Before this release, I never truly realized how talented this band was. I've always appreciated their vocalist, Ville Valo, and consider him one of rock's best singers. He also writes music for all the band, which must be why they all work together and play off each other so well. Their guitarist (there's always two guitars at work at the same time on every track, so I guess he overdubs it) does som pretty tricky and catchy stuff that he hasn't shown off in previous releases. Their bassist, while no Les Claypool, is an excellent rhythm keeper. But the one bad musician, as on all HIM releases, is their drummer. He's not too good, basically. He does not complicated things, and basically hits a snare and a bass drum throughout the whole album, sometimes throwing in a crash. It's either he's not capable or Valo isn't writing good enough stuff for him, but it kind of brings down the music.

Despite the drummer, this release is a masterpiece. Every time I listen to it, it gives me a feeling of seclusion and peace. That sounded corny, but this is one of the only album's I recall that can actually do that. The way "Soul on Fire" comes to it's epic conclusion is oh so super. This is the way music should be done.

The lyrics in the album are quite unique. They basically revolve around joy, sorrow, love and hate. But they are not handled in the Simple Plan way: someone's miserable because their girlfriend used them and now she's going out with the jock. No, I think HIM's a little more mature than that. Most of the lyrics are metafourical, as they have always been. Which is the uniqueness of them.

I highly recommend this band if you are looking for originality. This band is bleeding it.

P.S.: Love metal is the genre HIM falls into. Not goth. Though Love Metal does highly resemble it. And I've read reviews where people seem to think "Love Metal" means something like "I Love Metal". No. That's wrong. Sorry.


Melodic Goth Rock at it's best   June 13, 2003
 6 out of 7 found this review helpful

I have been a fan of HIM for a very long time now, and when this album came out i put it in my cd player, and i was blown away. Some people say that HIM have made this a poppy record, but they are stuck in the era of Razorblade Romance, which was good as well, but I think both of these albums need praise.
Buried alive by love: 8/10: I love this song, very catchy and villes voice is great. The only thing that has made me give it and 8 is that i have grown tired of it, and it's not as good as some of the others on LM
The Funeral Of Hearts: 8/10: This is a beutiful song also, sounds great acoustic. Not as good as the other songs though.
Beyond Redemption: 9/10: Excellent chorus, great verses, overall a work of art.
Sweet Pandemonium: 10/10: Some people say they just can't get into this song, but the guitars and chorus are amzing, one of the best songs on the album
The Sacrament: Second Best song on the album, the pianos are beutiful and Villes voice is excellent
Soul On Fire: 10/10: More fast paced, the bridge is AMAZING
This fortress of tears: 8/10: Good song, but is the hardest to get into, it just doesn't click with me
Cirlcle Of Fear: 10/10: Excellent chorus, verse, bridge, everthing
Endless Dark: 10/10: Too Good for words, I can't believe villes voice, one of the best, on par with the sacrament
The Path: 10/10: The best song on the whole album, its so calm and beutifully melodic, and the chorus..... excellent
All in all a great purchase, especially if you want to be introduced to HIM


Love Metal...an infusion of Old and new H.I.M.   April 26, 2003
 5 out of 5 found this review helpful

If your a fan of this band then this cd is a treat, even if your not this album offers a great variety of sounds and feelings. Improving on their metal sound from Greatest Love songs HIM now shows the vocal skills from Brilliant Highlights with the dark writting of Razorblade and Love Songs Vol. 666. A must have for any HIM fan...a must have for any vocal fan.... If your new to the band listen to Razorblade and then Greatest Love song, if you like em then move on to the newest two. Great...


HIM at their best!   May 12, 2003
 5 out of 5 found this review helpful

I can only recommend this album to anyone who like good, brooding love metal-music! Each and every track on this cd is just GREAT...and there is nothing to argue here! The cd's best tracks are (well, after my opinion anyways!): Buried Alive By Love, Sweet Pandemonium, Beyond Redemption, Endless Dark, This Fortress Of Tears, The Sacrament and Love's Requim! The last mentioned is just FAB! They all are!! So support HIM (by buying this album and perhaps more from them) and discover the wonderful, gloomy world of HIM!!


The New and Old H.I.M.   April 30, 2003
 4 out of 4 found this review helpful

for evey new HIM listener or every music fan..this cd is a must have....
in the album HIM combine their new sound with the old original and the best HIM sound....it's a very good work indeed...even though the album doesnt have that Greatest Lovesongs Vol.666 or Razorblade Romance touch...it's still much much better than Deep Shadows and Brilliant Highlights...
this album has the all three HIM albums in one..it's like a best of of their albums...like Valo says...and in some ways it is true..in some ways it isnt...
i like all the songs on the albums...the highlights are This Fortress of Tears,Buried Alive by Love,Sweet Pandemonium..Circle of Fear...
the album is indeed a must have for any music listener...