle in 1985, and later disbanded in 1992. with some of the members forming Nevermore in the same year. In 2010, the band reunited and later recorded a comeback album.

The band currently consists of Lenny Rutledge (guitar), Joseph Michael (vocals), George Hernandez (bass), and Dave Budbill (drums). The lead vocalist position was held by Warrel Dane until his death in 2017. They have released three studio albums, one demo album and one live EP.

Early years
Sanctuary was formed in 1985 by vocalist Worrell Dane, bassist Jim Sheppard, guitarists Sean Blossle and Lenny Rutledge, and drummer Dave Badbill. In 1986, they recorded a demo which its good reception led them to sign a contract with Epic Records in 1987, they would release their first album, Refuge Denied in April of 1988, and the band toured with many metal bands between 1988 and 1989.

After the tour, the band re-entered the studio to record their second album, Into the Mirror Black which was released on February 27, 1990, selling 34,000 copies worldwide in its first week of release. The song Future Tense was Sanctuary’s first music video. During the tour for the album, Sean Blossl left, replaced by Jeff Loomis, and the band toured with Fates Warning, Forbidden, and Death Angel.

In 1991, a limited edition live EP, Into the Mirror Live, was released. The band’s record label pressured Sanctuary to change their style due to the emerging grunge scene, causing problems in the relationships between the band members, which led to their breakup in 1992.

Dane, Loomis, and Sheppard originally wanted to continue under the name Sanctuary, but Rutledge threatened to sue. To avoid legal action, a new band name, Nevermore, was chosen.

Renunion
In 2010, Dane, Sheppard, Rutledge, and Budbill reunited the band, initially for a couple shows, but the reception made them continue. shorty after, Nevermore was put on hiatus in 2011 following the departures of Jeff Loomis and Van Williams.

In 2013, they signed a deal with Century Media to release a new album, the third album, The Year the Sun Died, was released in October 2014, giving the band their first number one spot on the Billboard charts. Four months later, Brad Hull left the band, replaced by Nick Cordle. afterwards the band began working on fourth album, tentative titled Dead Again.

On February 24, 2017, the album Inception was released, which is a remixed and remastered version of the 1986 demo. It was Sanctuary’s last release with Warrel, before his passing nearly ten months later.

The band toured North America with Iced Earth in February and March 2018 for a tribute to Dane tour with Witherfall vocalist Joseph Michael filling in on vocals. Armageddon guitarist Joey Concepcion of Milford, Connecticut joined the tour on guitar. The tour was well-received, prompting Rutledge and Michael to begin working on demos to potentially continue the band. in 2019, the fourth album was revealed to be tentatively titled Transmutation, though the album remained unreleased for the next six years.