SENTENCED — North From Here (review)

Album · 1993 · Death Metal

4.5/5 · 2022-01-01
UMUR

"North From Here" is the 2nd full-length studio album by Finland, Muhos based death metal act Sentenced. The album was released through Spinefarm Records in June 1993. It´s the successor to "Shadows of the Past" from December 1991, although the two studio albums are bridged by the March 1992 "Journey to Pohjola" demo. Sentenced only landed a one-album deal with Thrash Records for the release of "Shadows of the Past" (1991), and as they had already moved on to a new sound and style, when the debut was released, they felt the need to record a demo showing fans and labels their new direction. Spinefarm Records eventually payed attention, and signed the band for the release of "North From Here".

Since the release of "Shadows of the Past" (1991) and the "Journey to Pohjola" (1992) demo a rather significant lineup change has taken place. No members have left and no new members have joined, but lead vocalist/lead guitarist Miika Tenkula very suddenly and without notice informed the rest of the band (on the way to play a gig), that he would no longer be performing vocals for Sentenced, as he wished to solely concentrate on playing lead guitar. Bassist Taneli Jarva had previously performed some backing vocals, and it was quickly decided that he should step up and be the band´s new frontman in addition to playing bass.

The change on the lead vocalist spot is audible as Jarva has a more blackened growling delivery compared to the more traditional growling vocals of Tenkula. Both are great vocalists though, and Jarva was definitely a good choice to take over from Tenkula. While the change on the lead vocalist spot should arguably be the greatest change since "Shadows of the Past" (1991), it´s actually the instrumental part of the music which has changed the most. Coming from playing a doom/death metal oriented old school death metal style, to playing a melodic, aggressive, and highly technical blackened death metal style like Sentenced play on "North From Here" is so major a change, that you probably wouldn´t have guessed it was the same band releasing the two albums if you didn´t know it (and the same main composer writing the music).

"North From Here" features a sharp, raw, and intense sounding production, which helps make the material shine even more than it already does. "North From Here" is loaded with killer riffs, blistering melodic guitar work, the above mentioned well performed blackened death metal vocals by Jarva, a cold and dark atmosphere (I´m slightly reminded of Dissection and their ilk), clever use of atmosphere enhancing keyboards, and intriguing and memorable songwriting. The pace is generally high and it´s very energetic and technically challenging music. If the early releases by Sentenced featured a strong late 80s Death (the band) influence, the technical playing and sometimes the riffing style on "North From Here" owe a lot to the more technical early- to mid 90s death metal output of the Florida band. it´s all just influences though and Sentenced have created quite an unique sound on this album. It´s through and through a high quality release and occassionally even a jaw-dropping one and a 4.5 star (90%) rating is fully deserved.