| Musical Style: AOR/Melodic Hard Rock | Produced By: |
| Record Label: Roxx Records | Country Of Origin: USA |
| Year Released: 2026 | Artist Website: |
| Tracks: 12 | Rating: No Quote |
| Running Time: 63:53 |
It’s easy to lose in the AOR meets melodic hard rock crowd, but Sentry maintains its identity by providing a progressive take on the genre. The Quincy, Massachusetts based act traces to its 1982 founding by lead vocalist & guitarist David McCreary, bassist Steve Knepper, keyboardist Tim Knepper and drummer Tim Jenkins, with the inaugural lineup gigging up and down the East Coast, and polishing its sound and building a fan base in the process. Subsequent to the replacement of Jenkins with new timekeeper Jeff Stewart, Sentry entered the studio to record its debut 1988 4-song independent custom cassette demo EP Breakin’ Free prior to following up one year later with 6-song sophomore effort Sick Of The Darkness (also independent).
Musically, Sentry walks a fine line between melodic rock on the lighter side - think D.O.X., Petra, Battlecry and Sweet Crystal - and that with a heavier proclivity, including but not limited to Fear Not, Guardian, Idle Cure and Novella. Of equal import is how Sentry does not follow a predictable verse-chorus-verse within a three-minute AOR songwriting framework, noting how it commonly extends its material into the five-minute and occasionally six to seven minute range. While I hesitate to label Sentry ‘progressive’, the group approaches AOR and melodic hard rock with an intricate and outside the box mentality to the extent I see it appealing to fans of AOR bands with a strong progressive slant such as Time Horizon and Ariel.
Despite being out of print and hard to find collectors items, Breakin’ Free and Sick Of The Darkness were re-mastered (noting the work of Rob Colwell) and reissued on Roxx Records in May of 2026 under the appropriate title Anthology. Upgraded cover art and mini booklet with lyrics and montage of rare band photos and concert flyers attributes to Scott Waters (NLTM Graphics). Bonus material comes in the form of previously unreleased song “Hard Hearts” and a 2026 re-recording to the Sick Of The Darkness title track.
Breakin’ Free opening track “Shout The Word” launches to spacey keyboards that soon give way to crunching rhythm guitar, the reassuring disposition maintained as layered vocal melodies and McCreary’s pristine classic tenor croon lead the way. Hooks remain persistent and tempo unyielding. This one would not sound out of place on any eighties Petra album. Lyric snippet:
It’s time to reach out to this land
To rise in force, to give a helping hand
We’ve kept this quiet for so long
Let’s shout the Word, we know it can’t be wrong
Shout the Word, Tell the world
What you’ve heart, here tonight
With one voice, shout the Word
With God’s love, shine the Light
I am not the biggest AOR ballad fan, but Sentry gets it right with “Real Love”. Again, the group does not intentionally construct its material with a verse-chorus-verse radio friendly formatting, but rather prioritizes depth and intricacy without overemphasizing any overt commercialism. Such is the case with “Real Love”, which while resplendent with ample keyboards and forthwith melody also accents heavy rocking guitar and an earthy acuity that has convincing written all over it.
Back to upbeat hard rock with “To Go My Own Way”, a vitalized five and half minutes of perfectly positioned keyboards and guitars allowing a stately ambience. Song periodically constraints to slower passages with a darker semblance prior to its magnanimous refrain. A decisive eighties statement is made in the process. Lyric snippet:
Tears that I cry in my room tonight
My weakness has shown, there’s nowhere to hide
Looking so hard for a feeling called love
Failing to trust God’s love from above
God please forgive all I’ve done
I’ve gone my own way much to long
Now I can see
Likewise with showstopper “Shattered Lives”. It ups heaviness into borderline metal territory, as guitars detonate and impetus surges toward the unremitting- the harmony guitars during the instrumental section are straight from the Stryper school of soloing. Keyboards throughout are near mesmerizing with Knepper proving himself no small talent in such regard.
Keeping in mind any potential Sentry exhibits on Breakin’ Free further realizes on Sick Of The Darkness. First, production, which while exhibiting a certain element of thinness when factoring both tapes were independently recorded using late eighties technology, takes the next step. Second, noting manner in which Breakin’ Free is musically solid, Sick Of the Darkness features some of the groups finest songs.
Opener “The Choice” is one such track. It opens acoustically, with forthwith rhythm guitar soon taking over and helping set the elevated and heartening tempo sauntering ahead. Hooks reach out with full on inclusiveness, while vocals radiate of the equally convincing. Again, one cannot help but notice the cleaner production. Lyric snippet:
Shout it out, let me know
What ya gonna do? Energy’s risin’
The Choice is yours, no time to ignore it now
Say you wanna live today
Eternal joy is yours for the asking
I just can’t hide it, it’s breaking through
He’s give you… The Choice
Six minute “Passing Moments” ups heaviness back to a melodic hard rock configuring: unambiguous guitars soar alongside a founding of down-the earth bass to establish a galloping tempo. Yet, a commercial slant reveals in form of the polished albeit not to fault vocal harmonies and scintillating melody oozing of the reflective. The fluid lead guitar serves to tie everything together.
“Living In A Lie” also embodies the AOR infused Sentry hard rock sound, revealed in a complementary keyboard mix but also emphasizing equally emboldened rhythm guitar. Vocal melodies soar and flow with the presuming mentality to pinpoint the radio friendly. It takes no small measure of talent to pull off such proclivity. Lyric snippet:
So many excuses you’re making
But it’s only you you’re faking
I see your spiritual world is dying
You’re gonna get caught, living in a lie
Start changing your life for God
Stop living in a lie
Don’t let the world take you over
Come on, stop living in a lie
Seven and half-minute “Sick Of The Darkness” is not so much albums best track as it rates with finest songs from 1989, including Barren Cross’ “The Stage Of Intensity” (off State Of Control) and Armageddon’s “Nightlight” (The Money Mask). It takes a semi ballad heavy rock approach, impressing as distinguished but exacting a technically complex execution. In terms of former, song begins its first minute and half to relaxed acoustic guitar only to abruptly accelerate as firmer guitar takes over and leads the way to the scintillatingly imposing refrain. From standpoint of latter, a two-minute instrumental jam finds Sentry exhibiting its bountiful licks and chops in which polished harmonies give way to extended guitar and keyboard solos. They do not make them like they used to…
Again, I am not the biggest AOR ballad fan but “Hope For You And I” proves solid all the same. Yes, the lounge style keyboards are a bit thick and feel overall is predictable, but give the group credit for not going the three minute made for radio route and extending the song into the five-minute range. I appreciate the hard rock guitars starting two minutes in that maintain a palpable presence rest of the way. Lyric snippet:
Oh, but storms they come
We’re blown and tossed, all hope seems gone
Our faith is tried, our dreams our swept away
But luckily, there’s a hope for you and I
In this unconditional love, and luckily
We have a change to share together
In this unconditional love of God’s Son
“Heaven Bound” closes Sick Of The Darkness as another quintessential Sentry hard rocker. Pace is enterprising as guitar and keyboards balance in union in corroborating the engaging hooks to command. Song represents a strong manner to end the two-tape career of a consistent band not presenting with a single filler track.
Initial bonus track “Hard Hearts” is an excellent example of hard rock infused AOR. It accents an emotional guitar line that reminds of Novella’s “Do We Just Surrender” (off One Big Sky from 1991), which periodically gives way to quieter passages of a ballad like form. The immediate hooks are some of the finest presented by the group. Production wise, song sounds like a new recording from highlighting levels of refinement not present on the demo tracks. Rhythm guitar in particular stands out in presenting a snarl leaving impression Sentry is much heavier than its demo material realizes.
The “Sick Of The Darkness” re-records stays true to the original but benefitting from stronger production. Impression from the bonus tracks is that Sentry has not missed a beat the past thirty-five years, and if it still maintains such musical licks and chops after such extended time, it deserves to enter the studio and record a full-length follow up release. If any future recording were of such quality as “Hard Hearts” and “Sick Of The Darkness” I would give it 90% minimum.
Best manner in which to close would be to credit Roxx Records for making the Sentry material available on CD subsequent to being out of print for decades. If into AOR or melodic rock with a heavier edge then my advice would be to make Anthology a priority purchase. Once more, there is not a substandard musical moment in that each track is a winner and bonus material stands out equally. Musically, Sentry brings the solid performance vocally and musicianship required of the gentry. I hope to hear more from Sentry in the future.
Review by Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing: “The Choice” (5:05), “Passing Moments” (5:58), “Living In A Lie” (4:51), “Sick Of The Darkness” (7:24), “Hope For You And I” (4:47), “Heaven Bound” (4:53), “Shout The World” (4:51), “Real Love” (4:42), “To Go My Own Way” (5:27), “Shattered Lives” (4:22), “Hard Hearts” (4:24), “Sick Of The Darkness 2026” (7:05)
Musicians
Dave McCreary - Lead Vocals, Guitar & Backing Vocals
Steve Knepper - Bass
Tim Knepper - Keyboards
Tim Jenkins - Drums (1982-1985)
Jeff Stewart - Drums (1985-1990)
