Review Summary: Simply put, if the Helsinki quintet doesn’t suit your palette, Screamworks will not a convert of you make. They've taken their quintessentially Scandinavian gothic rock sound, replaced the melancholy with power pop enthusiasm and turned it up to eleven.
The polar opposite of 2007's Venus Doom, Finland's veteran goth rock champions HIM have traded in the dirge-y, Sabbath influenced doom metal that was so prevalent on said LP for the brighter strains of 80's pop. Whilst being influenced by such opposing styles has counted toward their favour in the past (I refer you to 1999's Razorblade Romance or 2003's Love Metal), the lack of variety present lends itself to repetitiveness, despite how strong every single track is individually.
The poetic nature of Ville Valo's lyrics is certainly impressive, however errs on self-absorbed. As per usual, the concept of love is Valo's muse, however as opposed to the heartbreak, loss and pain featured on previous efforts, Valo instead chooses to focus on the 'theory and practice' involved in maintaining a relationship. Valo's imagination and ego seem to run away with him to a degree though, and it is no mean feat that he has managed to condense his romantic stream of consciousness into HIM's standard verse/chorus format. Vocal wise, Valo is at the top of his game, most probably due to his abstaining from the alcohol and cigarettes that once defined him. There are many lush textures of voice throughout Screamworks... particularly on opener 'In Venere Veritas', where at one point his baritone harmonies begin to resemble a medieval choir.
Sonically, if comparisons must be made, the catchy pop driven Screamworks… is most akin to 2005's 'Dark Light', although is far less dependent on being an eyeliner soaked imitation of previous efforts. Whilst individually, every track from Screamworks... is catchy, well written and strong in its own right, as an album Screamworks... starts to become monotonous and predictable. 'In Venere Veritas' is a strong opener, ‘classic’ HIM with a fresher, denser, more layered production courtesy of pop producer Matt Squire. The following track and second single ('Heartkiller' was the first single to have been released off of Screamworks…) 'Scared to Death' takes HIM's pop sensibility to new heights with an uplifting love song chock-full of catchy hooks and 80's keyboards. Throughout the album there is a subtle synth-pop influence and production style; this is made most evident in closing track 'The Foreboding Sense of Impending Happiness', a chilling electronic love poem resultant of guitarist Mikko 'Linde' Lindstrom having broken his wrist and being unable to play guitar on the track. Not their best record per se, yet far from their worst, Screamworks… is simply another chapter in HIM’s ‘love metal’ saga, and I wouldn't fault anyone for buying it.
