HIM (Finnish band)

Ville Valo (left) and Mige (right) formed His Infernal Majesty in 1991 (pictured here in 2013)

The first incarnation of HIM was formed in 1991 by childhood friends Ville Valo and Mikko "Mige" Paananen in Helsinki, Finland.[1] Valo played six-string bass, which substituted for guitar, while Mige also played bass, and rotating drummers Sami "Juippi" Jokilehto and Juha Tarvonen rounded-out the initial line-up.[1][2][3] Dubbed His Infernal Majesty, other names considered for the band included Black Earth, Black Salem and Kafferi.[1][4][5] The band recorded the demo Witches and Other Night Fears,[6] and played their first and only show on New Year's Eve 1992 at the Semifinal in Helsinki, before breaking up in 1993, when Mige began his national military service.[1][2][7][8] In 1995, His Infernal Majesty was reformed by Valo and guitarist Mikko "Linde" Lindström. Together they recorded a four-track demo, where Valo played drums and sang, while Linde performed guitar and bass.[8][9][10] Valo originally intended to remain the bassist for the band, but took up the role of vocalist out of necessity after they were unable to find a proper singer.[9] Soon thereafter Mige rejoined the band, and the line-up was eventually rounded-out by drummer Juhana "Pätkä" Rantala.[9] His Infernal Majesty played their first show on 19 December 1995 at the Teatro in Helsinki, opening for Kauko Röyhkä.[11] The band's next show was also at the Teatro, this time performing Type O Negative covers, for which they recruited keyboardist Janne "Burton" Puurtinen.[12]

The band continued to record several more demos, sending them to Nuclear Blast, Roadrunner and Spinefarm Records among others, all of which passed on signing the band.[13] Eventually they were signed to BMG by production manager Asko Kallonen, after hearing their cover of Chris Isaak's "Wicked Game".[10][14] In October 1996, the band, now called HIM, released the EP 666 Ways to Love: Prologue. Recorded in only five days and produced by Hiili Hiilesmaa, the EP featured another guitarist Oskari "Oki" Kymäläinen, who was let go from the band before the release.[15][16] 666 Ways to Love: Prologue debuted at number sixteen on the Finnish Singles Chart, and peaked at number nine five weeks later.[17] A music video, the band's first, was also shot for "Wicked Game".[18] The band played a special album-release show at the Tavastia Club on 19 October 1996, before starting a full tour, for which they recruited keyboardist Antto Melasniemi.[15][19]

HIM spent the summer of 1997 recording their debut album with Hiili Hiilesmaa once again producing.[20] The band had minimal studio experience and Valo later credited Hiilesmaa for helping "build HIM's sound", calling him the honorary sixth member of the band.[21] Greatest Lovesongs Vol. 666 was released in Finland on 3 November 1997 and internationally a year later.[22] The album charted in Finland and Germany, peaking at number four in the former.[23] The singles "When Love and Death Embrace" and "Your Sweet 666" also cracked the top ten in the band's home country.[23] Greatest Lovesongs Vol. 666 received positive reviews from critics, with AllMusic describing the album as having "a very diverse sound" and ultimately succeeding "in pleasing everyone, whether they're into rock or pop."[24] Greatest Lovesongs Vol. 666 would eventually go platinum in Finland.[25] HIM also went on to win Newcomer of the Year and Debut Album of the Year at the 1997 Emma Gala.[26] The official supporting tour for Greatest Lovesongs Vol. 666 began in mid-December 1997 at the Maxim in Kuopio.[27]

HIM performing at Provinssirock in June 1999

Prior to HIM's first international tour, keyboardist Antto Melasniemi was replaced by Jussi-Mikko "Juska" Salminen.[28] After returning to Finland, HIM fired Pätkä and replaced him with Mika "Gas Lipstick" Karppinen.[29] In January 1999, HIM began demoing material for their second album with producer Hiilesmaa.[30] These sessions proved to be unsuccessful, and the band relocated to Rockfield, Wales with producer John Fryer to star recording their new album.[30][31] In November 1999, HIM released the single "Join Me in Death", which peaked at number one in Finland and Germany.[23] The song would eventually go platinum in Finland, and gold in Germany and Austria.[25][32][33] HIM were awarded Export of the Year at the 1999 Emma Gala, and on 31 December 1999, the band played at the Tavastia Club in Helsinki, Finland, which turned into a New Year's tradition for the band.[26][34]

The band's second album, Razorblade Romance, was released on 24 January 2000, peaking at number one in Finland, Austria and Germany.[23][35] The album eventually went double platinum in Finland, triple gold in Germany, and gold in Austria.[25][32][33] Four more singles were released, all of which reached the top five on the Finnish Singles Chart.[23] Razorblade Romance was mostly well received by critics; Soundi gave the album four out of five stars, and Blabbermouth.net called it "yet another amazingly crafted album from Europe's best-kept secret."[36][37] Allmusic was mixed in their review, calling the album over-produced, but still commending the songwriting.[38] Nevertheless, HIM were awarded Band of the Year and Album of the Year at the 2000 Emma Gala, as well as the Viewers' Choice Award, and Video of the Year for "Join Me in Death", at the 2000 VIVA Comet Awards.[26][39] During the supporting tour for Razorblade Romance, HIM played their first shows in the United Kingdom, starting at The Garage in London.[40][41] Over time, the touring cycle and promotional work for the album exhausted the band, to the point where Valo nearly fell off the balcony of a hotel, before being pulled back by friends, while Salminen ended up in the emergency room after a prank gone wrong.[42][43][44] HIM nearly broke up by the end of the tour, but the band eventually began rehearsing for another album.[45]

In the fall of 2000, HIM began demoing material for their third album with producer T.T. Oksala.[46] The band initially wanted to release these recordings as the new album, but after resistance from BMG, producer Kevin Shirley was brought on board to work on the forthcoming album.[47] Around this time, keyboardist Juska Salminen was replaced by Janne "Burton" Puurtinen.[2][48] The recording process for the band's third album took approximately eleven months, with Valo citing outside influences within the industry and the extended time-frame having too great an effect on the material.[2] He elaborated: "When we started recording the third album, we were into stoner rock and Black Sabbath [...] At the end we were into Neil Young and it shows on the record."[49] Despite these problems, HIM's third album Deep Shadows and Brilliant Highlights was released on 24 August 2001, and peaked at number one in Finland and Austria, and at number two in Germany and Switzerland, later going platinum in Finland and gold in Austria.[23][25][33][50] Three singles were released, all of which reached the top five in Finland.[23]

Deep Shadows and Brilliant Highlights received mixed reviews, with Allmusic calling it "way too clean" and "utterly boring".[51] Soundi echoed this, saying that the album is "ideal music for girls, who don't dig the music, but Ville Valo's looks and his lyrics' decadent imagery."[52] Blabbermouth.net was more positive in their review, stating that "in purely artistic and commercial terms [...] HIM have made the logical follow-up album to one of last year's highlights, and they continue to cement their reputation as one of the most unique and consistent rock acts around."[53] HIM were once again named Export of the Year at the 2001 Emma Gala, and received the Viewers' Choice Award at the VIVA Comet Awards that year as well.[26][54] In 2002, HIM were involved in a rights dispute in the United States, as the name "HIM" was already owned by a drummer from a Chicago jazz fusion band of the same name.[55][56] As a result HIM was renamed HER in the US, until a settlement was eventually reached between the two parties, which allowed both to retain the name HIM.[56][57] On 7 October 2002, HIM released The Single Collection, a set containing all of the band's singles, as well as a previously unreleased single of "It's All Tears".[58] Also in October 2002, the band's official biography Synnin viemää, written by J. K. Juntunen, was released.[59]

Ville Valo performing with HIM in Norfolk, Virginia, in August 2004

The supporting tour for Deep Shadows and Brilliant Highlights nearly resulted in the band breaking up once again, but also saw HIM playing in the United States for the first time; a one-off show organized by professional skateboarder and television personality Bam Margera, who would go on to work with the band extensively, promoting them and directing several of their music videos.[2][60][61] Following a two month break in early 2002, HIM regrouped and began rehearsing material for another album.[62] Valo later credited the tour for Deep Shadow and Brilliant Highlights bringing the band closer together, which culminated in their fourth album, entitled Love Metal.[2] The album saw HIM once again working with producer Hiili Hiilesmaa, and was viewed by the band as a reaction to the difficulties they faced during Deep Shadows and Brilliant Highlights.[2][63] According to Valo: "After what we considered a disappointment with Deep Shadows and Brilliant Highlights, because there were so many chefs in the kitchen, we wanted to be a band [...] that we control what we do, and everybody else can fuck off."[2] Love Metal was also the band's first album to make prominent use of the band's logo, the heartagram, on its cover, which Valo called "a statement of intent [...] musically, visually and ideologically."[2]

Love Metal was released on 11 April 2003, and reached the top five in four countries, peaking at number one in Finland and Germany.[23][64] It also became the band's first album to chart in the UK, at number 55.[23] Love Metal went platinum in Finland and gold in Germany, and three singles were released, with "The Funeral of Hearts" peaking at number one in Finland.[23][25][32] "The Funeral of Hearts" was later awarded Best Video at the 2004 Kerrang! Awards.[65] Love Metal was well received by critics, with Soundi giving it three out of five stars, while Allmusic stated that "the songwriting is as strong as it has been in quite some time and a newly found sense of urgency keeps the record going at a well-tempered pace."[66][67]

Following the album's release, HIM began their first tour of the US, which was entirely sold-out.[2][68] In August 2003, it was announced that HIM had parted ways with BMG, after fulfilling their contractual obligations to the label.[69] HIM were also planning on releasing a live album, tentatively titled Live Metal, in November 2003, but the record was ultimately scrapped in favor of starting work on new material.[69][70] In March 2004, HIM released And Love Said No: The Greatest Hits 1997–2004, which peaked at number two in Finland and number five in Germany, later going gold in the former.[23][71] Aside from previously released material, the collection also included two new songs; "And Love Said No", and a cover of Neil Diamond's "Solitary Man". The latter peaked at number nine on the UK Singles Chart and number two in Finland, while "And Love Said No" took the top spot on the Finnish Singles Chart.[23][72] In September 2004, HIM announced they had signed a new worldwide recording deal with Sire Records.[73] While Sire would handle releases in Europe, the US, Japan and Australia, in Finland HIM's future recordings would be released through the band's own Heartagram label.[73] On 7 December 2004, HIM released The Video Collection: 1997–2003, a set containing all the band's music videos.[74]

HIM performing at Provinssirock in June 2006

On 17 January 2005, HIM, along with The Rasmus, The 69 Eyes, Apocalyptica and Negative, performed at the Yhteinen ASIA benefit concert for victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami.[75] Soon thereafter HIM relocated to Los Angeles to begin work on their fifth studio album with producer Tim Palmer.[76] Also in January 2005, HIM were voted "Band of the Year" by the readers of Metal Hammer magazine.[77] In March 2005, Himmeetä valoa, a documentary about the band, saw its premiere on Yle TV2.[78] In May 2005, HIM released Love Metal Archives Vol. I, a collection of music videos, live performances, interviews and other bonus material.[79][80] The collection debuted at number one in Finland, and at number two in Germany.[23][80] Love Metal Archives Vol. I would eventually go gold in Finland.[81] In September 2005, HIM embarked on European club tour to prepare for the release of their forthcoming album, while a North American leg followed in October.[82][83] On 26 September 2005, HIM released their fifth studio album Dark Light, which became the group's most successful album to date, going platinum in Finland, and gold in Germany, the UK, and the US.[25][32][84][85] The album charted in sixteen countries, including in the top ten in Finland, Greece, Austria, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.[23] Four singles were released, with "Wings of a Butterfly" peaking at number one in Finland and "Killing Loneliness" at number two.[23][86]

Dark Light received mostly positive reviews from critics. The New York Times described the material as "sturdier than ever" and Q Magazine called the album "a collection of irresistible pop-rock anthems".[87] NME however called it "wimpy", while AllMusic described it as "glossy and user-friendly".[88] Despite this, Dark Light was named Rock Album of the Year at 2005 Emma Gala, with "Wings of a Butterfly" also receiving the award for Song of the Year.[26] In December 2005, HIM expanded their annual New Year's Eve show into a three day festival, and renamed it Helldone, after their booking agent Tiina Welldone and the city of Helsinki.[89][90] In January 2006, HIM were forced to postpone a tour of the UK and Ireland, after Linde Lindström fractured his wrist bone following Helldone.[91] The following March, HIM embarked on their first Australian tour.[92] The band also toured New Zealand and Japan for the first time in 2006.[91] In September 2006, HIM cancelled a forthcoming North American tour, in order to begin work on a new album.[93] In November 2006, HIM released Uneasy Listening Vol. 1, a collection featuring various alternate versions of previously released material.[94] The album peaked at number seven in Finland, while the double single "In Joy and Sorrow / Pretending" reached number one.[23]

HIM performing at Wembley Stadium in July 2007

In February 2007, HIM began recording their sixth album at Finnvox Studios, reuniting with producers Hiili Hiilesmaa and Tim Palmer.[95][96] The making-of the album was plagued with problems Ville Valo was facing in his personal life.[97] Among other things, Valo's alcohol abuse had worsened, with him reportedly vomiting and defecating blood at one point.[97] These issues came to a head when Valo suffered a nervous breakdown during the recording process.[97] According to Valo, he did manage to recover, until the mixing stage, when he began drinking again.[97] Eventually Valo was admitted to the Promises Rehabilitation Clinic in Malibu by the band's manager Seppo Vesterinen.[95][97] In April 2007, HIM released Uneasy Listening Vol. 2, which peaked at number twelve in Finland.[23][98] In May 2007, the band's upcoming album was pushed back from a previously announced 10 July release to September.[99] From 25 July to 3 September 2007, HIM toured the US with Linkin Park on their Projekt Revolution Tour, which also included My Chemical Romance, Taking Back Sunday and Placebo.[100] Prior to the beginning of the tour, HIM held a contest for fans to win a trip to meet the band at tour's opening date in Seattle.[101] The winners of the contest would also be featured on a forthcoming live DVD.[101] HIM also played a number of concerts in the summer of 2007 opening for Metallica, including a show at Wembley Stadium in London, England.[102]

On 14 September 2007, HIM released their sixth studio album Venus Doom.[103] The album broke the top ten in Finland, Germany, Switzerland and Austria, and later went gold in their home country;[23][25][32] it also gave the band their highest chart position to date in the US at number twelve.[23] "The Kiss of Dawn" and "Bleed Well" were released as singles, with the former peaking at number two in Finland.[23] Venus Doom was well received by critics, with Spin calling the album "[maybe] the year's heaviest, creepiest, and sexiest hard-rock group effort", while NME called it "an extremely well-executed pop-metal album."[104] AllMusic gave the album three-and-a-half stars out of five and found the band "back on track and sounding more metal than ever."[105] Venus Doom later garnered the band's first and only Grammy nomination for Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package.[106] In January 2008, HIM released Uneasy Listening Vol. 1 & 2, a set containing both previously released Uneasy Listening albums. During the supporting tour for Venus Doom, HIM shot and recorded the live album Digital Versatile Doom at the Orpheum Theater in Los Angeles, California.[107] Released on 29 April 2008, the album peaked at number ten in Finland.[23] The 2008 edition of Helldone was expanded into a tour, which took the festival around Finland, before returning to the Tavastia Club on 31 December.[108]

HIM performing in Los Angeles, California in April 2010

In 2009, HIM began work on their seventh studio album with producer Matt Squire.[109] Titled Screamworks: Love in Theory and Practice, the album was the band's first that Ville Valo worked on completely sober, which resulted in the group rehearsing more than ever before.[2] Released on 8 February 2010, Screamworks charted in ten countries, cracking the top ten in Finland, Germany, Austria and Switzerland.[23][110] The album also reached number one on the UK Rock & Metal Albums Charts, and went gold in Finland.[25][111] "Heartkiller" and "Scared to Death" were released as singles, with the former charting at number five in Finland.[23] Screamworks was once again mostly well received by critics, with Alternative Press describing the album as "ultimately successful in its blending of melody and muscle", while Billboard felt it was "a mixed bag, but an appealingly bold one."[112] HIM began the supporting tour for Screamworks in February 2010 with several showcase dates in Europe, before starting an Australian tour as a part of the Soundwave Festival.[113] From March to May 2010, the band embarked on a tour of the UK and the US.[113][114] On 7 December 2010, HIM released SWRMXS, a remix album of Screamworks, done in collaboration with various different artists, such as Tiësto, Morgan Page and Salem.[115] Also in 2010, HIM announced that Helldone would not be taking place that year, with the band opting to take a break.[116]

In March 2011, HIM announced they had parted ways with Sire Records, leaving the band without a label.[117] In the summer of 2011, HIM began work on their eight studio album, but rehearsals were cut short after Gas Lipstick was diagnosed with a repetitive stress injury and nerve damage in his hands.[118] This left the band in limbo, unsure whether they would break-up or find a replacement for Gas.[118] The band opted to wait and see if Gas' condition improved, and after eight months the band regrouped and resumed work on their next album.[118] Valo later credited Gas' recovery for revitalizing the band after a period of uncertainty following his injury.[119] In October 2012, HIM released the compilation album XX – Two Decades of Love Metal.[120] The collection was preceded by a new single; a cover of Ké's "Strange World", which was originally scheduled to be released on 21 September 2012, but due to an online leak, the release was pushed up to 7 September.[121] XX – Two Decades of Love Metal peaked at number four in Finland, while "Strange World" reached number nineteen.[23] HIM also brought back the Helldone Festival, after a two year hiatus.[122]

HIM performing at Ursynalia in June 2013

In February 2013, HIM announced that Razor & Tie, Double Cross and Universal Music would handle distribution in North America, the UK and Ireland, and Europe respectively for the band's forthcoming album, which was financed by the band themselves.[123][124] On 26 April 2013, HIM released their eight studio album Tears on Tape, which was once again produced by Hiili Hiilesmaa, and mixed by Tim Palmer.[125] Tears on Tape charted in nine countries, peaking at number two in Finland and Germany.[23] The title-track, "Into the Night" and "All Lips Go Blue" were released as singles, with the music video for "Into the Night" later being awarded Video of the Year at Noisecreep's first annual Creepies Awards.[126] Tears on Tape received mostly positive reviews, with Classic Rock calling it "a glorious return to form for one of the world's most peculiarly successful bands", which was echoed by Alternative Press, who stated that "within HIM's impressive canon, it's among their best."[127] Kerrang! was less-favorable in their review, stating that "Tears On Tape isn't bad [...] it's just not as seductive as HIM can be."[127]

HIM were scheduled to begin their North American tour in support of Tears on Tape on 3 May 2013, but the tour was cancelled after Ville Valo suffered a severe asthma attack and was diagnosed with presumptive pneumonia.[128] HIM were able to tour the US later in the year, as a part of the Rock Allegiance Tour, with Volbeat, All That Remains and Airbourne.[128][129] At the 2013 Revolver Golden Gods Awards, HIM received the award for Most Dedicated Fans.[130] In March 2014, the band embarked on their first South American tour.[131] Also in March 2014, HIM's first four albums were digitally reissued in the US by The End Records.[132] In May 2014, HIM were scheduled to perform their first concerts in China, but the first show in Shanghai was cut short by local authorities, while the second in Beijing was cancelled altogether, because of bad weather conditions.[133] In November 2014, HIM released Lashes to Ashes, Lust to Dust: A Vinyl Retrospective '96-'03, a box set containing the band's first four albums, along with 666 Ways To Love: Prologue, on 180-gram vinyl.[134] In support, HIM embarked on the Love Metal Archives Tour in the US in December 2014, before supporting Fields of the Nephilim at their 30th anniversary shows in London, England.[135][136]

In January 2015, Gas Lipstick announced his departure from HIM, after 16 years with the band.[137] In his announcement, Gas stated that "there is no drama, bad blood or any negativity involved in my departure. I simply feel that it's time for me to move on as a musician."[137] In July 2015, HIM made their live debut following Gas's departure, with drummer Jukka "Kosmo" Kröger at a surprise show at Qstock in Oulu, Finland.[138] Valo later stated that the band would begin work on a new album eventually, but no release date had been set.[138] On 5 December 2015, HIM performed at Knotfest in Toluca, Mexico, with Slipknot, Megadeth, and Lamb of God, among others.[139] HIM took a break in 2016, during which time Lindström, Mige and Burton reunited as Daniel Lioneye, while Valo released his first solo single and made several guest appearances on other artists' releases.[140] Due to these other projects, HIM again opted to cancel the Helldone Festival for that year.[141]

HIM performing in Manchester, England in December 2017

In October 2016, it was announced that HIM would be headlining the Tuska Open Air Metal Festival in 2017, the band's first outdoor concert in Helsinki.[142] In January 2017, HIM were also announced as the headliner of Miljoona Rock, held in Tuuri, Finland, on 18 July 2017.[143] On 5 March 2017, HIM announced the band would be disbanding following a farewell tour that same year.[144][145] In the announcement, Valo stated: "After quarter of a century [sic] of love and metal intertwined we sincerely feel HIM has run its unnatural course and adieus must be said in order to make way for sights, scents and sounds yet unexplored. We completed the pattern, solved the puzzle and turned the key. Thank you."[144] Valo further elaborated on the band's decision to call it quits later, stating: "We got together and started playing some songs and thinking whats next [...] We felt like the new material wasn't taking flight. We got along well together, but something was lacking. The stars weren't in alignment."[146] He also went on to say that: "We felt like there was nothing left to give collectively. It was fun playing the old songs, everybody got along well together, but that spark was missing."[147] Valo didn't rule out the possibility of the band reuniting in the future, stating: "The good thing about this is that there's no drama [...] So it doesn't hurt the chances."[147]

On 24 May 2017, it was announced that a photo exhibition by Ville Juurikkala, titled HIM: Right Here In My Eyes, would be held at the Helsinki Art Museum from 15 June to 3 July, featuring previously unseen photographs of the band preparing for their farewell tour.[148] In November 2017, the exhibition was also held at the Morrison Hotel Gallery in New York City.[149] HIM began their Bang and Whimper 2017 – The Farewell Tour on 14 June 2017 in Barcelona, Spain.[150][151] The tour was generally well received, with the Nottingham Post stating that HIM "truly went out with a 'bang'".[152] The band played their final show on New Year's Eve 2017 as a part of the Helldone Festival.[153]

The main songwriter of HIM is vocalist Ville Valo. His songs largely deal with themes of love.[156] When discussing his songwriting process, Valo explained: "I didn't know how to cope with the world. Then I found an instrument, and through that I realized, that I am able to cope with the world and its evils, a bit better, through writing songs."[157] When approaching lyrics, Valo has stated that "I feel like there is no subject more important for a song than relationships. It's the only thing that moves me."[156] Valo also takes inspiration from literature, but only certain aspects of it, explaining: "As a guy who writes songs, I get excited about an idea, or a book, or a sentence. I don't necessarily get excited about the whole of Tolkien, I just get excited about Uruk-hai. Just a little detail that just makes my mind work overdrive."[2] Valo's lyrics have been described as "oozing with blood-dripping hearts and gothic melodrama".[158]

Critics have referred to the music of HIM as gothic rock,[159][160][161] gothic metal,[162][163][164][165] alternative rock,[166] alternative metal,[167] and dark rock.[168] The band themselves have referred to their music as "love metal", the title of their fourth studio album.[169] According to Ville Valo, the term "love metal" was coined as a response to people having difficulties categorizing their music.[169] In regards to HIM being labeled a "goth band", Valo responded by stating: "We can't do anything about that [label], but I think we are a special shade of goth, more tender than others. In Finnish tradition, our music is very melancholic."[22] Valo has described HIM's sound as "sentimental, hard-hitting rock music".[170] According to Valo, since the beginning the band's intent has been to combine more melodic and melancholic elements, with heavier influences.[171] Valo has often cited Black Sabbath and Type O Negative as HIM's biggest influences.[154][170][171] Some of the band's further influences include Paradise Lost, Anathema, My Dying Bride, Cathedral, Electric Wizard, Monster Magnet and Norwegian black metal.[172] Regarding HIM's sound, Valo has also stated that: "We never tried to claim that we have reinvented the wheel of rock 'n' roll. We've always been proud to be the torchbearers for Sabbath, Type O, Paradise Lost and Anathema, and a lot of those bands."[173] Helsingin Sanomat described the band's music as achieving "major crossover appeal" by combining "traditional Finnish melancholia", with "gothic lyrics, walls of metal guitars, and keyboard riffs."[174]

On their debut album, Greatest Lovesongs Vol. 666, HIM's sound was viewed as a combination of heavy metal and 1980s rock and goth music.[24] These influences were further explored on Razorblade Romance, which featured less focus on guitar, in favor of a sleeker production and a more melodic sound.[36][37][38] HIM continued to explore a more commercial sound on their third album Deep Shadows and Brilliant Highlights, which was met with mixed reactions.[51][52][53] HIM's fourth album Love Metal is widely viewed by the band as the album where they found their own sound, taking inspiration from old favorites, such as Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin and Iggy Pop.[2][67][169] Dark Light was the band's breakthrough album in the United States, and once again featured a glossier production.[88] According to Valo, 2007's Venus Doom was written with the intent of creating a much heavier and darker follow-up, influenced by more early favorites such as My Dying Bride, Anathema and Paradise Lost.[97] Screamworks: Love in Theory and Practice took influences from bands of the 1980s, such as a-ha, Depeche Mode and The Cult, while Tears on Tape saw HIM returning to their roots, combining elements from their sound on each song, as opposed to having "a fast song followed by a slow song".[109][118][175] Valo described Tears on Tape as a combination of Black Sabbath, The Smashing Pumpkins and Roy Orbison.[158]

The heartagram is the trademarked symbol of HIM, created by Ville Valo

A central of part of HIM's image has been the heartagram. The heartagram is the trademarked symbol of the band, which was created by vocalist Ville Valo on his twentieth birthday in 1996.[6][176] A combination of a heart and a pentagram, the heartagram is meant to represent the juxtaposition of "the soft and the hard, the male and the female, the yin and the yang" according to Valo.[176][177] Musically the heart is also meant to represent the softer side of the band, while the pentagram symbolizes their heavier influences.[177] This juxtaposition was also prevalent in the band's album titles.[174] On their first album, HIM used a heart with "666" inside it as their logo, which Valo later felt was "a bit boring".[176] The heartagram was first predominantly used on the cover of HIM's 2003 album Love Metal, and has since appeared on numerous releases from the band.[2][178] Valo has later stated that the heartagram "is probably the best thing I've ever come-up with", and that it's "worth a lot more than money" and is "bigger than our band".[6] The heartagram has also made several appearances on TV, including Charmed, LA Ink, Viva La Bam, and Criminal Minds.[179]

In the band's early days, HIM's image was heavily characterized by occult and satanic imagery. The use of the number "666" was prominent in lyrics, as well as song and album titles, while the band's original name "His Infernal Majesty" was inspired by The Satanic Bible by Anton LaVey, the song "Oblivious to Evil" by Deicide, and Haile Selassie, who was known as "his imperial majesty".[4][6] This flirtation with the occult was seen by the band as purely "symbolic" and "traditionally rock 'n' roll".[2][180] Ville Valo first became interested in the subject while in school and soon began reading books on the occult.[5] All of the band were also big fans of black metal.[5] HIM has maintained that none of them were seriously interested in satanism, that it was "more about the fascination", while honoring "the masters", with "our tongue in cheek about it".[5][181] His Infernal Majesty eventually shortened their name to HIM in 1996, because Finnish people had difficulty remembering and pronouncing "His Infernal Majesty".[182] Since then, HIM further toned down the use of satanic imagery, and when asked about the band's image in 2013, Valo responded that "I think we're pretty much the same [offstage]. The only difference is I'm not necessarily wearing eyeliner every day."[183]

On the band's first three albums, vocalist Ville Valo was solely featured on the cover.[60] According to Valo, Greatest Lovesongs Vol. 666 was meant as combination of goth and eroticism, while Razorblade Romance was influenced by the 1980s, as well as glam and pop music, and Deep Shadows and Brilliant Highlights took inspiration from Lou Reed, Patti Smith, and late 1970s New York City art circles.[184] Love Metal was the first album to prominently feature the heartagram on its cover, which was repeated on the follow-up Dark Light.[2][178] For Venus Doom's cover, the band used a painting by David Harouni, that Valo had purchased while on tour in New Orleans.[185] Screamworks: Love in Theory and Practice made use of a picture of a late 19th-century nun sculpture that Valo had purchased in Bavaria.[186] On Tears on Tape, HIM used several paintings by Daniel P. Carter for the artwork, as well as a variation of the heartagram on the cover, also by Carter.[187] The artwork also made use of the malachim alphabet.[188]

HIM is one of the most commercially successful Finnish bands of all time, with sales of over ten million albums worldwide.[158][189] The band is also the first Finnish group to receive a gold record in the United States.[158][174] HIM is one of the first Finnish bands to achieve major international success.[190] The band's manager Seppo Vesterinen recalled that before HIM "the success of Finnish bands [..] was confined to pretty small circles, it wasn't a global phenomenon."[190] Juhani Merimaa, owner of the Tavastia Club, also heralded HIM as "trailblazers", opening the doors for other Finnish bands such as Children of Bodom and Sonata Arctica to achieve international recognition.[190] In September 2015, HIM were one of six Finnish bands honored by the Finnish postal service by being featured on a new line of postage stamps designed by Klaus Welp.[191] In 2017, Loudwire included HIM on a list of the ten best Finnish metal bands.[192]

Much of HIM's success has been attributed to vocalist and main songwriter Ville Valo.[174] Vesterinen singled out Valo's songwriting ability as a major component in HIM's success, stating: "Charisma in something that you're somewhat born with [...] writing songs on the other hand is hard to learn, if you don't have the talent for it."[190] Juhani Merimaa also stated that with "melodic, catchy and good songs", as well as being "credible in the underground, and the mainstream", HIM had "all the elements for breaking through".[14] HIM also gained many fans through Valo's image, which Helsingin Sanomat described as utilizing "the tried and true James Dean formula, where sensitivity and edginess combined."[174] In 2004, Metal Hammer described Valo as one of the few new "rockstars" in music, stating: "HIM were like no other band. They had a special something, but more importantly they had a special someone. Ville shone like a star with his blend of Mick Jagger posturing and Brandon Lee's dark charms in The Crow".[193][194] Loudwire ranked Valo as the fourteenth greatest metal frontman of the 21st century, stating: "His baritone voice is undeniably gorgeous, his vampiric charisma is almost hypnotic, male fans desperately attempt to emulate him and female fans scream ballistically as if he was the second coming of Elvis."[195]

HIM also drew in both male and female fans, with Asko Kallonen, who first signed the band to BMG, recalling: "For example in England it was hard to grasp. There the split was usually clear: hard rock was for guys, pop was for girls. HIM was listened to by both."[196] Juhani Merimaa felt similarly, stating: "Unlike other metal bands, they appealed to the opposite sex."[14] PopMatters has noted that HIM is "not the sort of act that conjures up a lukewarm response [as] people either like them or discredit them outright".[197] Some of the major criticism directed towards the band have centered around the "formulaic" nature of their music and "pandering" towards teenage goth fans.[52][197][198] HIM's association with Jackass member and skateboarder Bam Margera has also received some negative feedback.[67]

During the band's farewell tour, Valo was asked about HIM's connection with their audience, to which he replied:[146]

We've had the pleasure and honor to generate songs that have resonated with peoples' hearts. That's the magic of rock 'n' roll. I don't have the slightest clue as to why the band has generated such interest. You can't get that with money. It's miraculous.

The heartagram has also been a key factor in HIM's success, with Valo admitting to the symbol transcending the band, stating that "there are a lot of people who have them [tattooed] who don't actually know what it was, don't relate it to the band, and in that sense, I consider that to be my greatest achievement."[177] Valo has also given credit to Bam Margera and Kat Von D for supporting HIM and giving the band exposure through their own work.[6][177][179] Margera has included much of the band's music and the heartagram in his various films and TV shows, while the heartagram was prominently displayed in Von D's own show LA Ink.[179] Margera was first introduced to HIM in May 2000, when he flew to Finland for a skateboarding competition and saw the band's music video on TV.[199] He subsequently went out to a record store and bought the album Razorblade Romance.[199] Regarding Margera's involvement in HIM's success, Valo stated: "It wasn't about secret handshakes between managers, he was just a random fella who came a-knocking on our door [...] and that's how the friendship started."[179] Kat Von D was introduced to HIM when the band were recording Dark Light in Los Angeles.[200] Von D has also done tattoos for members of the band, and appeared in the music video for "Killing Loneliness".[200]

• Juntunen, J. K. (2002). Synnin viemää. WSOY. ISBN 951027304X.