Sentenced

Sentenced was a metal band that played melodic death metal in their early years.^[1] The band formed in 1989, in the town of Muhos, Finland, and broke up in 2005.

Biography

Early years (1989 - 1991)

Sentenced started in 1989 as Deformity and changed their name to Sentenced in 1989, after a few line-up changes. The original line-up consisted of Miika Tenkula (lead guitar and vocals), Sami Lopakka (guitar), Vesa Ranta (drums), and Lari Kylmänen (bass). They recorded two demo tapes: When Death Joins Us... in 1990 and Rotting Ways to Misery in 1991. The band actually got their very first record deal (with the French label Thrash Records) after their first demo.

Shadows of the Past (1991-1993)

In 1991, bassist Taneli Jarva joined the band, replacing Kylmänen just as the band was about to record their debut album, Shadows of the Past. At that time, their musical style was fast, typical European melodic death metal. In Spring 1992, they recorded a three-song promotional tape, Journey to Pohjola, and as a result got a deal with the Finnish Spinefarm Records.

North from Here (1993-1994)

The second album, North from Here, was released in the spring of 1993, and later that year The Trooper EP. Jarva had assumed lead vocal duties using a different style than Tenkula's. It was North From Here that earned the band the attention of German record label Century Media Records, and in 1994 Sentenced left Spinefarm in order to head toward a wider market with a new multi-album contract under Century Media.

Amok (1994-1996)

In 1995, Sentenced released their 'break through' album, Amok, which is considered by many to be their best work. Compared to earlier releases, the music had slowed down somewhat, acquiring a more melodic structure. The track "Nepenthe" was complemented with a music video and the band took to tour Europe in two full-length tours supporting Samael and Tiamat.

In autumn, the band released the Love & Death CD. Music-wise, it kept a fairly similar concept as Amok, as the songs had been written around the same time. Sentenced had achieved success in doom/death markets, but Jarva left the band because of musical differences.

Down (1996-1998)

After Jarva's departure, Ville Laihiala (of Breed fame) joined the band in 1996, just weeks before the band was due to head to Germany to record their fourth album Down with producer Waldemar Sorychta. Once again, the music became more melodic with a significant NWOBHM influence. During this time, bassist Sami Kukkohovi also joined the band, but only as a session member on gigs. Later, in spring 1997 he was granted a permanent slot in the line-up.

Frozen (1998-2000)

Sentenced's fifth full-length album, Frozen, was also recorded at the Woodhouse Studios, and released in 1998, its style is similar to Down. Laihiala and Kukkohovi had become initiated into the band, so they participated in the composition process, resulting in the next album: Frozen. In 1999, a special edition of Frozen was released, containing a re-colored (gold) cover and rearranged track running order, with four cover songs included.

Crimson (2000-2002)

The next Sentenced album to be released was Crimson in 2000. The single "Killing Me, Killing You" demonstrated the band's turn towards melodic death metal.

[edit] The Cold White Light (2002-2004)

Two years after the release of The Cold White Light, the band was seen in a slightly different light, the lyrics displaying some self-irony and even a rare positive edge. They released the single "No One There" which peaked The Finnish Charts at Number 1 following that with an extensive USA tour alongside Killswitch Engage, Dark Tranquillity and In Flames.

After The Cold White Light, they released a CD single in 2003 along with songs by other bands on a four track compilation single that was dedicated to Oulun Kärpät, the ice hockey team of the band's hometown, Routasydän (translates to "Frost Heart") remains the only song Sentenced sung in Finnish, and cannot be found elsewhere. The song caused something of a stir in Finland, as several politicians reviewed the lyrics and purported them to contain Nazi overtones, which the band has steadfastly refuted.^{[citation needed]}

The Funeral Album (2005-)

In early 2005, the band announced that their following release, The Funeral Album, would be their last. They performed farewell gigs during the spring and summer and ended with a final show on October 1st 2005 in their hometown Oulu, Finland. The concert film Buried Alive, directed by Mika Ronkainen, filmed at the funeral gig, was premiered at Oulu Music Video Festival September 9th, 2006. In 2005 The Funeral Album was awarded Gold, footage of the event is filmed in the Buried Alive DVD!

Sentenced have been awarded Platinum in the band's native Finland for their posthumous live DVD Buried Alive. The trophy was handed out to the band's former members at the Century Media 20th anniversary party at the Tavastia club in Helsinki on August 14th, 2008, where Poisonblack and labelmates Norther and Kivimetsän Druidi played exclusive gigs to properly celebrate this special event.

Guitarist and founding member Miika Tenkula died on February 19, 2009. On 26 June, 2009 it was announced by his family that Miika died from an attack caused by a genetic heart condition that he had for many years previous to the break-up. He is buried in the Kirkkosaari cemetery in his hometown Muhos, Finland. [3]

On November 13, 2009 Sentenced released a box set of 16 CDs and 2 DVDs chronicling their entire career in a coffin-shaped box. The box-set also included rare and previously unreleased tracks.

Members

Final line-up

• Ville Laihiala – vocals (1996-2005)
• Miika Tenkula (deceased) – guitar (1989-2005), vocals (1989-1992)
• Sami Lopakka – guitar (1989-2005)
• Sami Kukkohovi – bass (1996-2005)
• Vesa Ranta – drums (1989-2005)

Previous members

• Lari Kylmänen – bass (1989-1991)
• Taneli Jarva – bass and vocals (1991-1996)
• Tuure Heikkilä - drums (1988 - 1989)

Session members

• Niko Karppinen – bass (live) (1995-1996)
• Tarmo Kanerva – drums (summer 1999)
• Marco Sneck - keyboards
• Vorphalack – backup vocals (1996)

Discography

Studio albums

• Shadows of the Past (1991)
• North from Here (1993)
• Amok (1995)
• Down (1996)
• Frozen (1998)
• Crimson (2000)
• The Cold White Light (2002)
• The Funeral Album (2005)

EPs

• The Trooper (1993)
• Love & Death (1995)

Live album

• Buried Alive (2 discs, 2006)

DVD

• Buried Alive (2 discs, 2006)

Singles

• "Killing Me Killing You" (1999)
• "No One There" (2002)
• "Routasydän" (2003)
• "Ever-Frost" (2005)
• "The Glow of 1000 Suns/Amok Run" (2008)

Compilation

• Story: A Recollection (1997)
• The Coffin (2009)
• Manifesto Of Sentenced (2009)

Demos

• When Death Joins Us... (1990)
• Rotting Ways to Misery (1991)
• Journey to Pohjola (1992)
• Amok Runs (1994)

Split albums

• Cronology of Death (1991)
• promo split MCD (2005)

Reissues

• Crimson (2007)
• Down (2007)
• Frozen (2007)
• North From Here (2008)
• Shadows Of The Past (2008)

Videography

• "Nepenthe" (1994)
• "Noose" (1997), directed by Sökö Kaukoranta
• "The Suicider" (1998)
• "Killing Me Killing You" (1999), directed by Pasi Pauni
• "No One There" (2002), directed by Pete Veijalainen
• "Ever-Frost" (2005), directed by Mika Ronkainen
• "Despair-Ridden Hearts" (2006), directed by Mika Ronkainen