The surviving members of the long-defunct Finnish band
SENTENCED have issued a statement regarding the passing of the group's former guitarist and main songwriter,
Miika Tenkula, who was found dead at his home on Thursday, February 19. He was 34 years old. The statement reads as follows:
"
SENTENCED mourn the loss of
Miika Tenkula, a dear friend, a truly remarkable artist and musician, and the very soul of what used to be
SENTENCED. Rest now, brother — in your music and our hearts you will live forever."
A farewell video can be viewed below.
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".
