To/Die/For - Jaded
Spinefarm Records
80’s Style Electronic Finnish Metal
9 songs (39:32)
Release year: 2003
To/Die/For, Spinefarm Records
Reviewed by Jay

I have been listening to a lot of Finnish music lately with HIM last week and this week To/Die/For. After the disappointment that was “Love Metal” (to me at least), I picked this overlooked gem to show that the Finnish sound is not dead. While this album was released back in March, we sort of passed it over. I would like to rectify that situation since this is a hidden treasure.

Jape Perätalo has a very unique voice that compliments the music a lot. While I have railed about the evils of vocal effects in other reviews, Perätalo knows how to exploit them when he uses them. His natural voice has a great, deep and resonant tone that is perfect for expressing the “pain” that the band tries to show. I say “pain” because the Finnish depressive bands tend to lay the whole depression thing on really thick. Regardless, the vocals are spectacular on this album. The electronic elements are mixed in perfect harmony here as well. To/Die/For also has much more of an 80’s influence than other bands. “Too Much Ain’t Enough,” one of the killer songs, demonstrates perfect use of keys and ambience to augment a song without being distracting and over the top. Entwine and Moonspell have also mastered this technique as well and To/Die/For definitely draws on this influence.

Dying Embers” is a great opening song. Right from the beginning, it is attention grabbing and the guitars are sharp and in your face. The samples are in harmony with the rest of the band and Perätalo’s voice is strong. The production on this album, like most Finnish albums, is spectacular. The producers from Suomi really master their craft. The title track has an intro that might have opened a pop song in 1986. This is not a bad thing; in fact, it adds a trademark to the sound. The vocals really make the title track here. The riffs are pretty standard, as is the drumming but Perätalo’s voice shines through again. If the title track was super 80’s, then wait until you hear “Fall Strains.” Cyndi Lauper or Madonna would have done a song like this at points in their respective careers. A slower song, the female backing vocals and rhythmic guitar parts as well as a truly well placed solo drive this one home. To/Die/For knows how to write a song and it shows here. “Anos De Dolor” (“Years of Sorrow” for those not Spanish inclined) again reminds us of big hair, Miami Vice and powdery white stuff. This is one track where the bass actually shines. The guitar effects are technoish and add a nice industrial element to this track. The keyboards serve up the high synths that help identify the song. This track is one of the more eerie songs. There is an atmosphere created here that I enjoy a lot.

What 80’s influenced album would be complete without a cover? Cutting Crew’s “(I Just) Died in Your Arms” is given a metal makeover. The track stays very true to the original, maintaining the original feeling but adding new and interesting layers of sounds that tantalize the listener. The song gives you the uplifting feeling that most 80’s songs had. The idea that through music, anything is possible. To/Die/For knows this and their spot on re-creation deserves our praise. For the time being, To/Die/For has won the battle of depressing Finnish music.

Killing Songs :
Dying Embers, Too Much Ain’t Enough, Jaded, (I Just) Died in Your Arms
Jay quoted 87 / 100
Other albums by To/Die/For that we have reviewed:
To/Die/For - Cult reviewed by Alex and quoted 75 / 100
To/Die/For - Epilogue reviewed by Sin and quoted 88 / 100
To/Die/For - All Eternity reviewed by Danny and quoted 73 / 100
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