The Summary Judgment Reviews:
Title: Epilogue
Artist: To/Die/For
Label: Nuclear Blast Records
Release Date: 11/13/01

Rating: 4 Skulls
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    • Reviewed by Requiem (3/20/02):
    Ever since I discovered To/Die/For they have been one of my favorite bands. I'm pretty sure I would be content if they whaled on trash cans with wooden spoons as long as the singer was serenading me with his lovely 80's pop inspired vocal talents. It's clear that To/Die/For's strategy is putting the emphasis behind the vocals while providing simple, driving yet catchy rhythms and letting the keyboards smooth it all out in the end for a stunning result. The band's debut was one of the only albums to get a five skuller out of me and also made #2 album of 2000 and ranking as #1 metal album of that year. They came out strong and just crushed everything right from the get go... if you have a stomach for goth-tinged metal, that is.

    That leads us to the Epilogue, which I had high hopes for, but beating All Eternity was nearly an impossible task. And while they did not suceed in surpassing their first, the result was an album chock full of solid melody-driven tunes with vocals that can't be beat. The album takes a pinch of the rock out and adds a bit more pop flavor this time, due mostly to the more upfront keyboards. Fear not though, present are still those driving guitars, hard rocking drum beats and unforgettable vocal melodies. "Veil of Tears" is a keyboard heavy track with plenty of guitar harmonies and a chorus with vocals that make you wonder where you ever put those damn Duran Duran or Aha records (I know where mine are). "The Unknown" ranks as the album's finest cut with it with its chunky muted guitar riffs and the most infectious chorus of the album. "Garden of Stones" is a fine closer with its very atmospheric and somber nature and of course its tremendous vocal display.

    As you can tell, To/Die/For is all about the vocals. Always have been and always will be. They are superbly excecuted and eternally memorable. Although this album didn't surpass the first in greatness, it is still an amazing album making my top 10 of 2001. The songwriting is all about verse, chorus, verse - simplistic and memorable in every respect. And don't think that the heaviness or the metal is absent because it's not. This album rocks with the best of 'em and stays ingrained in your head for days on end. For those who are into checking out the goth metal category of things, this should be your first and last stop.
    4 out of 5

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