The band was formed by three of the last line-up members of MANILLA ROAD, vocalist Bryan Patrick, bassist Phil Ross and drummer Andreas Neuderth. Joining them is guitarist Kalli Coldsmith, who has taken a good part of the song writing too. They released a 2 song promo EP back in 2023 and now their self-titled debut album has been released by High Roller Records. SENTRY has all the influences that one should expect given the members of the band, but this is not a continuation of MANILLA ROAD, it’s an expansion. The band is definitely exploring and incorporating new sounds, rawer and more direct. They haven’t lost their touch and the epic vibes are very much present. I would dare say that the album is less Power Metal and more Heavy Metal with the usual refined quality sound. Bryan’s vocals are intact. He knows exactly what to do in each song, delivering lots of impressively detailed and different elements with his voice with a range that fits perfectly with the music. When it comes to the rhythm section, I can’t think of a better match than Phil and Andreas. Phil’s bass lines alternate between supporting the guitar riffs, following tighly the drums and popping out here and there with their own highlights. That constant variation complements the exceptional and solid drum work from Andreas, who not only provides an awesome foundation, but throws in unexpected nuances here and there. Last but not least, Kalli comes in with a bunch of memorable riffs and melodies that are obviously new, but somehow feel familiar. He knows exactly what to play and when to play it with grace and style without losing the heavy and dense approach of the music. Production wise, the sound is heavy, as it was meant to be, but not massive. I dig the dynamic mastering, which gives a lot of space for the music to flow easily from song to song. The heavy and calm parts feel like so, with an obvious contrast when either comes in. And when the album hits hard, the crystal clear mix doesn’t let anything out, combining all the elements in the soundscape into a refined and sophisticated collection of songs. If SENTRY is headed to higher grounds, this is a perfect first step. It will definitely please the MANILLA ROAD fans and it will also make new fans. Because great music delivered in a great way can only have one result: greatness. Support the band here: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091957248667. And get their album from their label here: www.facebook.com/hrrecords