Down

Down is Sentenced's fourth album, on which they steered toward gothic shading and weeping melody, renewing their sound with a new vocalist. It is the first album with Ville Laihiala joining as new vocalist in place of Taneli Jarva. Completely shedding death metal elements, it became the band's first full-fledged gothic metal work. Laihiala came from Breed, and his arrival greatly changed the band. With no bassist at the time of recording, Tenkula also handled bass; Sami Kukkohovi later joined on bass. Sorrowful songs like "Noose," "Bleed" and "Warrior of Life" line up. Production was handled by Waldemar Sorychta, known for Tiamat and Moonspell. The sound, fusing Iron Maiden-like stylistic beauty with gothic melancholy, was named Album of the Month by several German magazines. Laihiala's rough, powerful voice vividly announces a new chapter for the band. It became their biggest record to date, building a foothold toward worldwide success. Its lyrics of melancholy and loss became a core that would define Sentenced's world from then on.