Sentenced
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1989 in Muhos, Finland |
| Defunct | 2005 |
| Headquarters | Muhos , Finland |
| Products | Music albums, live performances |
| Website | www |
Sentenced was a Finnish band known for gothic metal, originally rooted in melodic death metal. Established in 1989 in Muhos, Finland, the group dissolved in 2005.
On their first album, lead guitarist Miika Tenkula also performed vocals. Subsequently, bassist Taneli Jarva assumed vocal responsibilities for the following two albums, North from Here and Amok, until his exit in 1995. With the arrival of vocalist Ville Laihiala, Sentenced shifted towards gothic metal and secured commercial acclaim in Finland, achieving three consecutive chart-topping albums. Their eighth studio release, The Funeral Album, announced as their concluding work in 2005, included the single "Ever-Frost," which dominated Finnish charts for six weeks. The band's final live appearance occurred on 1 October 2005 in their hometown of Oulu.
In 2009, Tenkula died due to a heart attack.
Formation and initial phase (1988–1991)
The group initially formed under the name Deformity in 1988 but rebranded as Sentenced in 1989 following personnel changes. The original members were Miika Tenkula (lead guitar and vocals), Sami Lopakka (guitar), Vesa Ranta (drums), and Lari Kylmänen (bass). They produced two demo recordings: When Death Joins Us... (1990) and Rotting Ways to Misery (1991). After releasing their first demo, they secured a contract with the French label Thrash Records.
Shadows of the Past era (1991–1993)
Before recording their debut album Shadows of the Past in 1991, bassist Taneli Jarva replaced Kylmänen. Their sound at this stage was characterized by fast-paced European death metal. In early 1992, they created a three-track promotional tape titled Journey to Pohjola, which led to a contract with Finnish label Spinefarm Records. By that year, Sentenced had performed over fifty concerts and sold all 1500 copies of their debut album along with previous demos and merchandise.
North from Here period (1993–1994)
Their sophomore album, North from Here, was released in spring 1993 and was followed by the release of The Trooper EP later that year. Jarva expanded his role by taking on lead vocal duties with a new approach. The success of North From Here attracted interest from German label Century Media Records, prompting Sentenced to leave Spinefarm Records in 1994 for a multi-album deal aimed at reaching a broader audience.
Amok phase (1994–1996)
In 1995, Sentenced unveiled Amok, widely regarded as their finest album. The band adopted a slower tempo with enhanced melodic elements. The track "Nepenthe" was accompanied by a music video, and the band toured Europe supporting acts such as Samael and Tiamat.
That autumn, they released the Love & Death EP featuring a style consistent with Amok. Despite gaining traction within doom and death metal circles, Jarva departed due to creative disagreements.
Down era (1996–1998)
After Jarva's exit, Ville Laihiala from Breed joined Sentenced in 1996 prior to recording their fourth album, Down, produced by Waldemar Sorychta. The band's music evolved into a more melodic form influenced heavily by the NWOBHM movement. Initially joining as a session bassist, Sami Kukkohovi became a full-time member by spring 1997. Down received widespread critical acclaim internationally and was honored as Album of the Month by German publications including Rock Hard and Metal Hammer. This era marked Sentenced's emergence onto the global stage.
Frozen (1998–2000)
Sentenced's fifth studio album, Frozen, was produced at Woodhouse Studios and released in 1998, maintaining the musical direction established by Down. Both Laihiala and Kukkohovi played significant roles in its songwriting process. In 1999, a special edition of Frozen was issued, featuring a gold-colored cover, a reshuffled tracklist, and the addition of four cover tracks.
Crimson (2000–2002)
The band unveiled Crimson in 2000, signaling a departure from their melodic death metal roots with the lead single "Killing Me, Killing You." This album reached the top position on Finnish charts and was followed by an extensive tour, which included Sentenced's inaugural trip to the United States.
The Cold White Light (2002–2004)
Two years later, The Cold White Light was released, showcasing lyrics infused with self-deprecating humor and moments of optimism. Its single "No One There" climbed to number one on Finland's charts. During this period, Sentenced toured the US alongside bands such as Killswitch Engage, Dark Tranquillity, and In Flames. The album achieved a peak position of 45 in Germany and was supported by a European tour with Lacuna Coil.
In 2003, Sentenced contributed "Routasydän," their sole song performed in Finnish, to a compilation single backing Oulun Kärpät, their hometown ice hockey team. The track generated controversy due to perceived Nazi connotations, which the band firmly denied.
The Funeral Album and final performances (2005)
At the beginning of 2005, Sentenced declared that The Funeral Album would be their concluding release. The album debuted at number one in Finland and reached number 49 on Germany’s Media Control chart. Its single "Ever-Frost" dominated the Finnish singles chart for six consecutive weeks. The group embarked on farewell concerts culminating in their final show on 1 October 2005 in Oulu. This concert was recorded and later released as the film Buried Alive, which premiered in 2006. The Funeral Album earned gold certification in Finland after surpassing sales of 15,000 copies.
Aftermath (2006–present)
Following their disbandment, Sentenced's live DVD Buried Alive achieved Platinum status in Finland. Former members accepted this honor during Century Media’s 20th anniversary celebration held in Helsinki in 2008.
On 19 February 2009, guitarist and founding member Miika Tenkula passed away due to a heart attack linked to a hereditary condition, effectively ending any possibility of a reunion.
Sentenced released an extensive box set on 13 November 2009 comprising 16 CDs and 2 DVDs that document their musical journey, including rare and previously unreleased material.
A tribute album from Russia was issued in 2011. In December 2014, Finnish rock journalist Matti Riekki published the biography Täältä Pohjoiseen - Sentencedin Tarina, which was subsequently translated into English under the title North from Here – The Story of Sentenced.
Former members have engaged in various artistic endeavors: Vesa Ranta published a photographic book titled Agony Walk – On the Road with Sentenced in 2019, while Sami Lopakka authored his novel Marras in 2014, drawing inspiration from his touring experiences with the band.
Members
Final lineup
- Miika Tenkula – lead guitar (1989–2005; deceased 2009), vocals (1989–1992)
- Sami Lopakka – rhythm guitar (1989–2005)
- Vesa Ranta – drums (1989–2005)
- Ville Laihiala – vocals (1996–2005)
- Sami Kukkohovi – bass guitar (1997–2005)
Former members
- Lari Kylmänen – bass guitar (1989–1991)
- Taneli Jarva – bass guitar (1991–1995), vocals (1992–1995)
Touring musicians
- Niko Karppinen – bass guitar (1995–1996)
- Tarmo Kanerva – drums (1999)
Discography
- 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)