Sentry - Sentry (2024)

★★

After the dissolution of legendary epic metallers Manilla Road following mastermind Mark “The Shark” Shelton’s death in 2018, fans knew it wouldn’t be the complete end. So here we are, six years later, with the new project of ex-Manilla Road members Phil Ross, Andreas “Neudi” Neuderth, Bryan Patrick, and newcomer Kelli Coldsmith. While shrouded in a mirage of cold mysticism and seemingly epic themes, Sentry triumphs… and then immediately falters. The riffs are unexciting, the solos are sloppy, the rhythm work is manic, and overall, it feels like we’ve been waiting six years for nothing but a group writing session put to tape. Through the dark cloud of disappointment that is this release, there was a small shimmer of light, however: Bryan Patrick’s vocals. While undoubtedly doing justice to the fallen Mark Shelton, Bryan seems to have a more developed confidence in his voice, now sounding more like himself and less like The Shark. Featured prominently in the mix, Bryan’s voice cuts through the fog and illuminates these admittedly muddy tracks, breathing some life into this already dying album. While I seem to have been let down by this release, I do hope they stick around long enough to make something better. If not for themselves, then at least for Mark.

FAVORITE TRACKS: "Heavensent," "Raven’s Night"

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Originally published in March '24 (Issue No. 2)