The Sentinel “Axe Thrower” passive will throw an axe in the direction that you are facing. It will not throw it towards the “nearest enemy”. The passive reads “throw an axe at the nearest enemy”.
This is easily tested with “devouring orb” w/ “orbit around you” and “abyssal orbs”. Just face away from all enemies and let the abyssal orbs hit enemies towards your rear. The axe will always throw in front of you even though there are no enemies there.
Either the passive should be updated to throw an axe at nearest enemy, or the passive text should say “throw an axe in front of you”.