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Former SENTENCED Guitarist MIIKA TENKULA Dead At 35

20.02.2009

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 35 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".





Miika Tenkula:



SENTENCED performing "May Today Become The Day" (taken from "Buried Alive"):

Source: Blabbermouth.net

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Comments

  1. Rest in Peace

    *salutes*

    Kath wrote on 20.02.2009 at 11:47

  2. goodbye form Germany

    braindeadrhapsody wrote on 20.02.2009 at 14:37

  3. Truly a dark day in music ...

    RIP

    Justin Biggs wrote on 20.02.2009 at 15:03

  4. 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

    Levätä rauhassa...

    Mario from Portugal wrote on 20.02.2009 at 15:14

  5. No Longer Feeling the Pain... My Flame now Fading Away...
    R.I.P Miika

    Strahd wrote on 20.02.2009 at 15:35

  6. What a bad new today!!
    Once, one Finn Erasmus mate made me appreciate Miika!! Farewell from Valencia!! suberb guitar!!

    Mario wrote on 20.02.2009 at 16:21

  7. Condolences to Miika's family and friends.

    It is truly a sad day for the Metal Community.

    R I P Bro, You will be sorely missed... *salutes*

    Mordha wrote on 20.02.2009 at 16:26

  8. :(

    I hope he didn't suffer.

    Blackwood wrote on 20.02.2009 at 16:26

  9. The bells again..someone has died.

    RIP metal brother

    Chalice wrote on 20.02.2009 at 16:48

  10. ...goodbye, a note of pain your guitar will plays forever...Rest In Peace

    nohorizon wrote on 20.02.2009 at 17:03

  11. my heart went down with you, at your funeral I was buried, too... My life, it ended with yours and I exist no more :(

    psychoLilithka wrote on 20.02.2009 at 17:05

  12. I listen Speed and Thrash Metal, but I also love some of Doom stuff, and I can say that this is very sad!

    Rest in peace Miika!

    Jaroslav wrote on 20.02.2009 at 17:10

  13. R.I.P

    m/ V_V m/

    Jon wrote on 20.02.2009 at 17:35

  14. aman tanr?m hala inanam?yorum

    selin wrote on 20.02.2009 at 18:09

  15. This is the end
    Your journey's over, night descends
    Below... Into the abyss
    Farewell, my friend, you will be missed

    For again the world has taken a turn for the worse

    Rest in peace

    Niko Engman wrote on 20.02.2009 at 19:09

  16. Kiitos for all the great music, Miika! We won't forget you.

    Tanan wrote on 20.02.2009 at 19:19

  17. Farewell...

    Ismini/Greece wrote on 20.02.2009 at 19:52

  18. I'm sure he will be always remembered and in our hearts.

    Farewell, may your soul go to a happier place now, without the pain of being a human on you.

    Patrick wrote on 20.02.2009 at 20:46

  19. I was truly hoping Sentenced will get back together again one day and create some more amazing music.Rest in peace Miika...

    Magda wrote on 20.02.2009 at 20:49

  20. play solos in heven

    hopital wrote on 20.02.2009 at 21:06

  21. May your soul rest in peace...

    Tengri wrote on 20.02.2009 at 22:06

  22. the news of mika`s death has saddened me greatly.

    Farewell friend!!!!!!! RIP

    Hernan wrote on 20.02.2009 at 22:23

  23. Really sad news.

    Condolences to his family and friends.
    Farewell, Miika.

    Tommi wrote on 21.02.2009 at 00:10

  24. Who understands me and shares my pain best... Lost my best friend...

    he leads us the way...

    RIP Tenkula...

    geko wrote on 21.02.2009 at 00:24

  25. Another metal head gone, lepo rauhassa metallinen jumala!

    Sami wrote on 21.02.2009 at 02:05

  26. Rest in peace! odpocivaj v pokoji!
    See you sometimes later in the green fields...

    Farewell,

    Tommi

    Tommi wrote on 21.02.2009 at 02:45

  27. R.I.P. Miika.!! Your Turkish Fans are crying for you now..

    Emrah Guclu wrote on 21.02.2009 at 03:30

  28. "..it freezes my heart, my desperate heart..to think we both will die alone.."
    rest in peace, Miika
    a fan from Vietnam

    nguyen wrote on 21.02.2009 at 05:25

  29. Too sad news for metal.... May he rest in pace, he was a pioneer of what we call today the real 'Finnish metal', he brought so much... People will always come back to Sentenced, I feel it now more than ever, seeing the fans paying their respects here... We truly feel the loss.

    S wrote on 21.02.2009 at 11:34

  30. We'll miss you. R.I.P.

    *bows in memory of Miika*

    Cedreek wrote on 21.02.2009 at 12:30

  31. Thanks for the wonderful music.

    R.I.P.

    Biff - London wrote on 21.02.2009 at 15:13

  32. rest in peace, miika

    :'(

    amy wrote on 21.02.2009 at 16:48

  33. RIP Miika

    Hannya Yoo wrote on 21.02.2009 at 18:25

  34. R.I.P.

    Serena wrote on 21.02.2009 at 18:58

  35. Rest in peace :(

    marsuomi wrote on 22.02.2009 at 01:47

  36. Mourning ,

    But You're forever with us , I wish you could know -

    Ehkä voit ?

    Play on

    Eve ( Moonstone ) wrote on 22.02.2009 at 14:57

  37. Miika was, in my eyes, the best guitarist ever to play. He will be missed by those (including me) who admired him over here in the rural U.S.

    Mike wrote on 22.02.2009 at 19:31

  38. R.I.P.
    One last goodbye & eternal respect from Venia-Mag Team, Croatia!

    Ivy wrote on 22.02.2009 at 21:06

  39. Say hi to Quorthon in Valhalla and have a big beer in the name of the living that will join to you some day...

    kakarot wrote on 22.02.2009 at 21:10

  40. I feel so sad in despair when I read this. A man affected many people's heart deeply passes away so early. Let him rest in peace...

    mert wrote on 22.02.2009 at 22:16

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