HIM - Venus Doom

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 Amazon.com

Passion's Killing Floor

This is another example of Ville Valo and the group at their finest and most talented moments.
5 star rating- June 9, 2008

Venus Doom is sure to blow out your speakers...

Just as frontman Ville Valo predicted.

For me, it has a sensual, sexy, raw quality to it. Think along the lines of Led Zeppelin's "Physical Grafiti" & Scorpion's "Animal Magnetism"& you'll grasp what I mean, if only slightly. It is unlike anything HIM have done, but yet, you can still feel subtle influences of previous HIM within the whole album.

From the beginning riffs on 'Venus Doom', through the melodic end of 'Cyanide Sun', HIM set a mood & draw you deeper & deeper into their music.

'Sleepwalking Past Hope' is a beautiful masterpiece all in itself. This song alone, makes the album worth the purchase. There's so much within it. This one speaks directly to the soul, if only you let it. It reaches in & grabs you, demanding attention. Open up & let it flow thru you.

For me, I absolutely love this album. I have to give it 5 stars. I cherish it & hold it dear to my heart.

I think its a great album for music fans that have never heard of HIM, at least for something different, yet heavy. As for die-hard HIM fans, I feel it is a great compliment to add to your collection. I strongly recommend the purchase of this album.

April 24, 2008

Venus Doom shows HIM's tough side

Most Americans know HIM from the somewhat poppy 2005 "Dark Light". However older HIM fans have known for a long time that the Finnish rockers can do better. And with the release of their sixth album, "Venus Doom", the newer fans are being given a taste of what makes HIM great.

Written during a low point in front man Ville Valo's life, "Venus Doom" is aptly named. The lyrics are dark and poignant. But aren't all HIM albums like that you may ask? Well yes, but even so this album seems to hit harder and deeper than others.

The title song, "Venus Doom" sets the stage and lets you know this will be like no other album HIM has done before. Gritty and rough, Valo ranges from piercing screams to deep, low growls and everything in between. Before the album even hit the stands one of its songs, "Passion's Killing Floor" graced the Transformer's movie soundtrack. The first single, "Kiss of Dawn", written about a dear friend who committed suicide, has gained popularity and helped the album debut at number 12 on the charts - several spots up from its predecessor "Dark Light". With most songs sitting near the five minute mark there are two that stand out: the one minute long "Song or Suicide" - a beautiful and haunting piece consisting solely of Valo and his guitar - and the ten minute epic "Sleepwalking Past Hope", by far one of the best on the album, where bassist Mige claims they break all the rules.

If you've heard nothing of HIM then "Venus Doom" is an excellent intro for you. HIM have always played with the darker side of the feelings of the heart and shown that love is not always sunshine and roses but that doesn't make it any less intense and important. But don't think they take themselves too seriously or that Valo sits in depression year round. Over the top and tongue in cheek is always a given with HIM. After all you can't have a song titled "Dead Lover's Lane" without having a sense of humor about it all.
March 25, 2008

not the best, not bad

i see a bunch of reviews that are like, THIS IS ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE > : O or BEST ALBUM EVER. its neither in my opinion. it is amazing, but definetely not the best. i would buy it if i were you, and if you dont like it the first time you hear it, neither did i, just listen to it again. March 16, 2008

the band's dark tones are fading away

It seems the more and more "Americanized" H.I.M. is becoming (what I mean by that is the more promotion they are receiving in the U.S.), the more and more they are just plain sucking. On Venus Doom Valo still remains a tortured soul lyrically, but sonically the band's dark tones are fading away.

So is a lot of their energy and hook-laden choruses. They even take a chance at an acoustic number, which thankfully I very short. "The Kiss of Dawn" is the only track that I really dug. I think H.I.M. was much better when they were on a tiny label overseas and only a select few knew about them
January 23, 2008

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