To/Die/For from Finland continues to deliver gothic dancepopmetal in an 80?s package on their 5th album "Wounds wide open", and as a tradition they have included a cover again of Ozzy?s "I just want you". I really thought their version of Cutting Crew?s 80?s hit "I just died in your arms tonight" on their 3rd album "Jaded" (2003) sounded very cool and then TDF followed up with a cover of U2?s "New years day" on the previous "IV" (2005). And before that, TDF also did a metal version of Sandra?s dance hit "In the heat of the night" on their debut "All eternity" (1999). In a way, TDF sounds a bit like a mix between Swedish dancemetal act Pain and the Finnish goth heroes HIM - but with the symphonic keyboards of Nightwish. No Opera vocals in sight though which is a relief, I think the new single "Like never before" indeed sound like a song that was written in the 80?s but it?s not - TDF combines the 80?s with a modern sound of metal in a good way. The short and melodic "Under a velvet sky" is another favorite of mine, it?s a shame that the vocals from Jarne Jape Peratalo gets monotonous throughout the whole album but it works rather fine in small doses.
