Customer Reviews

Love Metal

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

HIM is one of those few bands that reek of catchy instantly satisfying pop rock, yet still come accross as legitimate and true. It would be hard to compare them to any mainstream music today, yet they definitely have an infectious element thanks to some incredibly clever songwriting. They have never tried to be "mainstream" yet have developed a massive cult following in Europe and the US. So what is Love Metal anyway? To break it down, imagin those Gothic/Pop/Rock bands from the 80's: The Cult, The Mission UK, The Church, Early U2, The Sisters of Mercy, etc, take those elements and combine them with some Black Sabbath-esque riffing and heavy guitars. Lay on some Lullaby-like melodies and lyrics dealing with unhealthy romantic relationships and death. There you have HIM in a nutshell. Love Metal is probably their most accomplished album yet. There is not one song on here that can be skipped over. Definitely recommended if you're into classic Goth Rock and don't mind some heavy riffs.

While HIM has pleased us in the past with brilliant releases like "Greatest Love Songs v. 666" and "Razorblade Romance", they hit a slight slump with their third full length album, "Deep Shadows & Brilliant Highlights". The album was not bad, is just showed no progress. However, HIM come back with their most powerful and masterful work yet, "Love Metal".

Before this release, I never truly realized how talented this band was. I've always appreciated their vocalist, Ville Valo, and consider him one of rock's best singers. He also writes music for all the band, which must be why they all work together and play off each other so well. Their guitarist (there's always two guitars at work at the same time on every track, so I guess he overdubs it) does som pretty tricky and catchy stuff that he hasn't shown off in previous releases. Their bassist, while no Les Claypool, is an excellent rhythm keeper. But the one bad musician, as on all HIM releases, is their drummer. He's not too good, basically. He does not complicated things, and basically hits a snare and a bass drum throughout the whole album, sometimes throwing in a crash. It's either he's not capable or Valo isn't writing good enough stuff for him, but it kind of brings down the music.

Despite the drummer, this release is a masterpiece. Every time I listen to it, it gives me a feeling of seclusion and peace. That sounded corny, but this is one of the only album's I recall that can actually do that. The way "Soul on Fire" comes to it's epic conclusion is oh so super. This is the way music should be done.

The lyrics in the album are quite unique. They basically revolve around joy, sorrow, love and hate. But they are not handled in the Simple Plan way: someone's miserable because their girlfriend used them and now she's going out with the jock. No, I think HIM's a little more mature than that. Most of the lyrics are metafourical, as they have always been. Which is the uniqueness of them.

I highly recommend this band if you are looking for originality. This band is bleeding it.

P.S.: Love metal is the genre HIM falls into. Not goth. Though Love Metal does highly resemble it. And I've read reviews where people seem to think "Love Metal" means something like "I Love Metal". No. That's wrong. Sorry.

Ville Valo is one of the best vocalists in the world, and a credit to his art. However his voice is nothing more than a compliment to his lyrics, which really do all the work. Well, those and the band. I think it's a shame that so many people in the US are so full of this idea that HIM is satanic, and won't just listen to them. 666 has always been metaphorical in their lyrics and all they sing about are the emotions induced by love. Sweet emotions, painful emotions, hope, anguish... everything about the songs is for love and what it does to us. The Heartagram they sport is a sign to show the contrast of good and evil, it has nothing to do with the pentagram!

The song shows improvement and progress from their earlier works but not so dramatic a change that they aren't the same musicians they ever were. Ville's deep voice and lyrics, the rest of the band's wonderful instrumentals... though, I suppose the reviewer a spot or so beneath is right that the drummer really never plays anything impressive, but it still works in the song. Also, I'd like to make a note to another reviewer who seemed to miss this, the song "The 9th Circle" is actually a metal version of "One Last Time" from the Razorblade Romance album. I preffer One Last Time, but that's just me. I recommend every track and video from this CD, particularly Funeral of Hearts--the video is mezmorizing.

Well, I found out about this band in GERMANY, when I saw the video for "Join Me", which as I can now (barely) remember had been released with some connection to the soundtrack of "The Thirteenth Floor", but I could be wrong. That was 1999 or so, so I guess I have been following them for quite a while. As a matter of fact the next time I went to Germany, I bought a copy of Razorblade Romance.

I just want to establish some of my objectivity here, I'm no "teenybopper" as some would assert. I happen to like a wide range of music, which includes Classic Rock, Blues, Historical Music (i.e. Classical, Medieval, Baroque..etc)Industrial, Punk, Ambient, and the list goes on and on. By the way- I also have a massive disgust for most of the music that has come out in the past 7-8 years, so I hear all you people.

What attracted me to this band was their dark/tragic presentation of love, if you want to call it that. Whether it is cliche or not, I can't say because this kind of angle just interests me, regardless of the context. It is something that is not explored the way they explore it in much of music today. It was also somewhat of a relief in the days of boy-bands. Now, their sound is original based on what is out today, which is what drew me to them.
I'm positive there are a slew of groups from the 80's and early 90's (I dont mean grunge, dont get me wrong here) that would remind someone of HIM, but these days (as in LIKE, NOW) there are very few bands that sound like them. They just have that European touch, if you dont mind me saying. Also, keep in mind that they are not for everyone. I would never encourage anyone to buy their album, because they don't appeal to everyone. My advice to you is to go out and LISTEN first. Thats the way it should be. Find some way to listen to most of their album before you buy it, no matter which one it is.

Now, for those of you who have listened, or want to buy anyway: I think that people who only bought Deep Shadows..made the wrong choice at the wrong time. The album is good in itself, but not representative of the band. Their best ones are Greatest Lovesongs vol. 666, and Razorblade Romance, and these albums are the ones that would make someone appreciate their sound. This last one here, is much closer to their first sound, and I really liked it, and it shows a good amount of progress from their last record, which was not bad, but well- sappy. I dont need to sit there and justify this. You all probably have MP3 players, so see for yourselves. Get Love Metal, but only after hearing what its all about. I like HIM, that doesnt mean YOU will. Thats my story and I am sticking to it- happy buying!

It's amazing how far HIM has come in the past decade. Since releasing the heavy, purely gothic "666 Ways To Love" EP album in Finland, they have improved more than any other band I can think of to date. Ville Valo adopted a new style of singing in "Greatest Love Songs vol. 666", with eerie vocals and heavy guitars. Then, upon releasing "Razorblade Romance", they showed the heavy side of HIM, with songs such as "Your Sweet 666", yet kept the romantic side with songs like "When Love and Death Embrace" and "Love's Requiem". "Deep Shadows and Brilliant Highlights" showed a lighter, more romantic side of the band.

Then there was Love Metal..

This album shows a nearly depressing side of HIM, displaying this in songs such as "The Path" and "This Fortress of Tears", yet still displays their amazing talent to encorporate Metal and lovesongs, in "Buried Alive by Love" and "Soul on Fire". Hence, the name, Love Metal..

I'll do a run-down of all the songs on Love Metal. I hope it helps..

Track One- Buried Alive by Love (10/10)

This is one of the very, very few songs ever created that has a heavy metal feel to it, yet retains beautiful lyrics. Nobody else could pull this off. Ville is a genius, and maintains control with the lyrics. You must hear this to believe it.

Track Two- The Funeral of Hearts (9/10)

"The love ballad of Love Metal". This song is purely metaphorical, saying love is the "funeral of hearts". It's not slow, but it's definately not as heavy as the preceeding track.

Track Three- Beyond Redemption (9/10)

This song is excellent. The keyboards in the beginning are quite different from other songs by HIM, and that makes it even better. Somewhat heavy guitars, and great singing, as always.

Track Four- Sweet Pandemonium (9/10)

A lot like Beyond Redemption, in terms of heaviness. Good duel-vocals by Ville, and one of the best songs on the album.

Track Five- Soul on Fire (10/10)

Starts out very abruptly and quickly, with fast guitars and great keyboards, then becomes slow for the vocals. Then picks up again. Great ranges of speed and vocals in this song, and nearly as heavy as Buried Alive by Love.

Track Six- The Sacrament (10/10)

A very well known song by HIM. Starts out with a very classical-style piano opening, then unfolds from there. This song is excellent, and possibly one of the best by HIM to date.

Track Seven- This Fortress of Tears (11/10)

I know, I put 11 out of 10. This song.. is beyond words. It starts out slowly, with a lone guitar, then unfolds into a beautiful bass/guitar melody. Then quiets down, while Ville sings with barely any accompaniment. It's a very slow, sad song by HIM, and is without a doubt their greatest song to date. It has an unbelievable guitar solo about halfway through, then follows right up with the most beautiful vocal solo you can imagine. If you're emotional about music, you will honestly cry after hearing this song. If you have no reason to get Love Metal, at least get it for just this song. It's worth the money.

Track Eight- Circle of Fear (10/10)

A great follow-up to This Fortress of Tears. It's sad, yet heavy, and the vocals are deep and emotional as any other song. It's one of HIM's best songs to date.

Track Nine- Endless Dark (6/10)

Honestly, I feel this would fit better with Deep Shadows and Brilliant Highlights. After hearing the two songs before this, it's quite dissapointing. Nevertheless, it's still a good song.

Track 10- The Path (10/10)

Arguably one of HIM's greatest songs. It has every element HIM can incorporate. It has gloomy lyrics, yet heavy guitars. Great keyboards, and an unbelievable guitar solo at the end. No song could finish the album off better than this. When the last guitar riff is hit.. you just get this feeling in the pit of your stomach, of pure joy. You MUST get this album, whether you like HIM or not. It's purely amazing.

HIM is a very unique band. The heartgram is prob. one of the most beautifulest band symbols I ever seen,even though Bam stole it from them and put it on his shirts and uses it alot on TV. Ville Vallo has very unique and depressing songs. His voice can even make you want to cry. His style hes going for is so different from other bands. HIM's not my fav band but there one of them. Very unique and different from other rock bands from out of America.

Ok this seems to be everyones favorite besides RR, and i agree this is an amazin cd, i got it for my bday a few years back and was blown away from the moment i heard Buried Alive By Love, what an amazing way to open a cd. With that bad a$$ guitar riff to start the album you know your in for a musical journey. I have read the other reviews and want to clear some misconseptions up. This isn't the first cd to include the newer keyboardist, he made his debut on the Deep Shadows cd. Secondly As far as i know and have read Valo doesn't play all the music, or however that was put in a previous review. He has a basic structure for the song and lets the band put their touches on it. I say this becase guitar players have a certain sound that can be identified as thier sound, and Linde has a sound pretty unique to himself and Valo does doesn't have that same sound, same with how Valo plays the drums, listen to the Daniel Lioneye cd and you can hear how Valo sounds when he is behind the kit. And while on the topic of the drums in HIM i think that the drummer does a very good job, because you don't have to play complicated rhythms or fills and whatnot to be a good drummer. For the band he is in he does a very good job keeping good time and staying in a good pocket, and drummers have been using the snare bass drum and hi-hat for awhile but he has his own style as well, and it fits this band well. And all this ranting comes back to my point that this is a great representation of HIM, a bunch of great muscians who write grwat music that is maybe not technically advanced but it is so simple in sounding but seems so complex at the same time. This is one of the best cds of the year and of their careers in my opinion, its more focused than the rest of the cds while still having that raw sound to it. Valo has joked that they have always said that they have always called thier style of music "Love Metal" and what better collection of songs to be called "Love Metal" than these. Buried Alive By Love and Beyond Redemption and Soul on Fire are more in the vain of RHIMA and those classic tracks from RR that everyone loves the most, those songs that have huge riffs and catchy choruses and those breakdowns that are in every HIM song. While also showing the softer more melodic side that really sets this band apart from other bands out there, that ability to make more acoustic based songs that show the depth to your music and take it to a whole new place some bands are unwilling to go. Songs like Funeral of Hearts and Endless Dark and Fortress of Tears show this side very well. Overall this is an amazing set of songs and this cd is a must have for any HIM fan and those that are looking for a diverse set of music that can be enjoyed no matter what mood youre in. The amazing thing about these songs is that even the heavier songs when done acoustically, as HIM do for the b-sides to singles, still sound amazing and are still as heavy but in a different way.

There is no arguing, this is HIM's hardest album to date. Moving in a very different direction from their pervious album, Deep Shadows And Brilliant Highlights, Love Metal combines HIM's dark Scandanavian metal, with a classic, Black Sabbath like sound.

Buried Alive By Love: One of, if not the hardest HIM track ever. This track was placed at the beginning of the album to try and replicate the powerful opening of Iggy Pop's, ''Raw Power.'' This song is simply a great song. Very good at thier live shows.
The Funeral Of Hearts: This song was not originally intended to be on Love Metal. On a visit to Ville's apartment, bassist Mige' heard him playing the riff on acoustic guitar. Mige' convinced Ville to finish the song in time to put it on Love Metal. This track was described by Valo as, ''Their Simon and Garfunkle rip off.'' This is one of the lighter tracks on Love Metal, and deserves a listen.
Beyond Redemption: Another great track live. This song has a great guitar riff and solo. There isn't much to say about this track, other than that is good.
Sweet Pandemonium: Another song with a great guitar riff. The verses can get a little boring, but the choris is amazing. Really nice lyrics.
Soul On Fire: Yet another song that is awseome live. One of my all time favorite guitar riffs. The verses are a little mild, then the chorus just explodes. I think this may be my favorite track on the album.
The Scarament: One word to describe this song, beautiful. This song is absolutly perfect. Everything flows together flawlessly. This is probably the lightest track on the album.
This Fortress Of Tears: A very ecletic song. I always get the impression of a very romantic piano sound in this song. This song is very hard to describe, I suggest you listen and see for yourself.
Circle Of Fear: Another track that can be called ''perfect.'' This song is just great all around. Lyricly, and instrumentally.
Endless Dark: A very ecletic track. You keep going back and forth between distorted and acoustic guitar. It does drag on a little, but it really doesen't effect the song in anyway.
The Path: A very long, haunting track. Described by Valo as, ''A great campfire track.'' This song has a very good guitar riff, and is an absolute wonderful ending to this album.

HIM never fails to make incredible music. Everything about their songs has a whole nother world that each song takes you to. The songwriting is simply amazing. If someone were to ask me what's my fav. HIM song or album... I'd say all of their stuff! I don't have just one fav, I love it all.

I have to say that even though this album keeps to the original sound of HIM, they've changed quite a bit. And as we know, change is mostly good. Ville's voice keeps us listening with its multiple angles and wide vocal spectrum. The sound is refined and compelling, making us want to hear more of what they have to offer as a band. The lyrics though stay the same pretty much, dark and yet full of emotion and power. They have a truly unique sound which is thoroughly expressed in this album as well. There's always a touch of sadness yet it is welcomed sadness; it is sadness we want to see and feel. I would say the strongest track from this album are 'Sweet Pandemonium', 'Fortress of Tears' and 'The Sacrament'.
However, I like all their songs - I don't know a lot of bands that are as strong and just... beautiful like HIM. If I had to compare this album to their other albums... Well I'd say that's fairly impossible since each album they make is unique and has a slightly different 'tone' to it. My only regret is that their tours don't include the US and Canada. I feel like people here are really missing out on what HIM have to offer.