[Gothic Rock/Metal] HIM-Razorblade Romance

[Nickyolalala]

HIM-Razorblade Romance
Released in 2000

http://www.queen-rocks.de/him.jpg

HIM:

Vocals/composer:Ville Valo
Guitar:Linde
Bass:Mige
Drums:Gas
Keyboards:Burton

HIM first started out in 1995, releasing 'Greatest Love Songs Vol.666' as their first major record on BMG records in 1997. Then in 2000 releasing 'Razorblade Romance', followed by 'Deep Shadows and Brilliant Highghts' in 2001, 'Love Metal' was released in April of 2003, and HIM's latest album to grace the UK charts, 'And Love Said No...1997-2004'.

Razorblade Romance: [UK Version]

1.Your Sweet Six Six Six
2.Poison Girl
3.Join Me In Death
4.Right Here In My Arms
5.Bury Me Deep Inside Your Heart
6.Wicked Game
7.I Love You
8.Gone With The Sin
9.Razoblade Romance
10. Resurrection
10.Death Is In Love With Us
12.Heaven Tonight

1.Your Sweet Six Six Six (3.57)

I quite like this HIM track. Starts off with a catchy little guitar riff, and Mr Valo's vocals come into the song pretty quickly, a good song. With the sound of flutes in the background, and keyboards mixed in with guitar and bass lines, this song may not be the best to play first if you've never heard HIM before, but don't be too quick to judge. There's a part in the middle of the song (2.44) that goes completely quite apart from a distant drum pattern, and there's a quite voice of Ville singing two sentences, then it returns to the normal formality of the song. 3.5/5

2.Poison Girl (3.51)

Faint vocals start this song off, then guitar kicks in and off we go. I'm not such a fan of this song, but the lyrical idea of it is quite cool. 3/5

3.Join Me In Death (3.36)

This is one of my favourites from this album. Everything about it, I love. A nice piano tune welcomes us to this track, then half way through the verse the guitar (palm muted) comes in, then we're lead to the chorus. The lyrics are very nice in this track,

We are so young,
Our lives have just begun
But already we're considering
Escape from this world

And we've wated so long
For this moment to come
We're so anxious to be together
Together, in death...

I just find this song very soothing and relaxing. A lot more piano-ish than most HIM songs, the keyboardist actually does something in this song for once. 4.5/5

4. Right Here In My Arms (4.02)

This songs quite rocky, I like it. It's good to dance to, if you're as daft as me, and the lyrics are good to sing along to. It's very catchy and it's played live brilliantly by HIM. It's straight forward song formality and simplicity make it so good. It's mostly guitar based, and very easy to play. 4/5

5. Bury Me Deep Inside Your Heart (4.16)

And again, I love this song. It's quite romantic, yet tragic at the same time. I find it to be about a man so in love he'd rather die with the one he loves right there, than ever fear losing her. Ville sings about being with that person and being ''so far away from life, close my eyes, hold me tight and bury me deep inside yur heart.'' The distorted guitar, keyboard, and steady drum beat all add an essence to the song, making it very enjoyable to listen to. 5/5

6.Wicked Game (4.05)

I like this song. This is the re-recorded version of the version on Greatest Lovesongs Vol.666, which is heavier, which leads me to perfer that one over this one. Well we all know this is a Chris Issak cover, I'm sure you've heard it. HIM's version is more rocked-up, and IMO better. Ville's vocals just add something irresistable to it. Lots of guitar and drums in this track. 3.5/5

6.I Love You (3.10)

This track starts of very quietly with

''I see it in your eyes, I feel it in your touch, I taste it from your lips, and more I love you..''

then it goes loud, leading into a catchy verse, and the same starting phrase is repeated as the chorus. Overall it's a really good track, it sounds like it should be on the first album to me. Not a bad thing though.3.5/5

8. Gone With The Sin (4.21)

This track is very nice. It's relatively quiet throughout it all, not heavy, just soothing lyrics and wonderful vocals. The lyrics, to me, give off the impression of a girl dying and all the composer can think about is how beautiful they look despite that. The song has a nice guitar solo, steady guitar and a nice bass line. 4/5

9.Razorblade Kiss (4.20)

This is where HIM verges on heavier songs. I like this song. It's guitar based (as usual), and has captivating lyrics. And a very good solo, I was liking that. Not much to say for this song, it speaks for itself really. 3.9/5

10.Resurrection (3.39)

This one's cool. Kind of like a follow up to Gone With The Sin, I think. Nice guitar riffs, and keyboard in the background. The lyrics set the whole thing off. A nice slowy, relaxing one again. The one thing I did notice about this track, is in the bridge there are very strange noise being made by Ville :naughty:... 3.5/5

11.Death Is In Love With Us (2.58)

This song is fabulous. Catchy, fast, simple. It's also brilliant to play on guitar, I'd recommend learning it. Lots of groovy guitar riffs, simple enough. Cool lyrics '' Just fear for the best...and hope for the worst..., a good bridge, leading us back into the familiar trail of the chorus. Just a generally funky song, I liked it. 4/5

12.Heaven Tonight (3.19)

Almost done, bear with me. Another slowish song to end this album, it's, again, quite simple. Very nice song. You can actually hear the bass in this song for once, proving there is one, you rarely hear the bass in most HIM songs. A brilliant way to end this album. 4/5

So, overall I'd recommend you go buy (or for you thievers out there) download some track on this album.
Thanks for taking the time to read, or skim through some of this.

:thumb:

Nicky
x

[evilmenhavenosongs]

I've just been listening to that and thinking I should get round to reviewing it but you did a good job. :thumb: This is possibly my favourite album ever and I've just worn out my third copy. I don't think any of the songs sound the same and I could listen to them over and over for hours. I do think that you gave most of the songs a lower rating than they deserved though.

5 days till I see HIM!!! :D

[Nickyolalala]

I've just been listening to that and thinking I should get round to reviewing it but you did a good job. :thumb: This is possibly my favourite album ever and I've just worn out my third copy. I don't think any of the songs sound the same and I could listen to them over and over for hours. I do think that you gave most of the songs a lower rating than they deserved though.

5 days till I see HIM!!! :D
Thanks :thumb:

I'm seeing HIM again on Saturday :cool:

[evilmenhavenosongs]

You have to bump this thread and tell me how they were (I don't think R&M would appreciate another HIM thread.) I'm a bit worried that, seeing as they hadn't played together for a while, they would be bad live but I've been told that they're excellent on this tour...

[Arucard]

i used to like this album but it kinda get repetetive after a while
sweet 666 is a **** good song tyhough

[Nickyolalala]

You have to bump this thread and tell me how they were (I don't think R&M would appreciate another HIM thread.) I'm a bit worried that, seeing as they hadn't played together for a while, they would be bad live but I've been told that they're excellent on this tour...
Shall do. I learned on my old account not to post daft things in R&M, it'll go into a big flame fest hehe.

I'm also worried incase they're bad live too. They were brilliant when I saw them in January, but when Ville drinks before going on stage, some of his passion is lost, and isn't as good as he could be.

[evilmenhavenosongs]

Or when he drinks on stage whilst singing and smoking... :p

I like how they've chosen Cathedral as their support act rather than an act which they know would appeal to a lot of the teenyboppers in their fanbase. It shows that they're serious about their music and not just in it for the money. Can you imagine what half the audience will think of Cathedral? :lol:

[18visionsHIM]

Dude im goin to see HIM November 18th and its gonna be amazing. I have already seen them in April and they were awesome. All there cds are great. And also there comin to the U.S. with monster magnet and Auf Der Maur do you know if they are any good?

[Theo]

Dude im goin to see HIM November 18th and its gonna be amazing. I have already seen them in April and they were awesome. All there cds are great. And also there comin to the U.S. with monster magnet and Auf Der Maur do you know if they are any good?


Monster Magnet kicked *** live when I saw 'em opening for Metallica in 1999. Auf Der Maur is Melissa Auf Der Maur's band, the chick bassist for Hole and Smashing Pumpkins. Although I dislike both her old bands, her own band is quite good (and my drummer has a crush on her, he thinks she's hot). Download "followed the waves" and you'll hear what it's all about. Man I wish they'd come to Atlanta....I saw no Atlanta dates on HIM's website.
yeah, btw RR rox. It's their best album. Hands down. Although I prefer Love Metal....Actually Love Metal would have been a better album if it wasn't for Ville's vocals, they sound whinier than usual, especially compared to 666 lovesongs.

[poo_poo_platter]

its wierd how theyre using "join me in death" in the new resident evil soundtrack. but cool. i love the love metal cd \m/

[Mozzletoffed]

How this guy annoys me, oh well.. Good Review.

[evilmenhavenosongs]

Thanks :thumb:

I'm seeing HIM again on Saturday :cool:

So, how did it go? I see them tomorrow. :D

[evilmenhavenosongs]

*Bump*

I apologise for the bumpage but it was the only way of getting her attention short of finding her posts in the pit and yelling at her or making a thread in R&M and getting flamed. :)

[Nickyolalala]

*bumpeth*

Hey. The gig was brilliant, as expected. They played a lot of the songs I was hoping for, but according to some of the folks who went to other gigs, they played different songs. *shrugs shoulders* HIM do that a lot, to save themselves from getting bored. Ville...ahhh. He looked as gorgeous as last time, in a stunning suit, fag in hand as usual. They had a few technical problems though, but it was sorted fairly quickly. The atmosphere was just buzzing though, you'll have a great time if the gig you go to is the same as mine.

[evilmenhavenosongs]

Thank God for that, which songs did they play? :)
Fangirl++

[Nickyolalala]

In no particular order [I have the memory of a snail]

Right Here In My Arms
Join Me In Death
Beyond Redemption
The Funeral Of Hearts
Wicked Game
The Sacrament
Lose You Tonight
And Love Said No
Solitary Man
Please Don't Let It Go

Eh....can't really remember what else. I'd loved it if he'd played In Joy And Sorrow acoustic, like he did in January. That's would've been brilliant.

[Theo]

In no particular order [I have the memory of a snail]

Right Here In My Arms
Join Me In Death
Beyond Redemption
The Funeral Of Hearts
Wicked Game
The Sacrament
Lose You Tonight
And Love Said No
Solitary Man
Please Don't Let It Go

Eh....can't really remember what else. I'd loved it if he'd played In Joy And Sorrow acoustic, like he did in January. That's would've been brilliant.


What country are you in? I hope they come to atl...

[frontsideflip4u]

i think the uk version is lacking cause mine has sigillum diaboli and thats the best song

[Nickyolalala]

What country are you in? I hope they come to atl...
I'm in Scotland.


i think the uk version is lacking cause mine has sigillum diaboli and thats the best song
Yeah, and the UK version doesn't have One Last Time or The 9th Circle etiehr, which sucks.

[evilmenhavenosongs]

That was the best night of my life. I'm in love. They are absolutely BRILLIANT live, completely amazing. Cathedral were great, just as good as HIM except none of the teenyboppers enjoyed them at all and I was one of the few headbanging and enjioying them. That was so amazing I've had trouble not swearing in this post.