樂(lè)隊(duì)名: Sentenced

　　音樂(lè)風(fēng)格: Melodic death/doom metal, later depressive hard rock (旋律死亡/厄運(yùn)金屬,晚期低調(diào)硬搖滾) Death Metal/Black Metal（死亡/黑色金屬） Heavy Metal（重金屬） Power Metal（能量金屬） Scandinavian Metal（斯堪的納維亞金屬）

　　音樂(lè)主題: Doom, Nature, Depression, Love (厄運(yùn),自然,消沉,愛(ài)情)

　　國(guó)家: Finland (芬蘭)

　　成立時(shí)間: 1988年

　　所在場(chǎng)牌: Century Media (世紀(jì)傳媒)

　　樂(lè)隊(duì)現(xiàn)狀: 解散

　　現(xiàn)成員:

　　Ville Laihiala - Vocals (Poisonblack)

　　Miika Tenkula - Lead guitar

　　Sami Lopakka - Guitar

　　Vesa Ranta - Drums (Anthony)

　　Sami Kukkohovi - Bass (Solution 13)

　　前成員:

　　Taneli Jarva - Vocals/Bass up to Love and Death. (Chaosbreed, The Black League, ex-Impaled Nazarene)

　　Lari Kylm鋘en - Bass (1989 - 1991)

　　Session/Live members:

　　Niko Karppinen - Bass (1995 - 1996)

　　Tarmo Kanerva - Drums ((Poisonblack) (summer 1999)

　　官方網(wǎng)站: http://www.sentenced.org/ (主頁(yè)的動(dòng)畫(huà)非常美)

　　介 紹：

　　有些樂(lè)隊(duì)被認(rèn)為是傳奇性的，他們得到了應(yīng)得的榮譽(yù)，他們對(duì)別人的影響和啟發(fā)是有目共睹的，他們的經(jīng)歷也不是三言?xún)烧Z(yǔ)能說(shuō)得清的。Sentenced實(shí)際上就是這樣一支傳奇性的樂(lè)隊(duì)。1989年,Miilka Tenkula，Sami Lopakka和Vesa Ranta組建Sentenced之初，玩的是一種那時(shí)還不流行的粗暴風(fēng)格的歐洲死亡金屬樂(lè)。1990年他們錄制了第一個(gè)小樣之后，新的主唱兼貝司手Taneli Jarva加入了樂(lè)隊(duì)，他幫助樂(lè)隊(duì)找到了更好的音樂(lè)創(chuàng)作方式和風(fēng)格走向。在十年的歌詞創(chuàng)作中，Sentenced總試圖將聽(tīng)者帶入一個(gè)失落，自殺的消沉和通體否定的世界，這是一種語(yǔ)言無(wú)法描述的感覺(jué)，只有隨著Sentenced的音樂(lè)才能感受到。雖然他們的風(fēng)格越來(lái)越軟化下去，但他們高素質(zhì)的音樂(lè)，是誰(shuí)也不能否定的。Sentenced在其音樂(lè)與歌詞中體現(xiàn)出的才能使他們遠(yuǎn)遠(yuǎn)區(qū)別于金屬運(yùn)動(dòng)中諸多平庸之輩，他們是真正意義上的前衛(wèi)死亡！

　　1993年，芬蘭的獨(dú)立廠牌Spinefarm為他們錄制了第二張專(zhuān)輯“North from Here”，專(zhuān)輯的封面可能給人Black Metal的感覺(jué)，但這的確是一張Death Metal的專(zhuān)輯，的確也有Black Metal的成分在里面，吉他運(yùn)用了很多Tremolo Picking的手法，主唱的嗓音也時(shí)而有Black Metal的影子。樂(lè)隊(duì)把氣氛掌握的很好，而且旋律不俗。值得一提的是，在“North from Here”里，有少量弦樂(lè)作為背景出現(xiàn)，但不是很明顯。同年的晚些時(shí)候Sentenced發(fā)行的一張EP“騎兵”（顧名思義，EP里翻唱了Iron Maiden的這首經(jīng)典歌曲）。這幾張唱片的風(fēng)格基本都是北歐風(fēng)格的Death/Black Metal，又硬又重，速度并不很快，實(shí)際上，樂(lè)隊(duì)受早期Iron Maiden的影響是很明顯的。

　　EP發(fā)行之后，德國(guó)的著名的死亡金屬?gòu)S牌Century Media與樂(lè)隊(duì)進(jìn)行了聯(lián)系，并與樂(lè)隊(duì)簽定了一份世界范圍的合同，包括重新發(fā)行樂(lè)隊(duì)的前兩張專(zhuān)輯。Sentenced加入Century Media后發(fā)行了專(zhuān)輯“殺氣”，這一次是樂(lè)隊(duì)音樂(lè)風(fēng)格上的重大突破，專(zhuān)輯甚至賣(mài)出了35,000張。這張專(zhuān)集里的音樂(lè)異常豐富，旋律性很強(qiáng)，女聲，弦樂(lè)，原音吉他層出不窮，經(jīng)常出現(xiàn)同時(shí)有6，7種樂(lè)器合奏的場(chǎng)面（兩種節(jié)奏吉他，貝司，鼓，主音吉他，主唱...），而且有條不紊，非常協(xié)調(diào)。很難想象這是一支死亡金屬樂(lè)隊(duì)玩出來(lái)的音樂(lè)，同時(shí)期有很多樂(lè)隊(duì)都開(kāi)始嘗試這種PROGRESSIVE DEATH（前衛(wèi)死亡金屬）的風(fēng)格，象Therion，Samael等等，但似乎這張“Amok”是做得最為徹底，風(fēng)格變化最突然的專(zhuān)集�？上Р⒉皇撬�有樂(lè)迷都接受這種改變，一些老歌迷對(duì)樂(lè)隊(duì)的這種旋律化傾向感到失望，盡管樂(lè)隊(duì)技巧的提高是那么無(wú)法抵御的誘惑。

　　后來(lái)，樂(lè)隊(duì)主唱Jarva表示退出樂(lè)隊(duì)，Ville Laihiala加入了進(jìn)來(lái)，很快他與眾不同的音樂(lè)品味給樂(lè)隊(duì)增加了更多戲劇化的音樂(lè)成分。新的貝司手Sami Kukkovi加入后，Sentenced開(kāi)始創(chuàng)作并錄制專(zhuān)集“向下”。專(zhuān)輯中的演唱完全用了“清喉”演唱，音樂(lè)更加的旋律化，完全屏棄的早期的風(fēng)格，豐富的音色和效果的運(yùn)用，證明了他們的音樂(lè)才華。從這張專(zhuān)輯開(kāi)始，樂(lè)迷及樂(lè)評(píng)已經(jīng)開(kāi)始接受并欣賞這種Sentenced的風(fēng)格了，以至于幾個(gè)知名雜志（如德國(guó)的Rock Hard和Metal Hammer），將這張“Down”評(píng)為當(dāng)月最佳專(zhuān)集。這使得樂(lè)隊(duì)名聲大噪，并在更大范圍的巡演中和諸如The Gathering，My Dying Bride和Therion這樣的樂(lè)隊(duì)一起合作，并作為頭牌樂(lè)隊(duì)在芬蘭進(jìn)行了巡演。

　　1998年Sentenced在德國(guó)著名的Woodhouse錄音室開(kāi)始了他們最新專(zhuān)集的創(chuàng)作，即由Waldemar Sorychta制作的“冰凍”。這一次樂(lè)隊(duì)嘗試了新的吉他和效果器，并大大加強(qiáng)了感情在歌曲中作用，看起來(lái)樂(lè)隊(duì)在這張專(zhuān)集中達(dá)到了顛峰狀態(tài)。隨著比以往作品更為出色的旋律進(jìn)行，Sentenced在每首歌中都盡力去抓住那種痛苦和悲哀的情緒，“Frozen”無(wú)疑音樂(lè)風(fēng)格上更加多元化了。

　　Sentenced的所有出版物

　　When Death Join Us Demo, 1990

　　Cronology of Death Split, 1991

　　Rotting Ways to Misery Demo, 1991

　　Shadows of the Past Full-length, 1991

　　Journey to Pohjola Demo, 1992

　　North From Here Full-length, 1993

　　Demo 1994 Demo, 1994

　　The Trooper EP, 1994

　　Amok Full-length, 1995

　　Love and Death EP, 1995

　　Down Full-length, 1996

　　Story: A Recollection Best of/Compilation, 1997

　　Frozen Full-length, 1998

　　Killing Me Killing You Single, 1999

　　Crimson Full-length, 2000

　　No One There Single, 2002

　　The Cold White Light Full-length, 2002

　　Routasydän Single, 2003

　　promo split MCD Split, 2005

　　Ever-Frost Single, 2005

　　The Funeral Album Full-length, 2005

　　Buried Alive DVD, 2006

　　Buried Alive Live album, 2006

　　Buried Alive (Box) Boxed set, 2006

　　The Glow of 1000 Suns / Amok Run EP, 2008

　　來(lái)自官方的告別信....

　　Dear Assembly,

　　We have now gathered here, with heavy hearts, to lay SENTENCED to rest. Therefore let us cast an eye on those sixteen glorious years of this band’s life.

　　Following a short prelude, the two guitarists Miika Tenkula and Sami Lopakka as well as drummer Vesa Ranta came together in the provincial town of Oulu in the cold north of Finland in the year 1989 to baptize their death metal newborn, and gave it the name: SENTENCED. Only one year later, this child of death let loose its first startling scream in the shape of the demo "When Death Joins Us..." (1990). When its voice developed an extremely charismatic touch with the recruiting of singer and bass-player Taneli Jarva, a first record-deal followed soon, which led to the release of the traditional death metal debut "Shadows Of The Past" (1991). Two years later SENTENCED took a more melodic turn on "North From Here" (1993) and created a true milestone of their deadly genre. Just a small amount of time elapsed until this rapidly growing whelp honoured its Iron Maiden roots with "The Trooper" (1993). This MCD also saw a strengthening of the band’s melodic side at the expense of its harshness. With a fresh worldwide contract of German label Century Media in their pockets and the release of their third masterpiece "Amok" (1995), the Finns were getting their deserved breakthrough. It was emotional, melancholic but still harsh. Taneli’s smoky voice breathed life into the album and the fans loved it. Another hint of a change in style was given by the second MCD "Love & Death" (1995). Just coming out of his infancy, this precocious youngster opened up to more rock influences and broadened his musical horizon. SENTENCED had reached a first peak in their career, but the fast and furious rock ’n’ roll lifestyle demanded a sacrifice: rough-throated Taneli Jarva was too worn out to continue and took some years off before returning with his own band The Black League. An era had reached its end. SENTENCED had built the base of the Finnish boom in metal, alongside Amorphis and Waltari, paving the path for such diverse bands as Children of Bodom or Nightwish.

　　Still there was no rest for the wicked, and SENTENCED were not satisfied to rest on their earlier succces. They recruited the charismatic Ville Laihiala and returned with the sensational "Down" in 1996. "Down" finally ended the chapter "death metal" for the reformed five-piece band. Taneli’s deep rumpling voice was replaced by Ville’s warm and clear delivery. The dark-maned Finn immediately put his own touch to the new melancholic and pain-ridden songs. Caught between anger and despair, "Down" offered more than once suicide as the only way out. While that theme became something of a trademark, SENTENCED more or less toyed full of self-irony and biting sarcasm with the melancholic stance of their fellow countryman - likely caused by too many dark days in wintertime. A simultaneous change of singer and style meant truly taking a dare, but for SENTENCED it turned out to be a lucky one. The band kept most of their old fans and added a considerable number of new followers to their camp. From now on SENTENCED released top-records in a quiet regular rhythm of two years. "Frozen" (1998) followed "Down" and delivered a more precise and refined version of the new formula. Next up "Crimson" (2000) added a mighty dose of bitterness and finally "The Cold White Light" (2002) took this special SENTENCED-sound to a new peak: The perfectly interlacing stringwork of guitar-duo Lopakka & Tenkula gave the band抯 desolate picture a shining silver frame. Melodic beasts of groove were driven by Ville’s electrifying voice, embodying the pain of broken hearts and seeming to drown easily in streams of alcohol at the same time. SENTENCED manage to use all those clich閟 of their homeland to better effect without ever appearing stereotyped. It was quite the other way around - while the band matured into a young adult it created some of their most breathtaking songs like the poison-dripping "Excuse Me While I Kill Myself" or the sadness filled "Cross My Heart And Hope To Die". It is beyond doubt, that SENTENCED as masters of melancholy in their second incarnation delivered a decisive impulse, that others successfully turned into poppier sounds like HIM, Charon or even The Rasmus - yet SENTENCED remained always true to the metal-genre.

　　And now it is supposed to be all over. Just like in their songs, the five Finns commit collective suicide as a band and part ways with each other. At the end of this year, SENTENCED will no longer be among us. What a painful thought full of drama and tragedy. Only one hope remains, before the end we will once more enjoy the happiness of a new SENTENCED-release. Dear assembly, behold "The Funeral Album", which the Finns from Oulu luckily leave as their final testament. "We decided to end the band’s career with this record, and already knew what was going to happen when we were writing the songs", admits guitarist Sami Lopakka. "So we agreed to make this one final round, to make a farewell album and a funeral tour." Knowledge of their mortality and the end firmly in sight led SENTENCED to an outburst of unexpected powerful creativity: "The Funeral Album" oozes with self-confidence, variety and a barely restrained hostility. It was recorded at Finland’s Tonebox and Finnvox Studios and mastered at Finnvox Studios by the acclaimed Mika Jussila. Manning the producer’s chair was Hiili Hiilesmaa (HIM, Moonspell, Apocalyptica, Theatre Of Tragedy and many more), who also produced SENTENCED’s two previous albums "Crimson" and "The Cold White Light". Right from the sparkling opener "May Today Become The Day", an uptempo rocker with brilliant solo-parts, the album hits home. The following ice-breaker "Ever-Frost" reminds immediately of "Frozen" in its most distilled form, while "We Are But Falling Leaves" continues the Finns’ great tradition of sad half-ballads. Only one track further down the album, "Her Last 5 Minutes" explore even greater depths of despair, underlined by fragile solo-guitars. This song leaves the listener with the frosty feeling of standing in a cold winter’s rain and a truly freezing shower is soon to follow: "Where Waters Fall Frozen" proves to be a short instrumental reminder of SENTENCED days in the realm of death metal. "There are some references to the things we have done in the past", agrees Sami. "However, those pieces came out naturally. For example "Where Waters Fall Frozen", which somehow links to "North From Here", was born in rehearsals when we were waiting for someone to show up - kind of a live burst of aggression." This nostalgia is also present in "Despair-Ridden Hearts". Once this song takes up speed after its surprising harmonica intro, and those fingers fly over the strings one feels returned to the grace of "Amok". The same feeling points towards the angry impetus of "Down" while listening to the nicely coarse "Vengeance Is Mine". At this point it is necessary to state, that these songs are not even close to ordinary copies of gone glories, but only mildly hinting to the past while still being full of fresh ideas. Just marvel about this insane choir of children in "Vengeance Is Mine" for example. 揅onsider Us Dead?and the dirty groove of "A Long Way To Nowhere" both take another turn off the band’s road and treads on the melodic path in between metal and gothic rock. One step ahead, "Lower The Flags" demonstrates clearly that SENTENCED are well able to deliver a stunningly dark piece of rock, which makes their more commercial Finnish colleagues look rather pale in comparison - and not only because of the classic piano-intro. In a last struggle before the looming end, the lively "Drain Me" stubbornly refuses to give in to tearful moods, but now it is time for the inevitable: After the thoughtful acoustic piece "Karu" allows a last pause, the stone is finally and firmly placed on the grave by "End Of The Road". Ville sings with a tender voice of this journey’s end, then a grave-bell tolls and the guitars set in for a dark requiem like the last beats of a heart surrounded by silence. The choir of children returns and "End of The Road" makes a final stand, rising beautifully before slowly fading into eternity. "Obviously the overall feeling of the album is very final and every song has the words 慻ood bye?written upon it", remarks Sami. "After making "The Funeral Album" we can look back on our career with the knowledge that we kept the flame burning at its brightest till the very end and let it die with dignity."

　　There is nothing to add to these last words. So let us praise and celebrate "The Funeral Album" now, for it is the grandiose peak of SENTENCED’s too-brief but wonderful and glorious life. When attending the band’s last rites at this year抯 summer festivals, we shall all turn those concerts into a worthy memorial of both laughter and tears. Amen.

　　- Gunnar Sauermann