Sentenced
The Cold White Light

THE REVIEW

Now, I could tell you about the entire discography of the Finnish band, leveraging their courage to change their music at some point in contrast to their beginnings, the fact that their frontman is a melancholic giant named Ville, and the subtle irony that pervades their pessimism.

Instead, you simply need to know that the album in question is a great record. Starting from the opener (instrumental intro) that, in a few seconds, throws us into the melancholic Finnish landscape, we are immediately seduced by the dark sweetness of Tenkula's arpeggios (I know, I know...) and associates, which often blossoms into pleasant melodies that, with our neighbors' good consent, we find ourselves singing while we shower, mow the lawn, and walk the dog.

If we really want to talk about genres, okay, we find ourselves within a gothic metal (especially in the atmosphere and lyrics) that winks at a certain dark hard rock, which has its guardians like The Cult and The Sisters of Mercy. Then again, in Finland, they know how to do this genre well, personalizing it with a groove of mysterious, alcoholic, fancy-pants depressives.

Back to us, the songs flow by with pleasure. From "Cross my heart" to "Neverlasting," passing through the more melodic "Brief is the light," Lahiala and friends lead us into a scenario that's melancholic, but never too heavy, also thanks to a very enjoyable rhythm and fitting melodies. A successful and convincing mix of romance and power, the common thread of the entire album, but also of the Sentenced attitude in recent years.

A special mention is deserved for the introspective "Everything is nothing," a delicate and icy gem. And how can we not spend a few words on the *funny* and badass "Excuse me while I kill myself" (also note the Maiden-like riff) and "The luxury of a grave," where they ironically play on gothic clichés, but maybe I'm the only one noticing, showcasing excellent sound and vocal interpretation. Yes, there's also "You're the one," a typical Finnish sappy ballad that will also appeal to those who listen to fellow countrymen Him, but personally I find it the only uninspired track on the album, but that's subjective.

But, dear friends, if I wrote all this, it's also to highlight the icy beauty of "No one there." A true peak, emotionally and compositionally, of the album, a poem dedicated to the native land that, through an excellent melody and intensity, offers a magical, nostalgic, moving conclusion to the journey that they take us on from the very first notes of the album, and it immediately makes you want to relive it to appreciate nuances that might be missed during an inattentive first listen.

A journey into the "Cold White Light" is highly recommended, truly a great soundtrack during a winter day with some worries drifting away and some too many memories advancing menacingly...

Thank you Sentenced, the cold months without your music would be less charming. A blanket made of notes.