To/Die/For - Jaded


Year of Release: 2003
Label: Spinefarm
Catalog Number: SPI181
Format: CD
Total Time: 39:16:00

This is the third album from these depressive Finns following the growing success of All Eternity and Epilogue.

First up, this whole album presents a lot more aggression and heaviness to their sombre romantic sounds. Whether this is due to new rhythm guitarist Alli (not Ali G I hope!) or due to the emphasis on heavy, hook laden electronic programming remains to be decided, but they both have a powerful impact on the bands overall sound ("Too Much Ain't Enough" and "Jaded"). Those programming elements add a texture to To/Die/For's music that is generally under-used, and oft-criticised, in metal. But it works a treat here. Once again, there are flowing tributes to 80s pop idols (Depeche Mode, The Cure, et al.) with the band throwing in a cover of the EXCELLENT Cutting Crew hit "(I Just) Died in Your Arms" which fits the band perfectly. Wow!

The thing about this album, and the two previous, is that Jape Perätalo's vocals are extremely moving. To have bands like Entwine and the recently released PoisonBlack releasing such emotive albums is such a bonus for music listeners. And when Jape moves up a notch from melody to heavy he takes the whole band with him into some melody-laden heavy metal. His wild vocal screams have allowed the band to move slightly away from the more commercial/pop elements of their last album this time concentrating on a very heavy rhythmic sound that adds a set of balls to an album dripping with 80s persona and melancholic meanings. That said, his quieter moments are very soulful ("The Unknown II" and "Silence Tells More"). One of the more successful tracks from their last album was the track "The Unknown." Jaded features "The Unknown II" with similar melodies and a similar haunting vocal style.

Once again, To/Die/For have released a very consistent album with the odd highlight surpassing other tracks - namely the title-track "Jaded," "Silence Tells More" (if you think Jape's vocals are moving just wait till you hear the vocals of Anna), and the opener "Dying Embers." If there is something missing from the album it is something akin to an immediate impact. I think after plenty of listens this album will receive four stars but the immediacy is not there on this album, but it's a very difficult album to fault.

To/Die/For are a band best heard with your eyes closed and a sorrow feeling inside. Being the perfect remedy for a really shitty day, To/Die/For have managed another magnificent album!

P.S. For those who bought and loved Epilogue so much then do yourselves a favour and turn the volume on your stereo to FULL for the last 5 seconds of this new album!

Similar To: Entwine, Sentenced, Amorphis

Also released by Nuclear Blast (NB 1041-2); Japanese edition includes three bonus tracks: "Spineless," "Too Much Ain't Enough (single version)," and "Behind These Walls"

[This review originally appeared March 2003 at the ProgPower Online review site -ed.]


Tracklisting:
Dying Embers (3:51) / (I Just) Died In Your Arms (4:27) / Too Much Ain't Enough (4:47) / The Unknown II (5:48) / Jaded (4:31) / Fall Strains (3:18) / Forever (3:32) / Años De Dolor (3:57) / Silence Tells More... (5:05)

Musicians:
Jape Perätalo - vocals
Joonas Koto - lead guitar
Mika Ahtiainen - guitars
Marko Kangaskolkka - bass
Tommi Lillman - drums

Discography:
All Eternity (1999)
In The Heat Of The Night (EP) (2000)
Epilogue (2001)
Jaded (2003)
IV (2005)
Wounds Wide Open (2006)

Genre: Dark-Doom Metal

Origin FI

Added: March 27th 2005
Reviewer: Gary Carson
Score:
Artist website: www.myspace.com/tdfrocks
Hits: 1945
Language: english

  

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