Album Rating: 4.0

I guess it's hard to progress and evolve to a degree without alienating the fans that you have, who appreciate and want to hear that specific sound. As mentioned previously there are big name bands that manage to continue producing the same musical formula that works for them and nobody slates them for it or expects anything else from them. There are a lot of dehydrated cows out there with very well respected musicians hanging off their udders.

I enjoy a bunch of works of HIM but this is not one of them, is not bad but is repetitive and besides doesn't have the interesting elements of albums like razorblade romance, deep shadows or venus doom.

Album Rating: 2.5

It's not always about only standing still or only moving forward, those are extremes and between them lies success. For example, Type O Negative (a band that clearly was very influential for HIM) used the same core sound over the years but changed songwriting approach every now and then which ensured that their every album has good stuff to offer. With Tears On Tape I just got lost trying to remember melodies of the new songs and found myself confusing them not only with each other but also with earlier material. So it's not just the sound that defines creative success, it's also songwriting, and Valo seems to be scared to death to stray away from his trademark style. Again, on W.L.S.T.D. he almost broke the vicious circle, that track has promise. Or Venus Doom that saw the band play with doom metal intersections (and during that time Valo still could manage a catchy melody that would not blend with every other song he wrote).

Maybe he should give someone else in the band a chance to write a song.