HIM – Screamworks In Love & Practice Review
Come on in to get the official review for HIM’s brand new album! You can find HIM on the cover of the brand new issue of Metal Hammer, on sale Wednesday, February 10th.
HIM – Screamworks In Love & Practice Review
HIM are the prodigal sons of metal, ostracised by their metal brethren but finding fame, fortune and indeed love on the fringes of their world. While all too often dismissed within more-metal-than-thou circles, less judgemental disciples have gathered in massive numbers to enjoy the dark melancholic sermons of mainman Ville Valo. As with any biblical allegory, justice is done, though not before hardship has been endured, and to release this, HIMs’ seventh studio album, the band and its now iconic frontman have undergone all manner of trials, from persecution to addiction.
2007’s Venus Doom mirrored Ville’s personal gloom and despondency in an interesting counterpoint to the US chart-aimed predecessor, Dark Light. Two years clean and newly in love, Ville and the apostles are back with a turbo-charged and urgently sensual gospel of a record – a fast-paced 13-tracker that, like 2004’s Love Metal, perfectly combines lilting romantic melodies with a raunchy energy. Unlike Love Metal though, the atmosphere here is almost tear-jerkingly sentimental, despite occasional visceral screams unheard on HIM records for some time. The biggest change is the use of more kitsch 80s synths; more Europe than Children Of Bodom (see Love The Hardest Way and In The Arms Of Rain). Highlights include the god-sized riffing of Heart Killer, the syncopated party rhythms, synths and singalong chorus of Disarm Me and the raw driving rock of Katherine Wheel. Ode To Solitude is a stone cold riff monster with vocals never vainly dominating.
Lyrically the mood is more immediate, directed at the woman in his arms not the love lost and gone. The melancholia and morbidity of all previous albums here is only sonic, the words a celebration of newfound love – physical and mental. Instead of mourning the dearly departed in solitude Ville is taking a romantic leap of faith, vulnerable yet hopeful. This is not the powerlessness of unrequited love, this is the powerlessness of being so utterly in love, of missing someone you know you will see soon; the simultaneous pain and relief hurts so good.
It must also be said that this is Ville’s strongest vocal performance in many years, and sobriety clearly suits him. The real treats are at the end of the album as Like St Valentine’s drum’n’bass opening feels like some apocalyptic Enter Shikari anthem with a weepy Daryl Palumbo serenading us throughout. Ville mentioned a punk approach to the album, and it’s at its most evident here: you feel closer to the man at the mic than on any other song as the track paints a picture of someone losing their shit in the vocal booth. Following that is the grindhouse ballad, Smother A Heart as analogue synths whir and squelch under electro beats and Ville’s inimitable croon. Out of their stylistic comfort zone this infectious track sounds like a cross between Nine Inch Nails and heroin-era Depeche Mode. Its earlier songs are signature HIM and doubtless please the converted, but Screamworks’ closing tunes are where they will gather new fans and touch the truly enlightened. [8]
GILL
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I Think Its Brilliant Alot Better Than Venus Doom
Couldn’t agree more, those two tracks at the end are fucking ace, Saint Valentine will be the Killer single if they should choose it as for final track (and i’ll have to be a smarty bastard and correct you on the name. But its a fucking great name)
‘The Foreboding Sense of Impending Happiness’ is my favorite track with its Nine Inch Needle of Heroin induced synth and break beat with infectious ballad like croons from the baritone Finn, i’d recommend anyone to check those two tunes out
it all good work HIM. Shamelessly cheesy, Riff heavy with G N’ R like solos and almost annoyingly catchy.
Agree with Steve515, definately more their sound.
I think their better with the short sweet digestable songs, than the long doom n’ gloom inspired ones on Venus Doom.
I’m listening for the first time right now. There’s something for everybody on this – 80s hair metal, killer riffs and HIM’s trademark lovelorn lyrics.
I can’t wait to see them next Sunday in London. It’s going to be fucking awesome.
I’ve never been HIM fan really but I still can’t stop being impressed by this album’s consistency and gorgeous production. Ville and the boys have done absolutely fantastic job. If this was their last album, there wouldn’t be more beautiful way of saying goodbye after 15 succesful years.
This album is an absolute ‘Heartkiller.’ I was actually clost to tears while listening to it the first time round because at how Ville sings so beautifully. His lyrics are always bloody awesome with a hell of a lot of truth and deep emotion within them. And, the boys? Well, they always blow me as well as every other HIM fan on this planet away with their shit-good guitar riffs, hardcore drumming, the lot!!!
Well done to HIM.Yet another awesome album!!!
Did I miss something?! Has everyone gone crazy, this is the worst album HIM has ever made. Stupid emo-pop-Christian-rock-cheap-Disney-punk lameness fly’s throughout every track. I never knew the band would fall this far. Lyrically the album has moments, and i am all for HIM singing about new subject matter, but how about maintaining your long held stance of trying to be original… almost if not every track sounds that same! I was devastated to hear this album and honestly can’t see how previous fans can enjoy this, if they indeed loved their previous work/ethos (which are combined in this bands instance, by their own volition)