Sanctuary is a metal band from Southeast Asian youngest nation Timor-Leste. Originating from the beneath of Calvary, Golgota – a town in Dili name after the place of Jesus crucifixion – inspires the naming of the band to represent the sacredness of the site and also serve as the witness of the sorrow. Ineglectably, the name caused controversies, but Sanctuary insight was to break the stereotype and reshape people’s view towards metal by conveying the impression that we are not against religion.

 

The band was properly formed in November 2009 by emerging creative youths of Golgota whom had the grievance to express their thoughts towards social injustices and express both personal and collective feelings based upon tough experiences that each of the member had. So far Sanctuary has had nine songs and few more in arrangement process. All of these songs had been delivered and tasted by metalheads across Timorese metal landscape, through metalfests and local events that tried to converge variety of existing genres in Timor. Also, Sanctuary has been actively promoting metal genre across the country in tours adjacent to community bands shaded by Familia KLAN, and other promoter such as BFR (Berliku Fanun Rai).

 

Sanctuary emerged as school band in 2004 by Paul, Frengky and Abetu who at that time each as vocalist, bassist and guitarist. Initially, the dummer was Egas also a student a school where three existent personnels went to. The band started of embracing hip rock, and the song Mundo (World), brought the band into sight of people. Due to personal issues, Egas left the band. Years later Leo joined the band as a drummer in 2009, intergrating his metal skills, and with intense conversion into KLAN Metal Community, Sanctuary eventually decide to divert to the dominant (although it was still earlier from the bloom of metal in Timor in 2014)

 

The band experienced certain period of vacuum when Leo had to leave for his study in the United States. Andre was Leo’s replacement during that period. In 2015, Leo rejoined the band , and toured the local concerts. They composed 3 new songs and performed in in-city concerts and also in municipalities such as Manatutu.

 

In August 2015, Leo has to go back continuing his higher degree, and it puts Sanctuary into its second state of vacuum. At the moment, Sanctuary has nine songs, and attempting to release an album when Leo is back from his study.