SENTENCED
Like I was with the utterly disappointing Crimson album, I was in no rush to hear this latest offering from veteran Finnish Metallers, SENTENCED. However, my curiosity started to burn when the album promotion started and I went forth with skeptical ears to the download section of the band's homepage. I'd like to say that much to my surprise I was wowed but the truth was that, while SENTENCED seemed to have revived some sense of enthusiasm in their music, it didn't sound to me that the band had done anything new at all. Now that a few months have passed since it's release my opinion has not changed, this is still the SENTENCED of the past 4 years with one exception: that fascinating growth factor that some albums seem to carry with them. It budded on me like wildfire.When I picked up The Cold White Light I gave it about two spins and found myself shelving it, my listening priorities elsewhere. Just recently the band toured my state and though I missed their set I felt the need to go back and listen to the album again. Amazingly, the album suddenly sounded to have a new life of its own and for the past three days The Cold White Light has been courting me to and from work in traffic, as I drive up and down the rows of nightclubs in Hollywood (I use it as a heckling device to drown-out Rap music blaring from other vehicles around me), and now on my home stereo where I blast the infectious likes of "Cross My Heart And Hope To Die", "Brief Is The Light", the wonderfully fatalistic "Excuse Me While I Kill Myself", the emotionally charged serenade of "Blood & Tears" and the unyieldingly catchy "The Luxury Of A Grave". So, why is this so good as opposed to Crimson when there is not a large world of difference between the two? Quite simply, this album rides stronger and more energetic vibes, pulls on the heart strings a bit more forcefully and showcases some of the band's best songwriting since Frozen. Crimson seemed to indicate the band had reached the end of their creative potential and even though this newest release doesn't find some new direction for the band, it does illustrate that SENTENCED have not cashed it in just yet and that they're still masters of writing memorable songs.
So far removed are the days when SENTENCED were a Death Metal band that one wonders how they made the transition that many find regretful. However, what they do today really does encapsulate catchy, flavorful Melodic Heavy Metal/Rock and with The Cold White Light I find myself yet again falling back into their fan base. This is truly a nice album featuring some of the best melodies and catchy choruses the band have ever written. My faith is restored.
