To/Die/For

To/Die/For – Cult Review

To/Die/For – Cult Review

By Steel Druhm on June 23, 2015 in 2015, Finnish Metal, Gothic Metal, Massacre Records, Reviews, 23 comments

“I’m going out on an emo limb here, but Finland’s To/Die/For had a run of three albums where they released some of the best goth metal the world ever saw. From Jaded to Wounds Wide Open they were completely unfuckable with for slick, uber hooky sad boy rock, and to this day I’m still all over those platters like a beast. Then came the endless line up conundrums and inner turmoil and the band broke up and reformed several times…and it looked like the end was nigh for the reigning kings of Finnish gloom and my little black heart was both achy and breaky.” It’s time to open your scar diaries once again.

Scar Symmetry – The Unseen Empire Review

Scar Symmetry – The Unseen Empire Review

By Angry Metal Guy on April 11, 2011 in 2011, 3.0, Cock Rock, Death Metal, Eurocore, Nuclear Blast, Progressive Death, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Death Metal, Eurocore, Melodic Death Metal, Progressive Metal, 13 comments

A couple years ago I reviewed Scar Symmetry’s Dark Matter Dimensions and to my surprise I thoroughly enjoyed it. While I gave it a very good score at the time (4.5/5.0), I made the comment that the band was a little formulaic. It seemed to me that the Scar Symmetry could have worked harder to break out of the mold that they seemed to be trying (very hard) to fit into. That mold, otherwise known as “tech-meets-Soilwork” is basically techy death metal with big, catchy choruses. And, while I admit that Scar Symmetry is an much better band than Soilwork as far as writing catchy melodies, there are times when the music feels like it’s just built around this structure. I suggested that the band try to break out of that mold and build on the techy side.