Venus Doom - Dark Publications

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•	Dark Light
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Editorial Reviews:

Amazon.com
Venus Doom, the latest offering from Finland's HIM, suffers from a sense of dulling uniformity. Ville Valo veers ever closer to the headbanger's answer to Marvin Gaye as he croons his way through a series of sound-alikes. Whether "Love in Cold Blood," "Dead Lover's Lane," "Cyanide Sun," or the titular track, each barely maintains its own sonic identity and each leads us to question what's so infernal or majestic about Valo and his band. That's not to say that there aren't fine moments to be found--Valo's attempt at channeling Leonard Cohen in "Song or Suicide" is noble if far too short; the epic, "Sleepwalking Past Hope," is promising and dynamic, if not entirely stunning. Valo also shows, as he long has, that he's a thoroughly capable vocalist and songwriter, albeit one who doesn't seem all that keen on challenging himself or his audience. --Jedd Beaudoin

Customer Reviews: Read 16 more reviews...

5 out of 5 stars

Been waiting for this day for months.......and i'm not dissappointed! September 18, 2007
6 out of 7 found this review helpful

I've been a big HIM fan for the past years. Ever since I picked up my first HIM cd (first cd i bought was Love Metal), i've been addicted. Ever since I bought my first HIM cd, I've bought and collected the rest including their single cds. Finally after 2 years of their arrival of "Dark Light," HIM delivers "Venus Doom." Guess what? It's exactly what I expected...a good freakin' album.

First thing you'll notice when you pop in the cd and listen to the first song "Venus Doom," you'll notice that the album is pretty hard. After hearing "Dark Light" and "Deep Shadows and Brilliant Highlights," this is a breath of refreshing Love Metal air, (Not dissing Dark Light or Deep Shadows.. Just noting that they are the softer albums).

While listening to this album, you'll also notice that the songs are pretty lengthy with more guitars and drum solos and fillers. Ville's voice seems tighter in this cd, I LOVE his vocals.

All in all this album is on my top 3 HIM albums list right next to "Razorblade Romance" and "Love Metal." I believe this album brings back the old HIM sound which is awesome, definately worth a pick up whether you are a true HIM fan or not.

Most Notable Tracks: Venus Doom, Love In Cold Blood, Passion's Killing Floor, Dead Lover's Lane.

4 out of 5 stars

Almost as heavy as their debut album! September 27, 2007
4 out of 5 found this review helpful

HIM is almost a household name here in Finland. Everybody knows them and that they have sold almost 5 million records worldwide. Ville Valo is voted as being the sexiest man alive etc. I really don't care about that at all. All I care is the music. And "Venus Doom" sure delivers.
Out of all HIM releases my two favorites are their debut album "Greatest Love Songs Vol. 666" and their smash hit (in Europe that is) "Razorblade Romance". Lovesongs is a very heavy album and to my delight so is their latest, Venus Doom. This album maybe isn't as cathcy as "Dark Light" but after listening to it a couple times you realise it is a lot better.
HIM has always admitted that Black Sabbath and Ozzy have influenced them a lot and that is showcased by the track "Sleepwalking Past Hope" being over 10 minutes long! Over all Ville Valo sings very well, better than in years. Lyrics are very moody and "HIM-like" as they should be (in my oppinion).
But the most likeable thing about this album for me is the heaviness. This is no doubt their heaviest album since "Greatest Love Songs Vol. 666" and many old HIM fans will love this fact.

5 out of 5 stars

GREAT new HIM record...as for the October 10, 2007
4 out of 4 found this review helpful

[...]not this one pictured but the one only available through the webite Heartagram.com...it comes in a book that looks faded on the corners...it was said to be a "leatherback journal"...not. All it is is a nice dark-looking book with dark, artful photos, full lyrics in Ville's handwriting (not having the song titles listed either, just the lyrics??? That's quite odd, but maybe it's an artistic approach??? I had to take a regular version and write the song titles down??!!??)...and an envelope in the back with 2 discs inside and 3 "photos"...CD1 is "Venus Doom" and CD2 is a 3-tracker, the 2 remixes and a 3rd bonus track, an acoustic version of "Bleed Well"...besides the 3rd track, the difference between the bonus discs is on this one on Amazon, it's a DVD, while the one in the book version, it's a CD, so you can more easily get those tracks on your computer and iPod.

Now, the internet version of HIM's prior album "Dark Light", you got more stuff and each set was numbered, out of 20,000...not this one...with "Dark Light", you got 2 bonus tracks, "The Cage" (also on the other limited book) and "Venus (In Our Blood)"...the only way to get that song on CD was in this set, which made it cooler...it also came with a better booklet (with photos of fans with their tattoos, so it was more personal), a flashlight of sorts with the heartagram in it, and all of it packaged in a nice, sturdy TIN box with full artwork actually printed on the tin metal!!! The new set for "Venus Doom", in light of the limited "Dark Light", is a bit disappointing, and not worth the price...$62??? Shoulda been no more than $25, INCLUDING shipping and taxes, etc.

Now, the music...I agree with people here...it's heavier and not as atmospheric as recent works...more like "Greatest Lovesongs Vol 666"...it's not HEAVY heavy, but it has more crunch than "Dark Light", and the songs are as melodic and tuneful as ever, with Ville Valo in fine vocal form. His lovesick poetry is as potent as ever...nothing personal, but for art's sake, let's hope he never cures his broken heart. The songs are more intricate and longer, culminating with "Sleepwalking Past Hope" reaching the 10 minute mark!!!! More than half of the 9 songs are over 5 minutes long, but they never drag or lose focus...I love the title track, the first single "The Kiss Of Dawn", "Dead Lovers' Lane" (that's got bullseye hooks all over the song), all 9 really, even the minute & a half "Song Or Suicide" has its place.

Overall, the music is tops, as always, and the internet version's packaging is OK but not worth the price...get the regular version or the cloth booklike version pictured here instead.

3 out of 5 stars

Not sure at all.... October 31, 2007
4 out of 4 found this review helpful

I'll be honest, I've got all the albums and am a huge fan if Ville and the boys but the new offering Venus Doom.....well for me it just dosen't deliver. Let me explain, Every album before Venus Doom has got those songs that hit you square in the face and infect your soul.

But like I said Venus Doom just falls flat for me, it's as if they're trying too hard to reach something and losing focus on the way. It sounds messy and complicated with some thrashy moments thrown in and at one point I thought that they were going to turn Death metal then they came back from the edge to where they belong.

Basically if you want to enjoy H.I.M. at their best buy any other cd but Venus Doom.

4 out of 5 stars

HIM Delivers Once Again September 18, 2007
3 out of 4 found this review helpful

It took me a while to catch on to HIM. I had seen them on Viva La Bam and heard them talked about on Bam's Sirius radio show. After seeing them live on the Projekt Revolution tour I knew that a serious listen to HIM was long overdue. "Venus Doom" is the Finnish, self labeled, Love Metal band's 6th studio album. The band really began to take off in America with its 5th studio album: Dark Lightfeaturing the single "Wings of a Butterfly". "Venus Doom" is a continuation of what has made HIM great: a blend of progressive rock, metal, and gothic rock overlaid with the beautiful vocals of Ville Valo (excellent rock name by the way).

The album features 9 brooding tracks focusing on ill-fated / painful love. The best of the bunch is the first single "Kiss of Dawn". The album's coherency is tight, never once does it lose its focus. The music captivates you, making you lose sense of time while getting lost in the intricate guitar solos, emotional refrains, and personal lyrics. It is great background/driving music.

For fans of HIM's previous work this is a must buy, it ranks right up there with their highest quality work. For those who have yet to give HIM a listen-to, this is definitely an album to consider purchasing; it will provide a great gateway to the rest of their music.

Best Songs: Kiss of Dawn, Venus Doom, Cyanide Sun, Bleed Well
(this is tough since they are so unique but...)
For Fans Of: Evanescence , The 69 Eyes, Marilyn Manson

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