Just as the iconic red tongue logo is associated with the Rolling Stones, or how anyone can pinpoint the edgy KISS font without a second thought, so is the heartagram symbol to the beloved metal band HIM. HIM emerged in the nineties, drawing in crowds of alternative goth fans with their romance-hued rock anthems. There was something different which drew them apart from others in the scene. They were among that special group of niche interests which combine heavy metal and loud guitars with gothic romance and poetry, an edgy art form with less angst and more woe. They fit in with the darker side of media, among the likes of things like The Crow or Anne Rice, resonating with the oddballs and weirdos who were a little different.
When Love and Death Embrace, The Best of HIM 1997-2003 comes out right at Halloween, a collection of the band’s greatest hits and well-loved fan favorites including two iconic covers.
The first track featured is “Right Here In My Arms,” coming in swinging with a sharp sliding electric which introduces Ville Valo’s recognizable velvet croons. Loud and fast-paced, an enigmatic guitar solo clashes on the bridge, muting just in time to highlight the chorus in pure hard rock fashion.
“The Funeral of Hearts” softens things with the melodic opening. Passionate and poetic, “The Funeral of Hearts” is a great example of the ‘love-metal’ subgenre the band encapsulates. After the first chorus is sung in the opening, the acoustic melody is blasted into a riveting heavy riff as Valo tells the story of heartache and lost love.
“Your Sweet Six Six Six,” is hot, heavy and passionate with a riveting full band sound which borders on anthemic. The vocals escalate from deep lows to airy high croons. There’s no denying the hypnotizing intimacy sunken into “Your Sweet Six Six Six.”
Keys open up the next track, “Heartache Every Moment.” Lyrically, this song is steeped with prose and symbolic imagery from the opening lines, “From lashes to ashes, and from lust to dust, in your sweetest torment, I’m lost, and no heaven can help.” The power in words alone is something Valo does well, whether it’s through the emotion he sings them with or the lines he writes, he has the enigmatic strength of a romantic muse you might read of in ancient tragedies.
Chris Isaak’s “Wicked Game” is the first cover track featured on the album. While the rhythm and pattern of the song hasn’t changed, HIM adds a heavier crunch in the riffs and with his distinctive low vocals, there’s something darker about this already somber song.
“Join Me In Death” is a beloved favorite among fans. This ballad plays out with the melancholy of a Shakesperean tragedy. It’s hard not to think of the infamously doomed lovers as the line, “Won’t you die tonight for love,” rings out. The passion doesn’t stay in the chorus though, the bridge closes in on that moody, fatal embrace, the desperation escalating on the repeating lyrics, “This life ain’t worth living.” Harrowing and sorrowful, the piano riff is one of the band’s most memorable melodies, making up a good part of the song.
“Pretending” begins with breathy vocals, a contrast from the low growls that contribute to many of the songs. A striking heart-pounding guitar solo steals the spotlight from the thunderous bass, and it ends on a fade out, highlighting the vocals for a final chorus.
When it comes to HIM, there’s no escaping the ballads. “Gone With The Sin,” starts slow with an ethereal ambience floating in the back, fitting for the intimacy of the religious connotations. Losing the riotous momentum of the previous song, “Gone With the Sin” is a steady, rolling beat, taking its time to allow the melodies to play out.
“Don’t Fear the Reaper” is the second cover on When Love and Death Embrace. The Blue Oyster Cult classic is reimagined, twisted in HIM’s moody style in a way that befits the song into a more haunting theme. Slowed down with keys playing the familiar opening riff, and Valo’s voice digging deeper like a phantom out of the grave, this version is something special, that rare cover that takes the original and makes it their own, and when you consider the themes displayed in the band’s music, “Don’t Fear the Reaper” just makes sense.
“Close to the Flame” follows up as a warm serenade, drowning out the cold loneliness of the outside and holding close what is dear. The song doesn’t get caught up in flowery prose and complex instrumentals, straying from the path with a modest rhythm and simple beat.
Songs like “The Sacrament” which uses religious undertones and implications in a melancholy romantic setting are a gothic staple for the band, once again taking the passion and faith of mainstream religion like Catholicism and turning them into vows of love and yearning. Instead of turning to the narrow confines of an institution, the song talks about finding spirituality and closeness in deeper connections with someone else.
The album ends on the title track, “When Love and Death Embrace,” perhaps a rather expected finale for the band’s collection of hits. If there was ever just one song to identify them with, this one would seem the most fitting with their allegories of death and romance so interwoven into their music.
When Love and Death Embrace is a treat for fans, and a great opening to new listeners to understand HIM’s discography. While the group disbanded several years back, some of the songs are still featured on setlists Valo plays on his solo tours. And when it comes to love metal, no one quite captures the style and feelings such as these guys.
I’m Music Magazine Writer Alice Kearney
