Our greatest adversary looks back at us from within. Fear, anxiety, or doubt will send us into a “fight or flight” response. Either we retreat, or we face them head-on. Opponent siphon the intensity of this classic conflict into a searing signature style kickstarted by thrash bloodletting, intense rhythms, and unshakable hooks. The Seattle, WA trio—Andy Maier [guitar, vocals], Ben Pitroff [bass], and Jovani Gomez [drums]—transform internal conflict into catharsis on their second full-length offering and Solid State Records debut, Sentinel.
“A lot of the limitations in our life are self-imposed,” observes Andy. “The album is the story of how we battle those things embodied in our character. Often, heavy music is about pointing a finger at the outside world. We are all our own worst enemy though. The album is about becoming aware of that and finally facing the enemy.”
A period of period growth catalyzed the formation of Opponent. Inspired by everyone from Metallica, Megadeth, and AC/DC to At The Gates, Soilwork, and Killswitch Engage, Andy jammed with multiple friends before officially launching the band in 2020 with the buzzworthy independent debut, Illusions. After his father’s cancer diagnosis, the frontman made a pivotal decision to pursue Opponent full force. He actually built a 15x20-foot studio in his backyard from scratch and dove into recording with Ryan Clark of Demon Hunter behind-the-board as producer. In the midst of recording, the three-piece landed a deal with Solid State Records.
“You don’t get the rewards without the risks,” he notes. “I decided not to wait for someone to say, ‘Yes, you can build a studio and make a record.’ I’ve realized there’s no better time than now. The reasons we have for waiting are usually excuses. We went ahead and did it.”
With dad reaching remission, the musicians finished Sentinel and introduced it with the bold and bludgeoning “Betrayed.” The track lunges into a guttural gallop punctuated by pinch harmonics and pummeling riffs. On its heels, the single “Fading” tempers groove-laden guitar with an emotionally charged scream before an evocative solo.
“It was this idea I’m dying in here,” he admits. “We live in a world of self-imposed limitations , and it’s a cage. Humans can’t live in cages. We shut down and end up shriveling into nothing. ‘Fading’ implies there’s a light in there in the first place though. The song calls out to the idea greater possibilities are waiting for us. We’re just too scared to walk out of the box.”
Meanwhile, a guitar battering ram charges forward with a razor-sharp growl on the title track as the lyrics speak to an overarching theme.
“It focuses on the enemy standing right in front of you,” he elaborates. “Sentinel means ‘Guardian’. It’s somebody who stands in between. The momentum ratchets up the tension of staring someone face-to-face with its tension, agony, and hatred wanting you to fail. All of the doubts in your life bear down on you in the mirror.”
Everything culminates with the triumphant denouement of “Remember.” It takes stock of the battle thus far.
“I get tattoos to remember moments, and the song ‘Remember’ resembles a tattoo to me,” he says. “It’s reflective in nature. It’s an attempt to sum up the record. It also asks the question, ‘What have you gone through? How does that equip you versus define you?’”
In the end, Opponent encode an uplifting and undeniable mission statement in Sentinel.
“I hope you’re encouraged,” he leaves off. “If you feel like someone is out to get you, you’re not alone. I know the feeling. If you look inward long enough, you’ll see your own flaws and understand what the battle really is. It’s an adversary you can prevail over. I want this to give you the hope there’s a way out.”
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