A blistering guitar riff filled my ears. Pummeling drums echoed throughout my head. Sultry baritone vocals singing about a love that ached like death took the song home. My friend sat in front of me with a goofy grin waiting for my reaction. “I love this song,” he said. “It’s good, right? They’re a Finnish band called HIM.” We typically spent mornings before 10th-grade history ranking our favorite Green Day songs and debating if they or Blink-182 were the true kings of pop punk. Then one day, it was all about HIM. He started wearing their shirts every day. He obsessed over their music videos. His notebook was slowly taken over by poorly drawn Heartagrams. He spent days taking me through their discography in a desperate attempt to convert me. Nothing really clicked. It’s not that I didn’t like them. They were just okay in my book. But, he didn’t give up convinced he would find the song that would turn me into a fan.
Another morning before history. By now we had the routine down: he’d scroll through his iPod searching for the perfect song, hand me the headphones, and hit play. But this time, something changed. A serene swirling piano greeted me followed by energetic percussion and gentle acoustic guitars that took the song to a different level. The crooning baritone I’ve heard many times before came in sounding sweet and gentle. It was unlike anything I’d heard before. I looked at my friend. He grinned. “The Sacrament” was my introduction to Love Metal and the song that made me a fan. 20 years later, it remains my favorite HIM song.
HIM have an impressive discography full of solid albums with a few exceptions (*cough cough* Dark Light), yet their 2004 album Love Metal remains their best. It is their definitive record. One that introduced them to new audiences and perfectly captured what made HIM so charming. Being their fourth record, the band had already been around for 10 years upon its release. Though they found a loyal following overseas it was this album that helped bring them to American shores (that and Bam Margera). Soon, they became a staple of the rock and alternative scene of the mid-2000s. Frontman Ville Valo’s pout graced many magazine covers and more people started sporting their iconic Heartagram symbol, whether they knew the band or not.
As Valo puts it, HIM was the love child of bands like Black Sabbath, Sisters of Mercy, and KISS. It’s this blend of heavy metal with a hint of goth rock, and a dash of pop that made them stand out. This fusion became known as “Love Metal” and while these elements were sprinkled throughout their previous albums, they didn’t come together until this record. Their debut Greatest Lovesongs Vol. 666 was steeped in goth rock, while Razorblade Romance was glam rock forward. Their third album Deep Shadows and Brilliant Highlights got closer to the sound they’d become known for but was all over the place. Love Metal is where it all came together in beautiful, haunting harmony.
The album pulls no punches and starts with a bang. The heavy-hitting “Buried Alive By Love” roars to life with that signature guitar riff that sucks you into the song. That riff is irresistible. Just try not to headbang when it comes on. Right as you’re ready to start moshing, the band slows things down with “The Funeral of Hearts,” which is still intense thanks to Mikko Lindström aka Lilly Lazer’s fiery guitar skills and Gas Lipstick’s thundering drums. Each song captures a different essence of HIM. “Soul On Fire” and “Sweet Pandemonium” evoke Black Sabbath with their fuzzy crunching riffs. “Endless Dark” and “Beyond Redemption” delve into their goth rock side, and the sentimental “This Fortress of Tears” is one of several heart-aching ballads.
While albums like Greatest Lovesongs Vol. 666 and Razorblade Romance are favorites, this is the album I keep coming back to. It’s nearly perfect. It’s beautifully paced with raging, high-energy rock songs mixed with gothic-inspired ballads that can still punch you in the gut. There’s enough sonic variety to keep you engaged, resisting the urge to hit the skip button. It strikes a perfect balance between light and darkness in terms of sound and lyrics, which is at the very core of HIM. This is the band is at its peak, firing on all cylinders and finally finding its voice and distinct sound. With a shiny golden Heartagram emblazoned on the cover – as if knowing this would be their magnum opus – the album is downright iconic.
Revisiting the album 20 years later takes me back to a time of discovery. Raised on pop music and with my teeny-bopper days behind me, HIM came at the right time in my life. I stumbled upon the alternative/emo scene of the mid-2000s, getting into bands like AFI, My Chemical Romance, and Panic! At the Disco. Yet, none of them stood out like HIM. Always a sucker for a good melody and hard-hitting music, HIM was the best of both worlds: heavy riffs to headbang to and hooks that get stuck in your head for days. They flirted with dark topics, yet their music wasn’t depressing. Rather, it was vibrant and thrilling. Sometimes comforting like a big warm blanket.
As my music tastes shifted and evolved over time, HIM remained a part of my life. Sometimes they faded into the background as I obsessed over new bands. Sometimes I would go months without listening to the band, but I would always find my way back to them and fall in love all over again. They’re like an old friend. Maybe I didn’t talk to them every day anymore. Maybe the craziness and stress of life meant hangouts were less frequent. But I knew they’d always be there, ready to pick up where we left off.
The House of Blues buzzed with bittersweet anticipation. Longtime fans and new converts came together to watch HIM perform for one last time. Our collective sadness hung thick in the air. We cheered and yelled after every song, ignoring how close we were to the end. This would be the last time I’d see my old friends. I wasn’t sure how to feel. I was happy they wanted to move on instead of dragging things out when their hearts weren’t in it. But I still didn’t want to see them go. I’d miss the excitement of new music releases and the rush of seeing them on tour.
Suddenly, a familiar piano tune interrupted my thoughts. It gave me chills just as it did 10 years ago when I first heard the song. The moment I waited for at previous HIM shows was finally happening. “The Sacrament” live right in front of my eyes. I smiled. Though the end loomed near, for five minutes nothing else mattered. It was just me, HIM, and the song that started it all.