SENTENCED — Rotting Ways to Misery (review)

SENTENCED — Rotting Ways to Misery album cover Demo · 1991 · Death Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3/5 ·
UMUR
"Rotting Ways to Misery" is the 2nd demo by Finland, Muhos based death metal act Sentenced. The demo was released on cassette tape in June 1991. It´s the successor to the "When Death Join Us..." demo from November 1990.

Although the same quartet lineup from the first demo remains and there are only little over 6 months between the two demo releases, Sentenced evolved at a rapid pace in the early years. The high level technical playing skills are even more pronounced on "Rotting Ways to Misery" and the songwriting is more varied and slightly more unique. It´s not more unique than that though, as you can still hear a strong late 80s Death (the band) influence in the music, but now Sentenced have also incorporated an audible death/doom metal influence from especially early Paradise Lost. The melancholic lead guitars and the heavy riffs and rhythms point in that direction, while the up tempo sections are more technical in style and influence, and are closer in style to he sound of the "When Death Join Us..." (1990) demo.

The 6 tracks on the 34:33 minutes long demo are old school death metal to the bone though, so the word technical should not be misunderstood, as this is in no way technical death metal. The high level of playing and skill involved are just amazing and Sentenced are an incredibly well playing unit...especially considering their young age (16-18 years old when they recorded this demo). Everyone in the band deserves a mention, but lead vocalist/lead guitarist/main composer Miika Tenkula does stand out with his intense growling vocals and skillful lead guitar work. Especially the latter is high class and deserves attention.

Recorded and mixed at the TICO-TICO Studio in Kemi, Finland, 8th-9th of June 1991 (the same studio where the band recorded the first demo) with producer/engineer Ahti Kortelainen, Sentenced have achieved what I would characterize as a professional demo sound quality. It´s both raw and brutal, but also clear and detailed enough for all instruments and vocals to be audible in the soundscape.

It wouldn´t be long before Sentenced were contacted by French label Thrash Records, who signed the band for the release of their debut full-length studio album "Shadows of the Past" (released in December 1991). An album which features all 6 tracks from "Rotting Ways to Misery" in re-recorded versions. A 3 - 3.5 star (65%) rating it warranted.
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