Sentenced

In 1989, in Oulu, a port in Finland on the Gulf of Bothnia with 102,280 inhabitants and based mainly on the chemical industry and the wood and leather industry, Miika Tenkula (1974-2009), Sami Lopakka, and Vesa Ranta formed the band Sentenced. At that time, the band played death metal, as can be heard on their first demo "When Death Join Us…" which was recorded at the beginning of the year following the band's creation, i.e. in 1990. Right after recording this demo, Sentenced recruited singer and bassist Taneli Jarva, who shortly afterwards signed with the band a contract with a French record label. The latter offered them the possibility of recording their 1st album "Shadows Of The Past" which came out in 1991. In 1993, Sentenced changed labels to "Spinefarm Records".