As reported by Blabbermouth.net, 34-year-old Miika Tenkula, former guitarist and main songwriter of Finland’s Sentenced, was found dead in his home yesterday morning (Thursday, February 19th). As of today, the official cause of Miika’s death hasn’t been released, but it’s well known that he had a serious drinking problem that only got worse when Sentenced disbanded in late 2005.

This news really bummed me the hell out. Sentenced’s 2002 album “The Cold White Light” along with their earlier, heavier offerings, have been some of my favorites for a long time now. It’s all very melancholy and dark, but catchy as hell nonetheless. I was always hoping for the off-chance there would be a reunion and/or new album as I’d love to see them live and in person, though the chances of that happening now looks to be just about nil. I suppose the closest I’ll ever get will be the band’s 2006 live album, Buried Alive, which beautifully captures Sentenced’s final farewell performance in all its headbanging glory.

Check out the video after the jump to see Sentenced playing the badass track “May Today Become the Day” at their very last live performance in Oulu, Finland on October 1, 2005…