Crimson

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.