Dark Light | 
 enlarge | Artist: H.i.m.
Label: Sire / London/Rhino
Category: Music
List Price: $22.98
Buy New: $9.30
You Save: $13.68 (60%)
New (12) Used (2) from $9.30
Rating:  146 reviews
Sales Rank: 85953
Media: LP Record
Discs: 2
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.2
Dimensions (in): 12.3 x 12.1 x 0.3
UPC: 093624928416
EAN: 0093624928416
ASIN: B000BKSJJI
Publication Date: 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Tracks:
| • | Vampire Heart | | • | Rip Out the Wings of a Butterfly | | • | Under the Rose | | • | Killing Loneliness | | • | Dark Light | | • | Behind the Crimson Door | | • | The Face of God | | • | Drunk on Shadows | | • | Play Dead | | • | In the Night Side of Eden |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
Finland's His Infernal Majesty (H.I.M.) has managed to release a solid, if not wholly overwhelming album. Listening to vocalist Ville Valo work his magic on the title tune, where he bridges the distance between Bono and Bowie, you almost believe you're listening to one of the great voices, maybe even great bands, of the age. The sharp, hook-laden tunes such as "Killing Loneliness," "Vampire Heart" and "Rip Out The Wings Of A Butterfly" only seem to confirm that initial spark of discovery. However, the brilliance evident at the beginning barely stretches to the halfway mark. "The Face Of God" and "Drunk On Shadows" are little more than hooks around which other things happen rather than the promising, fully realized material found at the album's start. That said, Dark Light ultimately proves an album worth owning even if it's just to hear Valo work his unmistakable magic from end to end. --Jedd Beaudoin
Album Description
After conquering the rest of the world with chart-topping albums and sold-out tours, Finland's HIM (His Infernal Majesty) makes its U.S. debut with Dark Light. A Scandinavian rock icon, HIM enjoys more than a mere buzz overseas. It's a frenzy. Haunting, gothic, rocking, beautiful and melodic-produced by Tim Palmer (Robert Plant, U2) with the band recording for the first time in the U.S.-Dark Light opens the eyes of America to HIM.
Album Description
After conquering the rest of the world with chart-topping albums and sold-out tours that have seen them play before literally hundreds of thousands of fans over the last decade, Finland's finest are finally making the push for American dominance with Dark Light. Some musicians might feel pressure, but HIM front man Ville Valo had one concern in making Dark Light - bettering himself. Mixed at New York's famed Electric Ladyland studios with producer Tim Palmer (Robert Plant, U2), the band recorded for the first time in the States, holing up for several weeks in the famed Paramour house in Silver Lake, California. The goal was to create a crazy, surreal, weird, David Lynch, Tim Burton feel, but all within the AC/DC context. You can still shake your hips to it, bang your head, or play air guitar. The results are the kind of songs that have made HIM global rock stars, earning Valo a recent spot on the cover of British metal magazine Kerrang! alongside Ozzy Osbourne and Slash. This 10-song collection is classic HIM: haunting, gothic, rocking, beautiful, melodic, and an album that can only come from Valo and his mates. Warner. 2005.
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| Customer Reviews:
 Another rave review for HIM October 5, 2008
Debra Eaton (Houston, TX USA)
As far as music reviews go, everyone has their own personal taste in what does it for them. I have not come across a HIM song that I don't like yet. This cd is a must for me because it contains two of my favorites; Wings of a Butterfly and Killing Loneliness. I really believe that Mr. Valo has one of the best voices in music.
Another hit for H.I.M. June 9, 2008
Shiloh Kremer
As always, H.I.M. produces beautiful music and emotional lyrics that compliment each other-outstanding record!
5 star rating-
 An OK album, nothing to get excited over. May 13, 2008
Denzel Lockheart (Edmonton, Canada)
If you liked RR, LM, and Deep Shadows, then you'll not be able to appreciate this one! So now, I'll give you a walkthrough of the album.
The album opens with Vampire Heart, a decent and fun opener with beautiful lyrics.
Then we get some rock 'n' roll with Wings Of A Butterfly, a catchy song with lyrics about cheating on someone.
Then Under The Rose comes along, and holy crap, this song is so totally lame. I wonder how long it took these guys to write this song, about 2 minutes?
Then Killing Lonliness. A Melancholy song about a heroin addict that Ville Valo once new. Pretty good song with some amazing lyrics.
Then we get to ANOTHER crappy song. I'm pretty sure emo kids or your depressed girlfriend would like "Dark Light". Slow, boring, lame, not interested.
Behind The Crimson Door comes along. This and Killing Lonliness are THE EXACT SAME SONG, just with different lyrics, key, and a different intro! Just listen to the Verses and the chorus. I'm really starting to regret buying this album on the strength of all the other ones now.
Then "The Face of God" comes. Not bad, a bit reminiscent of the old HIM sound, with good creepy vocals.
Now, Drunk on Shadows. This is also the same song as TFOG, again with different lyrics and a different key.
Play Dead... nope, not even gonna talk about it.
The album ends with In The Nightside of Eden, which isn't a bad closer, it's pretty good. But again, it sounds just like Killing Lonliness.
So pretty much, it's not a bad album, except almost all the songs sound exactly the same. Buy it if you're a diehard, but be warned, it's for newcomers mainly.
Gold status well-deserved! April 24, 2008
Jeannie Pintuck (Brookings, SD)
A definitive album for all HIM fans! This is the album that helped HIM achieve their well-deserved Gold Status in the States.
From the beginning sequence of 'Vampire Heart', until the ending of 'In the Nightside of Eden' you are swept up in the mood only HIM can create. Melodic, lyrical, this album ignites a passion in our souls & leaves us wanting for more. It sets a mood & keeps the magic that is 'Love Metal', alive.
I give this album 5 out 5 stars because I think its a ground-breaking album for the band. I highly recommend this album to any fan of music, esp. anyone who's looking for something deeper.
Start your H.I.M. collection with "Dark Light" April 1, 2008
R. Gorham
8 out of 8 found this review helpful
THE BAND: Ville Valo (vocals), Mikko Lindstrom (guitars), Mikko "Mige" Paananen (bass), Janne "Burton" Puurtinen (keyboards), Mika "Gas" Karppinen (drums & percussion). H.I.M. - His Infernal Majesty - Origin: Finland.
THE DISC: (2005) 10 songs clocking in at approximately 45 minutes. Included with the disc is a 10-page booklet containing one band photo and song lyrics. Recorded at Paramour Studios, Los Angeles, CA. This is the band's 5th studio album. There is a limited edition disc available (complete with tin case, 24-page booklet and keychain). Label - Sire Records.
COMMENTS: As of 2007-08, I am relatively new to H.I.M. - "Dark Light" was my first purchase. For whatever reason, I knew the name, but not the music. My love of hard rock (AC/DC, Rush, Deep Purple, Van Halen, etc), 80's old school heavy metal (Iron Maiden, Metallica, Sabbath/Ozzy, etc), and newer progressive/symphonic metal bands (Porcupine Tree, Dream Theater, Symphony X) never crossed paths with H.I.M.'s pop/alternative/love metal. I had H.I.M. totally misread - judging the proverbial book by its cover. I looked at H.I.M. (Valo) and saw death metal or Marilyn Manson clone (not to mention a bad version of Tim Curry in the "Rocky Horror Picture Show" coming to mind from the cover of "Razorblade Romance"). Boy... was I ever wrong. So endearing was "Dark Light", I went out and bought all their discs. For me, it was such a wondrous find... and I initially felt that I had missed out on years of good music. As for the album, "Dark Light" is full of crunchy guitars and melodies. Songs are for the most part dark with a gothic tone - dealing with love (and love lost), suffering, loneliness, Heaven and Hell, redemption, sacrifice, scarred souls and aspects of suicide. This isn't a guitar album per say, but Lindstrom's guitar work is as much the highlight of this album as Valo's vocals. "Dark Light" was the band's break through album in the US (reaching #18 on Billboard's Top 200 list in 2005). The album also featured two hits with "Rip Out The Wings Of A Butterfly" (reaching #1 in Finland, and #20 in the US - perhaps the best track on the disc), and "Killing Loneliness". Throughout the album you'll hear some great piano/keyboards and orchestra layers. Other highlights include the (ballad) title track, the love story in "The Face Of God", the melody in "Behind The Crimson Door", and the closer "In The Nightside Of Eden". Not a weak track on the disc. Try this disc - this may be a sentimental favorite for me, but after hearing all his previous albums, I feel "Dark Light" is the band's most slick and polished album. A great introduction to H.I.M. (5 stars).
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