Crimson

『Crimson』は、センテンストがゴシックな哀愁とヘヴィなリフを深く融合させた、成熟期の代表作である第6作だ。喪失と悲嘆を主題に掲げながら、それでも歩みを止めない力強さを湛えている。プロデュースは、以降の作品でも組むことになるヒーリ・ヒーレスマーが担当した。ジャケットは、DARK TRANQUILLITYのニクラス・スンディンが手掛けている。プロデューサーのヒーリ・ヒーレスマーは、HIMやAPOCALYPTICAらも手掛けた人物だ。冷たく澄んだ音作りが、楽曲の哀感を一層引き立てている。 キャッチーながらも沈鬱な代表曲“Killing Me Killing You”をはじめ、“Broken”“Bleed in My Arms”まで、哀切な楽曲が並ぶ。“Broken”は後にDARK TRANQUILLITYにカバーされた。ライヒアラの表現力を増した歌唱と、テンクラの憂いに満ちたリードが全編を彩る。バンドの人気を確固たるものにした、充実の一枚である。本作以降、SENTENCEDはフィンランドで3作連続の1位を記録することになる。悲嘆の中にも前へ進む意志が滲む、円熟の入り口を告げる一枚だ。

Crimson is Sentenced's sixth album, a signature work of their mature period on which they deeply fused gothic melancholy with heavy riffs. Taking loss and grief as its theme, it still holds a strength that refuses to stop moving forward. Production was handled by Hiili Hiilesmaa, with whom they would also work on later albums. The cover art was created by Niklas Sundin of Dark Tranquillity. Producer Hiili Hiilesmaa is known for his work with HIM and Apocalyptica; his cold, clear production further heightens the songs' sorrow. Sorrowful songs line up, led by the catchy yet gloomy signature track "Killing Me Killing You," along with "Broken" and "Bleed in My Arms." "Broken" was later covered by Dark Tranquillity. Laihiala's more expressive singing and Tenkula's melancholy leads color the whole record. An accomplished album that cemented the band's popularity. From this album onward, Sentenced would score three consecutive No. 1 albums in Finland. A record announcing the threshold of their maturity, where a will to move forward seeps through the grief.