Greetings dear earthlings!

In this post I’m going to formally write about my favourite band: HIM. The band is awesome but the writing may be really soporific, so, yeah, I have warned you…

The band HIM is originally from Helsinki, Finland (which they are very keen to point out; proud bastards). HIM (or His infernal Majesty which they called themselves in the beginning) was formed in the summer of -95 by the bands’ songwriter and front man; Ville Valo. At first they were only two; Ville himself (ha-ha) and his long-time friend and guitarist Linde.

The city of Helsinki.

 Ville Valo had big dreams and bands he worshiped like gods. Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Iron Maiden, Type O Negative and Depeche Mode were just some of them. He wanted the band to have a doomy sound, mostly because of him and Linde both loving that sort of vibe – the doomy vibe that was typical in the 70: ies. He hated happy music; he had grown up with the melancholic Finnish folk music along with the doomy sound and Sabbath and CO. He liked music that really affected you, in a soulful way, if you know what I mean? Okay, that sounded cheesy, but trust me it’s not. He was, or he still is, very interested in life and death and love, and how the three of them embraced; and that was what his lyrics usually were about.

Ville and Linde begun rehearsing together and made their first demo in -95, called “This is only the beginning”. Linde was on guitar and Ville was singing, playing drums and base. The demo was very raw and almost animalistic, filled with screams and raw guitar riffs and drumming. But it also had calmer bits where Ville croons and sings more gently and with loving lyrics, along with light guitar picking in the background. It contains a nice mix of both, but if you wanna listen to it, the sound isn’t so good, unfortunately. On this was also the first version of their famous, and iconic song for the band, cover of Chris Isaaks’ song Wicked Game.

After this album the base player and friend Mige joined the band. He had heard the demo and loved it, so he obviously wanted to be a part of that. In -96 His Infernal Majesty released their first EP: 666 ways to love, which was produced by Hiili Hiilesmaa. The EP contained new versions of the songs from their demo, like Wicked Game, The Heartless and Stigmata Diaboli, but also new songs like the beautiful Dark Secret Love. This really was a hit in Finland, and they got like a “cult status” of sort. Their cover of Wicked Game was diligently played on the radio and the band made their first music video. At this point the band had increased their members, with

The cover of the EP: 666 ways to love.

The woman in the photo is Valos’ mother.

In 1997 the band released their first full-length album called “Greatest Lovesongs vol.666”. You might think: Oh, this is probably a devil worshiping kind of band, since they use so much that associates with hell etc. But no, that’s not the case. Ville was just really interested in what 666 stood for. In his opinion it represents something you want so badly and you end up going for it, even though you know it’s end is bad. This was a real smash-hit in Finland and when their new video of Wicked Game came out; the radio stations all over Europe picked it up and started playing it. The album was very doomy, with lots of spooky keyboards and loud guitars. Ville’s lyrics are about what I told you before…

 Then, in 1999 they released their second album “Razorblade Romance” which became their breakthrough album all through Europe. Their single “Join me” hit number one at the charts in both Germany and the UK. This album was more commercial, if you could call it that, and a bit more poppy.

 In the beginning the band was all about partying; partying Finnish style constantly (meaning drinking like buckets full of vodka and other clear liquors). They soon realised though that the “fun” lifestyle had too end. They had to be able to concentrate on their music; so they cut down (at least a little bit).

In 2001 the band released their third album “Deep shadows and brilliant highlights”. This one was kind of a disappointment to many though; since it was more of a ballad and slow sort of album. But, the third album is almost always the trickiest one for all bands; you’ve sort of hit a dead end by that. If thatäs an excuse. It’s difficult to reinvent yourself. I liked it though, a few of the songs anyway, but it’s far from my favourite album.

In 2003, after the bands’ first real “break” in over five years, the band released their fourth studio album: Love Metal. This one actually described their music genre (so that people wouldn’t ask them all the time, which they hated). They had invented the genre themselves and thought it was the perfect word to describe their music. This album was an important album for HIM, especially after D.S.B.H, and it was exactly what the band needed. They made two videos, directed by long-time friend and fan Bam Margera, of the songs: The Sacrament and Buried alive by love. This is my favourite album; it’s great! Listen to it!

Okay, this is turning into like a fifty page essay, so you only get to know their older history, not about them in more recent time…. Sorry! But, HIM ROCKS! Remember that;)