Review: Gary Moore ‘The Sanctuary Years’
By Mike O’Cull
Irish guitar legend Gary Moore will be honored by the release of the box set The Sanctuary Years, which will bring fans four complete albums from Moore’s time on the Sanctuary record label.
Set to come out June 23rd, 2023 on the BMG imprint, the package will include the albums A Different Beat, Back To The Blues, Scars, and Power of The Blues. Each record will include new liner notes by Dave Everley. Even cooler, The Sanctuary Years will also include a 5.1 (Edited) mix of Back To The Blues and choice interviews on Blu-ray, assorted stickers, a poster, and other memorabilia. The music here was originally released between 1999 and 2004 and will remind all who hear it of just how mighty and full of vision Moore was and why he’s often considered one of the finest guitar players of all time.
Originally from Northern Ireland, Gary Moore gained fame as a solo artist and as a member of rock icons Thin Lizzy. He was originally inspired by Peter Green and Eric Clapton and always carried their blues in his heart. He shifted into harder rock and heavy metal during the 1980s and again found international success. He came back to his roots in 1990 with the hit album Still Got The Blues, his most commercially successful effort. He continued putting out new music in his later years but passed in 2011 from a heart attack while vacationing in Spain. He left behind a legacy of incredible music and a spot that will never be filled.
Each of the albums compiled in The Sanctuary Years is unique and special in its own way. Moore’s 1999 platter A Different Beat displays his fearless creativity by putting his blazing blues/rock style on top of block-rocking electronic grooves. Tracks like “Go On Home” and “Lost In Your Love” carve out a new sound that blends lyrical songwriting, rock guitar, and dance beats into something fresh that still sounds contemporary even now. Moore always had a timeless quality to his work and it’s in full effect on these tracks.
2021’s Back To The Blues refocused Moore on his primordial blues/rock sound and hearing him plugged in and ripping at full strength is glorious. His vocals are gritty and confident and his guitar tone and playing are epic and profound. The opener, “Enough Of The Blues,” begins on solo resonator slide and vocals before stomping the gas pedal with a full band. This is heavy, Irish blues/rock that’ll grab you by the scruff and drag you right down to the front row. Moore’s saturated guitar tone soars and his licks are positively volcanic.
“Cold Black Night” is funky and fast, giving Gary another chance to release the beast. It’s as intense as blues/rock gets and Moore’s guitar work is truly overwhelming. He uses notes, noise, and texture to make the arrangement burn itself to completeness and the heat coming out of him will light your smoke for you. This kind of energy was always part of Moore’s style and few can match it.
The 2002 album Scars brought about another stylistic shift for Moore, this time into a Band of Gypsys-era Hendrix vibe. Moore came of age listening to this type of highly-improvised, jam-based music and put it down like a boss. Standout songs include “When The Sun Goes Down” and the eccentric “Wasn’t Born In Chicago.” This is Moore at his most wild and dramatic and you’re going to love where he takes you.
2004’s Power Of The Blues is the fourth record in the set and brings Moore back to his tough, blues/rock center. The opening title track is a full-on slammer with a huge groove. Bass legend Bob Daisley (Rainbow, Ozzy Osbourne) plays on this and on the rest of the album and adds the solid feel he keeps in his hip pocket.
One of the most memorable songs on Power Of The Blues is Moore’s smoldering treatment of the 1956 Otis Rush hit “I Can’t Quit You Baby.” Moore plays some pure blues as he knows them to be and conjures up more than a little magic on vocals and guitar. He lets his speed out of the bag during his solos and raises the temperature in the room with each chorus. This is a contemporary take on the real vintage thing and will knock you out flat.
The Sanctuary Years is an excellent summation of Gary Moore’s turn-of-the-century period and showcases everything that made him a star. It’s pure, experimental, blasting, and delicate in turn and shows how each of those ideas could fill his entire being. This is a wonderful set for anyone who loves Moore and fine guitar music. Get it before it’s gone!
Pre-order The Sanctuary Years Here
Watch The Trailer Here
Amazing ist. Gary Gary Gary!
One of the all-time greatest!