Sentenced The Funeral Album
Century Media Records CD 8246-2 May 31st, 2005
By Jason Jordan
After the tour that will follow The Funeral Album, Sentenced will officially be no more. I suppose Ive always been ambivalent towards this band. After all, not one album in their discography has had any sort of profound impact on me as a person, and this latest output changes nothing. But, if you were pleased by The Cold White Light, then I suspect that The Funeral Album can be considered yet another fine entry into the groups catalog. I found this to be somewhat bland, however. And, for what its worth, the guys seem more cheerful than I was hoping theyd be.
May Today Become the Day is a four-minute, energetic opener, and illustrates the rock influence thats pervaded the quintets sound as of late. Make no mistake: this is fairly straightforward material. Ever-Frost is better than its predecessor due in part to the riffage and catchy chorus. Solemnity lyrics aside finally enters the scene on We Are but Falling Leaves, and is rather average at that. Her Last 5 Minutes is even more dejected than the former; the main guitar riff is simply arresting, but the song overall conveys inescapable sappiness. The heaviest number on The Funeral Album resides at the five spot, namely Where Waters Fall Frozen. Despair-Ridden Hearts is kind of blues-esque, Vengeance is Mine is gritty, and A Long Way to Nowhere is more upbeat and bombastic than its comrades. Still, everything Sentenced present is relatively formulaic though not uninspired. The disc is completed by Consider Us Dead, Lower the Flags, Drain Me, Karu (an interlude), and End of the Road. And, perhaps the most interesting characteristic of the band is their ability to craft catchy guitar leads, which exercised vast amounts of authority over this listeners ears.
I predict that some fans will be in tears by the time that End of the Road comes to a head, but I was essentially unaffected. I wont be missing Sentenced when the dust settles, and The Funeral Album hasnt been able to dissuade me from my views. If youre a fan, though, youll probably glean enjoyment from the groups final creation. As for me, it was a less-than-riveting experience.
7/10
Official Sentenced Website
Official Century Media Records Website
Century Media Records CD 8246-2 May 31st, 2005
By Jason Jordan
After the tour that will follow The Funeral Album, Sentenced will officially be no more. I suppose Ive always been ambivalent towards this band. After all, not one album in their discography has had any sort of profound impact on me as a person, and this latest output changes nothing. But, if you were pleased by The Cold White Light, then I suspect that The Funeral Album can be considered yet another fine entry into the groups catalog. I found this to be somewhat bland, however. And, for what its worth, the guys seem more cheerful than I was hoping theyd be.
May Today Become the Day is a four-minute, energetic opener, and illustrates the rock influence thats pervaded the quintets sound as of late. Make no mistake: this is fairly straightforward material. Ever-Frost is better than its predecessor due in part to the riffage and catchy chorus. Solemnity lyrics aside finally enters the scene on We Are but Falling Leaves, and is rather average at that. Her Last 5 Minutes is even more dejected than the former; the main guitar riff is simply arresting, but the song overall conveys inescapable sappiness. The heaviest number on The Funeral Album resides at the five spot, namely Where Waters Fall Frozen. Despair-Ridden Hearts is kind of blues-esque, Vengeance is Mine is gritty, and A Long Way to Nowhere is more upbeat and bombastic than its comrades. Still, everything Sentenced present is relatively formulaic though not uninspired. The disc is completed by Consider Us Dead, Lower the Flags, Drain Me, Karu (an interlude), and End of the Road. And, perhaps the most interesting characteristic of the band is their ability to craft catchy guitar leads, which exercised vast amounts of authority over this listeners ears.
I predict that some fans will be in tears by the time that End of the Road comes to a head, but I was essentially unaffected. I wont be missing Sentenced when the dust settles, and The Funeral Album hasnt been able to dissuade me from my views. If youre a fan, though, youll probably glean enjoyment from the groups final creation. As for me, it was a less-than-riveting experience.
7/10
Official Sentenced Website
Official Century Media Records Website
