To/Die/For (often abbreviated TDF) are a

gothic metal Gothic metal (or goth metal) is a fusion genre combining the aggression of heavy metal with the dark atmospheres of gothic rock. The music of gothic metal is diverse with bands known to adopt the gothic approach to different styles of heavy met ...

band from the town of

Kouvola Kouvola () is a cities of Finland, city and Municipalities of Finland, municipality in southeastern Finland. It is located along the Kymijoki, Kymijoki River in the Regions of Finland, region of Kymenlaakso, kilometers east of Lahti, west of Lapp ...

in southeast of Finland, originally assembled in 1993 as a

hard rock Hard rock or heavy rock is a loosely defined subgenre of rock music typified by aggressive vocals and distorted electric guitars. Hard rock began in the mid-1960s with the garage, psychedelic and blues rock movements. Some of the earliest hard ...

band under the name Mary-Ann. In 1999, they decided to change their musical style to gothic metal, changing their band name as well. The band disbanded in April 2009, but reformed in July 2009, and played their final concert at John Smith Festival in Finland on 22 June 2016. They reformed once again in early 2020.

History

Mary-Ann (1993–1999)

To/Die/For was formed under the name ''Mary-Ann'' in 1993. They released two demo EPs, "Mary-Ann" in 1997 and " Deeper Sin" in 1998, before changing name as they modified musical style from heavy metal to gothic metal in 1999. "Deeper Sin" thereby resulted in a record deal with Spinefarm Records.

''All Eternity'' and ''Epilogue'' (1999–2002)

Their debut album – '' All Eternity'' – was released in Finland by the end of 1999, and the band then signed contracts with

Nuclear Blast Nuclear Blast is a record label and mail order record distributor with subsidiaries in Germany, the United States and Brazil. The label was founded in 1987 by Markus Staiger in Germany. Originally releasing hardcore punk records, the label mov ...

(for Europe) and

Pony Canyon , also known by the shorthand form , is a Japanese mass media publishing company founded on October 1, 1966. The company publishes mainly physical home media on compact discs, including music, films and TV shows and video games. It is affiliate ...

(for Japan). Their cover of the Sandra song " In the Heat of the Night" was to be the only single, and together with "Farewell" it was recorded as a music video, and obtained a fair amount of exposure. In 2000, the band toured Europe together with

Dark Tranquillity Dark Tranquillity is a Swedish melodic death metal band from Gothenburg. They are considered one of the pioneering acts of the Gothenburg metal scene, which also includes bands such as In Flames and At the Gates. Dark Tranquillity is regarded a ...

Sentenced Sentenced was a Finnish gothic metal band that played melodic death metal in their early years. The band formed in 1989 in the town of Muhos and broke up in 2005. History Early years (1988–1991) Sentenced started in 1988 as Deformity and c ...

and

In Flames In Flames is a Swedish heavy metal band, formed by guitarist Jesper Strömblad in Gothenburg in 1990. Alongside At the Gates and Dark Tranquillity, In Flames pioneered the genres known as Swedish death metal and melodic death metal. During t ...

. Bassist Miikka Kuisma quit the band and was replaced by Marko Kangaskolkka, who had played with the band in its early years. "

Epilogue An epilogue or epilog (from Greek ἐπίλογος ''epílogos'', "conclusion" from ἐπί ''epi'', "in addition" and λόγος ''logos'', "word") is a piece of writing at the end of a work of literature, usually used to bring closure to the w ...

", the successor of "All Eternity", was released in 2001, and was followed by a tour with Lacrimosa.

''Jaded'', ''IV'' and ''Wounds Wide Open'' (2003–2009)

The album ''Jaded'' was released in 2003, and is by many fans still seen as the band's best effort. In August of that year, vocalist Jarno Perätalo left the band. He assembled a new band named Tiaga, integrated by former members of To/Die/For. Juha Kylmänen (from For My Pain and Reflexion) then assumed the vocals of To/Die/For. However, in 2004, Jarno Perätalo and the band Tiaga took the name To/Die/For themselves, releasing the fourth album, simply titled ''IV'', in 2005. On 4 October 2006, To/Die/For released their fifth studio album, ''Wounds Wide Open''. After the promotional tour that stretched to October 2007, the band decided to take a break.

''Samsara'', ''Cult'', deaths, split-up and reformation (2009–2016, 2019–present)

To/Die/For released their sixth album ''Samsara'' in 2011, and after spending the following years touring, released their seventh studio album ''Cult'' in May 2015. The first single from their album, "Screaming Birds", was released in November 2014. To/Die/For disbanded in July 2016. Two of the band's former drummers died; Tommi Lillman died on 13 February 2012 after an illness, and Santtu Lonka died on 26 January 2020 with no cause of death revealed (probably suicide). In January 2020, the band announced they would be reuniting to play at the John Smith Festival at

Laukaa Laukaa (; sv, Laukas) is a municipality of Finland. It is located next to Jyväskylä and is part of the Central Finland region. The municipality has a population of () and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is . The ...

in July 2020.

Line-up

''Line-up in the "Mary-Ann" era is not included.''

Current members

* Jape Perätalo – vocals, keyboards (1999–2016, 2020–present) * Juppe Sutela – rhythm guitar (1999–2005, 2010–2016, 2020–present) * Joonas Koto – lead guitar (1999–2002, 2005–2009, 2020–present) * Matti Huopainen – drums (2011–2016, 2020–present) * Miikka Kuisma – bass (1999–2000, 2020–present)

Former members

* Tonmi Lillman – drums, keyboards (1999–2003, 2009–2010; died 2012) * Marko Kangaskolkka – bass (2001–2004) * Mika Ahtiainen – lead guitar (2002–2005) * Josey Strandman – bass (2004–2011) * Santtu Lonka – drums (2003–2008, 2010–2011; died 2020) * Antti-Matti "Antza" Talala – lead guitar (2005–2014) * Jussi-Mikko Salminen – keyboards (2004–2005, 2010–2014) * Toni Paananen – drums (2008–2009) * Samuel Schildt – bass (2014–2015) * Eza Viren – bass (2011–2014), lead guitar, keyboards (2014–2016)

Guest musicians

Alexi Laiho Alexi Laiho ( IE-ho born Markku Uula Aleksi Laiho; 8 April 1979 – 29 December 2020) was a Finnish guitarist, composer, and vocalist. He was best known as the lead guitarist, lead vocalist and founding member of the melodic death metal band C ...

– guitar solo on '' In the Heat of the Night'' * Kimberly Goss – vocals in ''All Eternity'' *

Marko Hietala Marko Tapani "Marco" Hietala (born 14 January 1966) is a Finnish heavy metal vocalist, bassist and songwriter. Internationally, he is best known as the former bassist, male vocalist and secondary composer to Tuomas Holopainen, of the symphonic ...

– vocals in ''Epilogue'' * Tanya Kemppainen – vocals in ''Epilogue'' and ''Jaded'' * Anna Lukkarinen – vocals in ''Jaded'' * Jonna Imelainen – vocals in ''Jaded''

Timeline

Discography

Demos & EPs (as Mary-Ann)

* ''Mary-ann'' (demo album, 1997) * ''Deeper Sin'' (demo EP, 1998)

Albums

* ''All Eternity'' (1999) * ''Epilogue'' (2001) * ''Jaded'' (2003) * ''IV'' (2005) * ''Wounds Wide Open'' (2006) * ''Samsara'' (2011) * ''Cult'' (2015)

Compilations

*''Epilogue from the Past'' (2010)

Singles

* '' In the Heat of the Night'' (2000) * ''Hollow Heart'' (2001) * ''Little Deaths'' (2005) * ''Like Never Before'' (2006) * ''Screaming Birds'' (2014)

References

External links

Official website

To/Die/For Facebook
{{DEFAULTSORT:To Die For Finnish gothic metal musical groups Finnish heavy metal musical groups Musical groups established in 1993 Musical groups reestablished in 2020 Musical groups disestablished in 2016 Musical quintets Nuclear Blast artists