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Former SENTENCED Guitarist MIIKA TENKULA Dead At 34
- Feb. 19, 2009
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Miika Tenkula, former lead guitarist and main songwriter of the acclaimed Finnish band SENTENCED, was found dead at his home earlier today (Thursday, February 19). He was 34 years old. Nalle Österman ( GANDALF, LULLACRY, CHAOSBREED) tells BLABBERMOUTH.NET, "It's true, confirmed personally by [former SENTENCED] drummer Vesa Ranta. "The fact remains that Miika had a serious drinking problem for many years which escalated after SENTENCED was buried. They don't call it King Alcohol for nothing... "The metal scene in Finland mourns now for one of the most talented metal guitarists to ever emerge from [the country]." The official cause of Miika's death has not yet been released. SENTENCED's posthumous DVD, "Buried Alive", was certified platinum last year in the band's native Finland. The disc topped the official Finnish chart upon its release in late 2006. The former members of SENTENCED were presented with the platinum award for "Buried Alive" on August 14, 2008 at Century Media Records' 20th-anniversary party at the Tavastia club in Helsinki where ex- SENTENCED singer Ville Laihiala's new band, POISONBLACK, and labelmates NORTHER and KIVIMETSÄN DRUIDI performed. An e-card for "Buried Alive" DVD, which captures the Finnish band's final performance in their hometown of Oulu, Finland on October 1, 2005, can be accessed at this location. The e-card features a full mock-up of the DVD menu and a taste of "Buried Alive", including one full live song as well as snippets from all chapters. Directed by Mika Ronkainen of Klaffi Productions, the two-disc set features the entire concert, including a special guest appearance by former SENTENCED vocalist Taneli Jarva. SENTENCED's last-ever studio CD, aptly titled "The Funeral Album", entered the Finnish national chart at position No. 1 back in June 2005. The follow-up to 2002's "The Cold White Light" was recorded primarily at Finnvox and Tonebox studios (both in Finland), and mixed and mastered at Finnvox. Producing the effort was Hiili Hiilesmaa, who also worked with SENTENCED on the group's previous two albums, 2000's "Crimson" and "The Cold White Light". From Iltalehti.fi: 
From Kaleva.fi: 
Miika Tenkula: 
SENTENCED performing "May Today Become The Day" (taken from "Buried Alive"):
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COMMENT |
posted by :
2/19/2009 6:02:58 PM
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I love Sentenced from dawn to dusk and from birth to burial. A sad day for Finnish metal and metal in general. RIP Miika. You will be missed.
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COMMENT |
posted by : rds
2/19/2009 6:02:59 PM
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R.I.P.
i call it (ozzy too)... Demon Alcohol
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COMMENT | "We are but falling leaves"
posted by : sepulqotsa
2/19/2009 6:04:34 PM
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RIP Dude!
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COMMENT |
posted by :
2/19/2009 6:06:47 PM
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I thought I'd misread the headline then. I really wish I had. Very sad news indeed, I always thought he played some amazing solos. My thoughts are with his family and friends. RIP
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COMMENT | That Sucks
posted by :
2/19/2009 6:12:47 PM
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But at least he can Join his bands Name in Death. The Funeral Album was fucking great. I also liked Crimson and the one before it.
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COMMENT | RIP
posted by :
2/19/2009 6:16:25 PM
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RIP Miika!
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COMMENT |
posted by : blackXmetalXcore
2/19/2009 6:23:30 PM
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R.I.P.
It's always a shame to see a fellow metalhead die...rock on \m/
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COMMENT | RIP
posted by :
2/19/2009 6:25:48 PM
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RIP and the metal army around the world should say thanks to his contribution!
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COMMENT | RIP
posted by :
2/19/2009 6:25:48 PM
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RIP and the metal army around the world should say thanks to his contribution!
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COMMENT |
posted by : VUDU
2/19/2009 6:26:15 PM
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RIP
Booze sucks
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COMMENT | r.i.p.
posted by :
2/19/2009 6:26:38 PM
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r.i.p. :(
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COMMENT |
posted by : Thomas Covenant
2/19/2009 6:34:18 PM
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I'm speechless, what a great loss and, at such a young age.
Miika R.I.P.
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COMMENT |
posted by :
2/19/2009 6:35:27 PM
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Damn...what a tragic end. And given the dark brooding nature of Sentenced's lyrics it's probably not all that surprising, unfortunately.
R.I.P. Miika.
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COMMENT | damn
posted by : fueledbyfailure
2/19/2009 6:35:43 PM
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that's a shame... you will be missed Miika. RIP.
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COMMENT |
posted by : pigchop
2/19/2009 6:40:09 PM
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WOW...a band featuring a singer who actually...sings.
They were a great band - he was a damn fine guitarist. Such a shame about alcohol abuse - some of us are simply unable to drink without falling apart. Damn glad I got off the shit several years ago.
Check it out kids - if you are going to do drugs and or booze, be sure not to let either do you.
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COMMENT | Oh man... this sucks.
posted by : Break Open
2/19/2009 6:43:48 PM
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RIP. :(
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COMMENT |
posted by : Mordha
2/19/2009 6:44:39 PM
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So sad to read this.
R I P Bro...
Heartfelt condolences to his family and friends
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COMMENT |
posted by : The Grand Wizard
2/19/2009 6:54:38 PM
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This is terrible news. My thoughts and prayers are with Miika and his loved ones. It's a horrible tragedy when someone dies at such a young age, but the silver lining is that Miika's musical legacy will live on forever, even for those of us who didn't know him personally.
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COMMENT | I'm shocked!
posted by : Yelper
2/19/2009 6:56:56 PM
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And tears fill my eyes as I red this...
WHY!?
Rest In Peace, this is truly the End Of The Road
Sad to say, but I saw it coming after Sentenced's death...
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COMMENT | wow...
posted by :
2/19/2009 7:12:45 PM
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Sentenced is indeed one of my favorite bands. hearing this is sad. such a young age too, tragic....
RIP
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COMMENT |
posted by : Meaney
2/19/2009 7:22:10 PM
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i can't believe it
RIP Miika
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COMMENT |
posted by : TheEagle
2/19/2009 7:44:23 PM
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Great songwriter, very good guitarist...
Another talented individual taken away by substance abuse (if that's really the cause of death).
One advice kids, drop the bottle as soon as you can...
Whatever
RIP!!!
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COMMENT | :(
posted by : Madkill
2/19/2009 7:51:08 PM
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"... see you in hell"
RIP Miika and thanks for all the music.
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COMMENT | like bon scott
posted by : bubba
2/19/2009 8:05:54 PM
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29 years earlier on this date.
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COMMENT | :(:(:(
posted by :
2/19/2009 8:27:46 PM
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"...And again the world has taken a turn for the worse..."
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COMMENT | It certainly has...
posted by :
2/19/2009 8:32:22 PM
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Terrible, check out Buried Alive. Incredible songwriter. My all time favorite band.
RIP
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COMMENT | Noooooo!
posted by : asator666
2/19/2009 8:38:05 PM
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Fuck Fuck Fuck.
I will cherish the memory of seeing Miika play with Sentenced.
He will be missed.
R.I.P.
You Deserve the Luxury of a Grave
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COMMENT |
posted by :
2/19/2009 8:41:39 PM
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very sad. R.I.P Miika..
you´ll be missed and mourned for many many years.
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COMMENT |
posted by :
2/19/2009 8:57:49 PM
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HOLY SHIT! That is shocking.
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COMMENT |
posted by :
2/19/2009 9:18:54 PM
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NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I listened to Sentenced all the way home today from Tennessee. Listened too all Ville-era albums...my heart is broken tonight. I loved this band. He was such an inspiration to me. Finnish metal just lost one of its icons.
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COMMENT | NO!!!
posted by :
2/19/2009 9:26:40 PM
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I can't believe it. Sounds very similar to the passing of David Byron...
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COMMENT |
posted by : I Live Again
2/19/2009 9:31:02 PM
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"I hope they give me a grave with a view..."
RIP metal warrior
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COMMENT | SHIT
posted by :
2/19/2009 9:39:28 PM
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to think, The 'Funeral Album' was a pre-requisite to this shitty news. First the band splits then a few years later...R I P Metal Heathen...
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COMMENT | that
posted by : stuka
2/19/2009 10:08:14 PM
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sucks. he wrote some damn good songs :(
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COMMENT | sucks bad!
posted by :
2/19/2009 10:16:41 PM
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This man is a HUGE inspiration to me and my playing over the last 11 or so years since I first heard "Noose" I had been a fan ever since and they made some of my favorite albums with "Down", "Frozen", "Crimson", and "Cold White Light". I was always hoping out of all the bands that reunite these guys would do it some day. Sad news indeed. RIP brother and I will for sure give you a deserving tribute tomorrow night jamming the classics.
RIP
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COMMENT |
posted by :
2/19/2009 10:19:32 PM
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RIP.
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COMMENT | That's sad
posted by : LuizFelipeMetal
2/19/2009 10:34:11 PM
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I had hopes to see Sentenced back together, but without him it'd suck
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COMMENT |
posted by :
2/19/2009 10:55:20 PM
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I am shocked beyond words! Sentenced are one of my all time favorite bands, Miika and Co. are heroes to me! Miika and his music have gotten me through some tough times, a profound loss for rock/metal and for me personally.
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COMMENT | Thank you Miika
posted by : Death2012
2/19/2009 11:07:09 PM
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Thank you for your music.
North From Here is on my top 5 metal album, Amok somewhere near with its great songs... but I also liked new stuff without Jarva and this was mostly thanks to Miika's great songwriting.
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COMMENT | Cant believe it
posted by :
2/19/2009 11:31:11 PM
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I'm so pissed. Sentenced has been one of my faves since Down came out in the dark days of metal. Miika was an inspiration to me and got me through some depressing times. It is trully a sad day for the metal world. Miika, you will be missed.
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COMMENT | so...
posted by :
2/19/2009 11:51:12 PM
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If Miika is the main songwriter, this means the theory that Lopakka is the self-suicider is wrong after all. Miika is the self suicider referenced in the liner notes...
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COMMENT | R.I.P.
posted by : ...and the winds blew death
2/19/2009 11:58:16 PM
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R.I.P Miika. My thoughts go out to his family and friends. Sentenced, and, of course, Miika, are one of the reasons why the Finnish metal scene is one of the biggest in the world.
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COMMENT | oh my god...
posted by :
2/20/2009 12:22:23 AM
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...I lack of words.
RIP Miika, Thanks for everything.
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COMMENT |
posted by :
2/20/2009 1:04:53 AM
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It's been pretty well documented he had a very very bad drinking habit for some time, but I thought he'd kick it or learn to moderate. I've been through that whole thing, and it's a difficult thing to do, no doubt.
This is fucking horrible, Sentenced were a great band!
RIP, bro!
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COMMENT |
posted by :
2/20/2009 1:06:39 AM
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From the old death metal to the newer gothic rock/metal....Sentenced was a phenomenal band.
It's a sad day.
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COMMENT | R.I.P. MIIKA
posted by :
2/20/2009 1:34:00 AM
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Sentenced was great band and were great guitarist!
END OF THE ROAD!
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COMMENT | ^^^^^
posted by :
2/20/2009 1:35:28 AM
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Sentenced was great band and YOU were great guitarist!
BLOOD AND TEARS!
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COMMENT |
posted by : V Empire
2/20/2009 1:39:44 AM
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RIP
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COMMENT | RIP MIIKA
posted by : Sentenced To Burn
2/20/2009 2:08:40 AM
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I just can´t find the words to describe the way I feel about this.
RIP Miika Thanx for the good music and the good memories.
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COMMENT | 3rd time commenting...
posted by :
2/20/2009 2:22:28 AM
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I know this is my third comment, but I feel at one with you all on here regarding this. I am so lost over this. I've been listening to Sentenced and a few other Finn bands for the past 2 years. They've been a HUGE inspiration to me, well, especially Miika. I just cannot believe this. I had such high hopes that he'd resurface. He probably pickled his liver ten times over. I bet that's what killed him was liver failure or something of that nature.
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COMMENT | RIP
posted by :
2/20/2009 2:35:24 AM
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Sentenced was one of the first bands that got me into "heavier" metal. They had great songs & a great guitar tone. What a shocking thing to hear.
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COMMENT | ^^^^^^^
posted by :
2/20/2009 2:46:38 AM
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Or it might have been DT's that killed him. I'm pretty sure at that stage he was suffering them quite often and quite severely.
See or read "Leaving Las Vegas" sometime. The road to an alcoholic death is a pretty steep and long drop, and Miika at least documented it and laid down some incredible music. And I'm sure he was suffering the same things Ben did in LLV.
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COMMENT |
posted by :
2/20/2009 3:13:03 AM
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Love Sentenced!!!!
R.I.P Mikka
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COMMENT |
posted by :
2/20/2009 3:27:13 AM
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February 19th 1980.
Bon Scott die.
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COMMENT | Wow
posted by :
2/20/2009 4:44:27 AM
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Way too young... that's horrible news. I was always a bit concerned about the guy, given his tendency to write about suicide in nearly every song. I too was hoping to see a reunion, but I guess that won't happen now.
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COMMENT | R.I.P.
posted by :
2/20/2009 5:46:30 AM
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A truly talented guy.
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COMMENT | god damn...
posted by :
2/20/2009 5:57:43 AM
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RIP Miika....
what a sad day for metal
Sentenced were among my favorite bands and all this thanks to Miika's brilliant songwriting... I had hopes he would resurface and write music again.... it was not meant to be... he died with Sentenced, devilish irony...
all hail the Suicider!
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COMMENT |
posted by : MadTinus
2/20/2009 6:12:48 AM
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:O Holy shit, I can't believe it?! I'm stunned....
R.I.P.
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COMMENT | .....
posted by :
2/20/2009 7:24:25 AM
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Wish I'd misread this.
R.I.P
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COMMENT | Cross my heart and hope to die...
posted by :
2/20/2009 7:33:33 AM
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Since your death
Everything has felt so meaningless and vain
that I´ve lost the will to live
Love, your death
Ripped my heart right out and since you went away
Life´s had nothing more to give
Cross my heart and hope to die
May my end come tonight
Across the dark, into the light
May death again us unite
Love, my fate
Will you wait for me there...where our autumn dawns?
There, beyond the dreary seas
Will you wait?
Will you welcome me into your arms once more?
Where our waters still fall free
Cross my heart and hope to die
May my end come tonight
Across the dark, into the light
May death again us unite
Cross my heart and hope to die
May my end come tonight
I´ll depart from this life
May death again us unite
May it come...
My heart went down with you
At your funeral I was buried, too
My life - it ended with yours
And I...exist no more
RIP BROTHER
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COMMENT | R.I.P
posted by : morgoth78
2/20/2009 9:20:49 AM
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R.I.P and thanks for all the music that you created! you will be remembered forever...and your music will embrace us for many many many years!
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COMMENT |
posted by :
2/20/2009 10:00:59 AM
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"He's gone, he is dead
His remains upon the hearse ahead
As silently we wander through the mist
He's free
This is the end
Your journey's over, night descends
Below... Into the abyss
Farewell, my friend, you will be missed
Lower the flags
A good man has passed
He has reached the last of frontiers
Lower the flags
Down to half-mast
For again the world has taken a turn for the worse
He's gone, he is dead
Six feet of earth upon his head
Now lay your wreaths
Upon the one who lies beneath
Although you're gone
In memories you shall live on
Asleep... In peace now rest
The weight of the world is off your chest
Lower the flags
A good man has passed
He has reached the last of frontiers
Lower the flags
Down to half-mast
For again the world has taken a turn for the worse
That mourning light I'll always remember
And these August nights; cold as December
Lower the flags
A good man has passed
He has reached the last of frontiers
Lower the flags
Down to half-mast
For again the world has taken a turn for the worse.."
Requiscam In Pacem Brother..
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COMMENT | Crap crap crap!
posted by :
2/20/2009 10:32:10 AM
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Haven't felt this way since they announced that the band that would not only get me into metal 7 years ago, but also love and cherish, would be no more. I didn't expect any Sentenced reunion, but I always hoped they'd keep making music. Great songwriter and great musiscian who has influenced me a lot.
I toast to thee Miika, for all the great music you've made for us to enjoy. RIP.
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COMMENT | Horrible
posted by : metalhordes
2/20/2009 11:29:49 AM
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This is awful. He was such a great player. AMOK is a masterpiece.
I hope he has found peace.
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COMMENT | RIP
posted by :
2/20/2009 3:49:17 PM
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he was such an inspiration for me as a guitarrist I´ve drop some tears when I read this...and the tears and the fears and the lies and the cries...NEPHENTE!
See you in hell my friend..Perkele
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COMMENT | R.I.P MIIKA!!!
posted by :
2/20/2009 5:32:37 PM
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Great musicians these guys!!
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COMMENT | Respect to the northernmost killer himself Miika Tenkula
posted by :
2/21/2009 7:13:23 AM
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His songs will live forever and so will he in our hearts.
thank you for everything...
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COMMENT | RIP
posted by :
2/21/2009 12:43:45 PM
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RIP Miika.
Here we are, now layed burden down
We're coming to the end of our road
Sorrowful yet glorious somehow...
TH
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COMMENT | RIP
posted by :
2/21/2009 1:20:28 PM
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I´ll love Sentenced till the end of life... and I´m sure we will gather more and more fans to this band that should have it´s name writen in the stone of heavy metal history for all contribution it gave...
I have a Sentenced Tribute, called Nepenthe, we will offer the tonight show to you, our dearest idol!
You are not among us anymore but I´m sure we´ll be together someday in hell!
R.I.P Tenkula!
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COMMENT | Lower the flags.....A good man has passed
posted by :
2/21/2009 10:13:47 PM
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DESCANSA EN PAZ , R.I.P
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COMMENT |
posted by : black_art
2/28/2009 5:21:56 PM
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shit :( and my brother died on the 22nd
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