Sentenced are calling it quits in 2005 after the release of "The Funeral Album" and before this funeral arrives, I just wanted to bring up this 'shadow of the past' and relive the glory days of Sentenced. For this, is their true masterpiece that goes completely unnoticed for many newer fans. After all boys, Sentenced were a formidable force coming out of Finland during a time when black metal was just taking off. "Shadows of the Past" was the only Sentenced album that was pure death metal. And it is truly a pity that neither Sentenced, nor many other bands within the genre take this approach to death metal.
Penning what this sounds like is extremely difficult as the songs of this album are very unusual and still remain highly original even after 14 years. Lyrically, we have no difference, it is still about doom, despair and suicide but the music here is not some sorry little whinefest, but it is furious and badass death metal with a kick unlike most bands out there. Vocalist Miika Tenkula (current guitarist) has a throat ripping growl that is as addictive as can be. His vocal performance is particularly amazing during in the track "Disengagement". Also worth noting is the really cool and long riff attack during the middle portion of that song.
In any case, for someone looking for death metal with a twist (and by twist I neither mean Dark Tranquillity, nor do I mean The Chasm. I mean death metal with a vicious dose of doom without slowing down at all…. Yeah, it's hard to explain) I strongly urge you check this album out.
