Have FALLEN SANCTUARY revolutionized album releases?

Before we get straight to the point, some introductions are in order. The driving force behind FALLEN SANCTUARY is the collaborative effort of Georg Neuhauser (SERENITY, WARKINGS) and Marco Pastorino (TEMPERANCE, SERENITY). Belonging in the Melodic Power Metal spectrum, they use guitar driven songwriting while distancing themselves from the symphonic patterns of SERENITY. They celebrate the release of their second album “The Gathering of Dreams”, which is being released in a very interesting way that sparked the inspiration for this article. While the official release is on September 18^th, one visit to Spotify will show an April 2027 release creating some initial confusion.

After searching a bit, I found that the band decided to focus on the physical release first, explaining the September date. From there, they will be digitally unveiling one single per month, till we reach the availability of the full record next April. This monthly cadence is not totally new, as Christofer Johnsson will be releasing the next LUCIFERIAN LIGHT ORCHESTRA and DEFENDERS OF THE FAITH albums in such a manner. The key difference is that the physical format of these will come after their digital versions have been made public. In one case we have a unique, extended spoiler period. In the other, an early access given to the holders of the physical format. And I find it brilliant!

Let’s be real for a minute, even avid collectors of the physical format have either completely stopped or significantly slowed down on buying physical media. Call it rising prices, shorter attention spans, limitless options, quality over quantity, or just a lost battle against the convenience of streaming, you can pick your poison. That is why I find the approach of FALLEN SANCTUARY not only innovative, but brilliant. You support the band and in return are among the first to experience the full record. Your purchase feels special. The increasing catalogue of available songs and reactions of other people, end up as both a great teaser taste, as well as a way to build hype and anticipation. If after all you don’t want to buy CD/vinyl versions, you still have access after some time, so this strategy is not punishing or excluding.

Some people may rightfully argue that a touring group will want to have its album released prior to their concerts. Would they be hurt from this strategy though? They can always release the songs they will perform first, and the remaining album will be a mystery available to be unveiled at the merch stand, boosting sales. Both Johnsson and FALLEN SANCTUARY released their music independently, so they had the freedom to experiment and follow their own way. A record company with entire tours and other obligations may not want to do it that way for many reasons. I would very much like to see any of them test the waters and witness the results, but until then, the question remains. Have FALLEN SANCTUARY found a revolutionary idea of releasing music?

Pavlos Pavlakis