Sentinel Daily‘s first live show in sixteen months can’t help but be a goodie, if only for the chance to get one’s new Puma high tops christened with a bit of Basement beer, sweat and heavy metal…

A cold night in Canberra means the turnout isn’t maybe as impressive as one might have expected, but it’s quite clear to anyone with eyes to see that those that are here are going to enjoy themselves come what may; Props, then, to all three bands for providing entertainment that didn’t make that enjoyment too much of a struggle to achieve. First up are locals Clarity of Chaos, who attack their stripped back groove metal assault with a grim-faced determination leavened by shards of world weary humour from vocalist James Dohm. Their music is a simple, brutally effective proposition, and they warm up the ears of the enthusiastic punters at the front in appealing fashion.

Sydney alt.metallers Red Sea have been away from the live game for even longer than your humble interlocutor, with this show being their first in eighteen months, but you’d not know that from the tightly-wrought sound and fury emanating from the Basement PA. Vocalist Erica Bowron cuts a swathe through the angular Morelloish riffs churning forth from guitarist Scott Daniels and gurning bassist Attila Muhari; she commands the stage imperiously whilst singing yet exudes a matey bonhomie with the faithful between songs and this is a pleasing first contact for this reviewer.

But this is Temtris‘ night, and the band deliver in spades with a headbanging ride through new album Ritual Warfare and select, succulent cuts from their now-extensive back catalogue. Stage centre is of course Sydney’s own metal Queen, Genevieve Rodda, belting out the metal with impressive power and verve, but this is no one-woman show; To her right guitarist Anthony Fox is consistently impressive with his lead work, whilst new six string partner Nari Narozzian adds welcome vitality and movement to the other side of the stage. Bassist Nick Wilks proves his worth time and again too, mounting the monitors whenever possible and contributing faultless backing vocals, all the while locked in rock solid with rhythm partner Nicholas Bolin, who powers things from the back of the stage with deathless precision and pleasing power.

Temtris have mastered their art and then some, delivering intricate music with the simple joy of those who really know what they are doing. But they need bigger stages to fill than the Basement’s – let’s hope gigging can really get back to normal in the very near future so Ritual Warfare gets the live push it so richly deserves…