Cold White Light

Sentenced

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 9, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Century Media
• ASIN: B0000695TK
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #70,918 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Alongside their swashbuckling countrymen in Amorphis, the Finnish band Sentenced have long abandoned their death-metal roots in search of a less punishing approach. This conversion doesn't earn any points with the diehards, but raises the question: Why shouldn't metal bands create radio-friendly, textured melodies? Sentenced mixes heavy-metal strychnine with the saccharine sweetness of pop and comes up with a fetching formula that's still 10 times dirtier than Creed. After all, Sentenced is merely saucing up ballads like Black Sabbath's "Changes," Judas Priest's "Last Rose of Summer," and Iron Maiden's "Strange World." Like it or not, schmaltz is part of heavy metal, and Sentenced pulls it off with Scandinavian poise. --Ian Christe

Product Description

This is the eighth release from Sentenced. Produced by Hill Hiilesmaa (Moonspell, Theatre of Tragedy). 11 tracks and the bonus enhanced video to 'Killing Me Killing You'. 2002.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Most mature and BEST!!, July 4, 2005

By	AAK (Lapland, Finland) - See all my reviews

Masters of depressive metal have done it! Their best album that even beats one of my all time favourites, Down. This album is simply breathtaking. Cold White Light ain't as heavy as Down nor as catchy, but much more emotional and thoughtful. Production is also top notch. Listening to Cold White Light envokes many emotions in me at the same time: depression, hope, grief and joy. No other album has ever done that. It's funny to read how some people wonder the theme chosen by the band. Depression and hatred and all that is very common and daily mood for a Finnish guy. It goes without saying if someone (me) feels this way most of the time. Especially wintertime it's very dark and no sunlight at all for many weeks or months, one or another inevitably begins to hold and ponder these thoughts in his/her head. It's something you can't experience and feel if you live in the tropical zone or somewhere nice, warm and sunny place. It's a very natural subject to start writing songs.

"Cross My Heart and Hope to Die" is simply amazing! The guitar sound is something never heard before, not even from Sentenced, there's something so emotional, it's unmatched. Laihiala's vocals are so sad and emotional that it almost makes me cry, so sad yet so hopeful. Maybe the best track on album and one of their all time best.
"Brief is the Light" Absolutely beautiful melodies and lyrics. This is actually very positive song, at least for me it has become my cure for depression. The song and lyrics are extremely effective when listened at the dark of winter or at a brightest summernight when sun never sets. Then it hits you, 'brief is the light', and I mean daylight and summer alltogether is very brief, though the lyrics are about the light of life. Guitar solo is amazing. Competes with "Cross My Heart..." for the best song on this album.
"Neverlasting" a really trashy piece that shows Sentenced can still make very heavy songs. And that clapping effect in the middle of the song is not handclapping, it's Laihiala (or someone) clapping his bare buttocks with wet hands =D.
"Blood and Tears" with trademark guitar sound and riffs from Tenkula, very catchy and rockin' song.
"The Luxury of a Grave" has over the top funny lyrics but still very nice song with again awesome guitars.

It's difficult to discribe how I feel about this album, or what it means to me. It's like a neverending elixir of life for me, purification. Listening to it makes me rejoice of life once again. Right now when I'm writing this (and listening the album) is a beautiful summernight at 1:00am and the sun is setting lighting the whole sky, and to rise again in an hour...and I feel great!

Need to say? Get this album immediately if you want to experience something depressing...or joyful...or anything at all that touches your emotions!

-Make the most out of your day/for brief is the light on our way/on this momentary trail-

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Killer Metal From Finland!!, January 3, 2003

By	Total Scumbag "slayer_dude" (Hell) - See all my reviews

Finland truly is a great place for metal, Sentenced and Amorphis being two of the greatest metal bands ever to come out of Finland. I read in an interview that Sentenced call themselves "suicide rock" and that title does fit them well, since nearly all their songs are about suicide. This album seems to keep a depressing, and suicidal feel throughout yet it seems upbeat compared to bands like Type O Negative. This album has very catchy songs and theyare great to sing along to. I hope Sentenced gets huge so we can get more killer metal bands from Finland, to have the light shone on them. The best songs on this album are "Cross My Heart and Hope To Die", "Neverlasting", "Excuse Me While I kill Myself", and my favorite song "No One There".

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sentenced bring forth there new delight!, July 10, 2002

By	Paul Devarenne (Cap-Pele, N.B. Canada) - See all my reviews

Greetings people

I have not been a fan of Sentenced for long.I'm not realy familiar with there beginings... when they had a different vocalist and played with a death metal touch.I've listen to frozen, Down, Crimson and the new one...Rest assured people, Senetenced have delivered there most well accomplished disc with The Cold White Light! Each song has a feeling in its own and has a distinctive sound. The songs have an individuality unlike there last album crimson. His vocals seem better than ever and more varied. Anyways, if you enjoyed any of the previous albums i've mention, The Cold White Light will give you much joy! truly a work of talent and pride. Sentenced rank on top...