To/Die/For - Albums Collection (1999-2011) [6 CD]

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To/Die/For - Albums Collection (1999-2011) [6 CD]

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The Gothic Rock/Metal band To/Die/For was formed over five years ago in Kouvola, Finland. They released a few self-financed (now completely sold out) mini-CDs under a different monicker, and with those CDs they managed to get a record deal with Spinefarm Records.

Their debut full-length album "All Eternity" was released in Finland in 1999, and a few months after its release it was licensed to Nuclear Blast in Germany and to Pony Canyon in Japan. The track "In the Heat of the Night", which was released as a single in Finland and added as bonus track to the licensed versions of "All Eternity", was also made into a video which was played frequently at several music channels around the world.

In Autumn 2000 To/Die/For successfully toured Europe with Dark Tranquillity, Sentenced and In Flames. After the tour, To/Die/For's bass-player Miikka Kuisma decided to quit the band. The search for a new bass-player began immediately and a few months later they decided to hire Marko Kangaskolkka for the job. Kangaskolkka had already played with To/Die/For during the band's early years, so it was an easy decision for the band to pick him instead of the other candidates.

To/Die/For's second full-length album "Epilogue" will see the light of day in Finland on the 7th of May 2001. The album features guest appearances by such Finnish artists as Lullacry's Tanya , and is once again packed with catchy, gothic, melodic tracks mixed by the famed Mikko Karmila of Finnvox Studios. The first single released from the album, called "Hollow Heart", went immediately to the top of the Finnish single-charts, Epilogue really is an album to wait and to die for…

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To/Die/For - Albums Collection (1999-2011) [6 CD]

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Finland’s To/Die/For play a style of synth – laden goth metal with clean vocals that is easy on the ears and easy to get into. Catchy music does not equal good music. Fortunately for us, To/Die/For is both catchy and good.

Keyboards set the tone for every song on All Eternity. Often cheesy melodies attempt to invoke images of unrequited love and sublime misery. If it weren’t for Peratalo’s vocals, they would not succeed. Peratalo’s voice resonates extremely well on this album with emotional intensity. And it helps a great deal that we can clearly understand him. His ability to carry a note helps take the edge off all those cheesy keyboard moments and end up reinforcing the intended atmosphere.

The music itself is your standard gothic fare. Steady unimposing beats, the usual sonorous riffs, and bass lines you can feel if you listen close. It’s just good, solid gothic metal. Some songs are more faced pace almost poppy sound with their own head banging moments. Others are more languished with doom influences sounding more akin to modern Paradise Lost works or Type O Negative. In short, All Eternity presents a good stylistic mix without losing sight of the big picture.

So if you love synth – laden goth metal you will love All Eternity. It’s a good debut from an enjoyable band. Definitely worth at least checking out.

The Metal Archives

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To/Die/For - Albums Collection (1999-2011) [6 CD]

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It's always easy to think that "gothic metal" is a fusion between goth-rock and metal; but not this time, for To/Die/For is a unique band that sounds like "80's rock-pop with distorted guitars". However, the band will always be labeled as commercial gothic metal because of the similarities with bands like Sentenced, Charon, Entwine, and even HIM. So prepare yourself for catchy depressive songs, low ranged singing and plenty of palm-muted guitar riffs.

The Metal Archives

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To/Die/For - Albums Collection (1999-2011) [6 CD]

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For those who don't know what To/Die/For's about let me tell you, they play some kind of gothic metal with doom metal, with powerful keyboards and guitars, and this sound from the 80's that makes you want to dance and sing along, still they can make you fucking headbang. They're from Finland, of course, and as some of other finnish bands I know they are fucking amazing, I don't know if it has something to do with the country or what, but I just wanted to point that out.

After two releases (All Eternity, Epilogue) this band evolved into something more melodic and a little bit faster than what they used to play. With the perfect mix between guitars and keyboards you can hear heavy riffs combined with a melodic tune, and the most important thing, you can have a guitar solo or a keyboard solo, and a guitar riff or a keyboard riff, or even better: both combined!!! Vocals are also amazing, since he goes from a melodic voice to some kind of screaming, fuck he knows how to sing. That's not all, lyrics are impresive too with this obscure love-and-despair theme. Sound quaility is great, you can hear every instrument by itself, something that makes the album more enjoyable.

If you can get the album, what the hell are you waiting???

The Metal Archives

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To/Die/For - Albums Collection (1999-2011) [6 CD]

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The Finnish melancholic metal-heads To/Die/For return in 2005 refreshed, with a new line-up, with the band mates seeming to harmonize wonderfully together judging from the very good outcome and a brand new album that seems to be their most mature work up to date!

If you ask me the whole album flows as one wonderfully, but there are some songs that seem to be the new To/Die/For masterpieces. One is the thoughtful and emotionally charged "Lies (For Fools)" with Jape having composed an emotional and desperate hymn, a dynamic and melodic piece at the same time. "Autumn Forever", the inspired and emotional "Little Deaths", the fabulous "Fragmented" and the atmospheric piece bearing the name "Last Breath" which closes the album in the most appropriate way are also very memorable. The production of the album is very good and helps the songs sound even better. As for the cover of the album it is for one more time artistic and in the romantic/melancholic vein of all To/Die/For covers pacing with the emotions their music evokes.

"IV" is a must-have album for all the To/Die/For fans and for all those that would like to listen to emotional music that doesn't lose its heaviness.

Metal Storm

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To/Die/For - Albums Collection (1999-2011) [6 CD]

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Every song is made of pure fucking emotions, music is beautiful (something To/Die/For fans must be used to). And you know what? Lyrics are great as well… So what's missing? The lack of main keyboards (because keyboards are still there) is the first thing you'll notice… I miss those beautiful tunes!!! The first 3 tracks are quite boring, but then you hear "Like Never Before" - the best song in this!- and you are astonished as hell cause of the solo. My fucking God this belongs to Jaded!!! Fortunately boringness (is this right?) is over and there are only good tracks left.

For what's left of TDF this is quite good though. Is one of the few gothic bands with that heaviness in music, in lyrics, and even soloing and riffing which most gothics don't do. So why would you want to hear this? Because they're not only talented but also pretty good performing live. Music is definetily amazing. Lyrics are full of emotions. Do you want more? Get this and then you'll see if I missed something.

The Metal Archives

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To/Die/For - Albums Collection (1999-2011) [6 CD]

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Samsara, contains all those elements that have always characterized the band, a very emotional and special voice, catchy lyrics and melodies, powerful riffs that joined with the bass line and drums create this typical rock and melancholic atmosphere. But within all this, which is already known to us, some details emerge and let us distinguish some elements in this album.

Throughout the album it is possible to recognize the intention of creating atmospheres, using sound effects, atmospheric keyboards, guitar and synth echoes, even recreating the melancholy of which I spoke, many of these elements seem experimental, and fortunately do not reach the point of being very pretentious. Also, the voice has always been an essential element and in this album continues as a protagonist, its execution seems to penetrate the listener with these deep emotions. Moreover we can hear very balanced guitars with syncopated riffs, beautiful arpeggios and heavy-metal style solos; openly these features reflect an evolution. About the drums and bass I can say that are typically, holding the expected catchy rhythms.

It is known that many people listen to To/Die/For influenced by puritan prejudice, and I hope that they take a moment to assess the overall result. Samsara is not a very remarkable album, but it means the re-staging of an important band, sure to please fans of this genre.

Metal Storm