The Sacrament
HIM => News & Rumors => Topic started by: stigmata92 on February 03, 2010, 06:15:19 PM
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I know it's a little early for this, in fact I'm only on the third song, but after we've all listened to the album we should post our reactions in this topic.
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I FUCKING LOVE ODE TO SOLITUDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Just had to get that out there....
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I LOVE THE ALBUM , EXCEPT BY THE FACT YOU DIDN'T POST THE LINK HERE --'
---Edit---
i got the album now , thanks for one people who send me the link...
katherine wheel is far the best for me
the last track , is a surprise
and the rest is... him :D no needs of explain
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I FUCKING LOVE ODE TO SOLITUDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Just had to get that out there....
Lol I just heard Ode to Solitude and it kicked my ass. I wasn't expecting it to be so good after hearing the 30 sec sample but wow is it amazing.
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i was gonna say....i retract all the bad i had said about ode to solitude!
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Yeah Ode to Solitude and Disarm Me are two fav. after listening to the whole album once.
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After hearing the entire album, I am amazed. TFSOIH is simple unbelievable. Pretty much every song is amazing. The only song I can't get into is Katherine Wheel, but it's probably a grower. I'm speechless.
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Love:
Like St Valentine
Shatter Me With Hope
Ode To Solitube
In The Arms Of Rain
Like:
Disarm Me
Katherine Wheel
So So:
Acoustic Funeral
The Foreboding Sense
the others... what others? ??? the others doesnt exist
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i must say it is pretty good album
i love disarm me ,it is so cool song
but i can´t understand the last song The foreboding..... it is pretty bad joke or?..Plasma Mullet is better xD
i think album is on the same level like Dark Ligh or even a little bit better, so Venus Doom still the worst album of HIM in my opinion.
Love the hardest way is pretty impressive,and In the arms of rain is pretty similar to Angels & Airwaves with the intro,pretty great intro i mean oh my god i love it
i don´t like Dying song at all it is the worst track of the album so far for me,i like bette r the last song
love the hardest way is pretty cool too,in venere veritas is really melodic i love it
ode to solitude - good song,good everything but the chorus sucks so bad ,chorus has killed the song .... it is my opinion,take it or not :D i don´t care
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No, I agree with the chorus sucking and just sounding out of place on Ode to Solitude, but the rest of the song makes up for it. I don't see how you can not like TFSOIH.
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No, I agree with the chorus sucking and just sounding out of place on Ode to Solitude, but the rest of the song makes up for it. I don't see how you can not like .
i hate it,it is pretty bad mistake,i cant understand why they placed it on the album,it is worse than cyanide sun ,but it is better than dying song .xD
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lol i guess you don't like that kind of electronic music. I think it's the perfect way to finish off the album and I'm glad it got reworked into that version.
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lol i guess you don't like that kind of electronic music. I think it's the perfect way to finish off the album and I'm glad it got reworked into that version.
heh you are right,you know i love black metal and other metal styles,HIM is the most poppy band i listen to but i still love them because i grew up on them :)
but i respect your opinion ;-)
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hello everyone!! havent been here in awhile but anyways... just got done listening to the album and wow... the boys are back! lol
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Anyone else not really like foreboding sense of impending happiness
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What a great blend of Razorblade Romance, Deep Shadows and Brilliant Highlights and Love Metal. This a great album. I stand corrected, lol.
I agree, this definitely sounds like what they had intended to do with Dark Light. This is that album, done right.
This is such a departure from their normal routine, it's a breath of fresh air. Every other track has something I've never heard from them before.
I posted this in the other thread before I saw this one.
I'm really liking Acoustic Funeral and The Foreboding Sense of Impending Happiness is pretty awesome, in my opinion.
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ode to solitude should have been the first single much better song then heartkiller
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lol, poor stigmata's in the chatroom with me with my first listen. I'm liking what I've heard so far....
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Okay, I too take back the negative "Jonas brothers" comment I made about Ode To Solitude....
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The entire album blew me away!!!!sooooo good! My fav is def. Disarm Me but i pretty much love the entire cd..i am at a loss for words
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katherine wheel is far the best for me
do you feel like they're singing to you? lolz
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katherine wheel is far the best for me
do you feel like they're singing to you? lolz
yes , i'm gay --'
ofc not, it's just the music i liked more lol
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Thus far I'm liking the album more than Dark Light or Venus Doom as a whole.
I will say, Ville's lyrics are getting a little too arcane and byzantine. I think the "less is more" idea works best when it comes to lyrics.
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After the first impact I must say there is a high probability 'Screamworks...' we'll be my least favorite HIM album. I'll explain this furthermore after hearing the album a few more times.
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Its Ode to Solitude that took it for me. and ofcourse foreboding sense of impending happiness is very interesting.
Even my roommate was like
is this HIM???
and he isnt into anything like HIM but he says he likes it so...
HIM made a new fan
Congrats Ville Valo ur music is inspiring!
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the only song i dont care for is TFSOIH...
the rest is defiantly the shit!
disarm me is the future of HIM songs...i see it now.
deff more radio play with this album...especially with disarm me.
i foresee a video...and not just the internet ones...but then again...who knows if we'll be getting another regular video...**shrugs.
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I will always love every HIM song, I like this album soo far.
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I am hugely disappointed. I've listened just once since I'm home, but for now it seems that it's equal or worse than Dark Light. There are fantastic songs, I love Like Saint Valentine and Shatter Me With Hope. Katherine Wheel and Love The Hardest Way are kinda good. In The Arms of Rain maybe too. But the rest of the album is just pop sh*t. Scared to Death and Disarm Me are the worst HIM songs alongside Beautiful and Heaven Tonight. Oh, and i don't the Sense of Happiness as a song. That's just a bad joke.
Maybe it will grow on me, but I'm dead sure I won't buy it. I would love if they released Like St. Valentine single, with Love The Hardest Way as a B-side. That would be enough for me. Or maybe the acoustic CD will make me change my mind, and I'll get special edition just for it? That would be sick :d
Track by track:
In Venere Veritas - poor. Dark Light part 2. Shitty, poppy chorus - common thing on this album. The part when Ville screams like mad is the best moment definitely.
Scared to Death - where is some sort of a point in this song? After verse raped out of guitars you'd expect some kind of rocking chorus. No way. There are guitar but it has nothing to do with rock. Poppy shit, welcome to the American radio stations. Solo is good.
Heartkiller - enough was said about this song already. Radio friendly, but far more rocking than some others.
Dying Song - I'm not sure about this one yet. It's not boring, it's kinda fast, but chorus lacks the edge.
Disarm Me - like I said after hearing snippets - Scared to Death Part 2. Boring. HIM played many great ballads before and this isn't one of them. I just feel like I'm listening random American pop-rock band...
Love, The Hardest Way - that's better. Rocking chorus, dynamic, you can hear it's HIM in every single note. It's like Right Here In My Arms A.D. 2010.
Katherine Wheel - cool guitar in the beginning. Then the verse comes and the rock thing is gone. It comes back with chorus. Would call the song mediocre, but lyrics are fantastic. I love whole concept, comparing love to torture device.
In The Arms of Rain - there's something cool about this song. Don't know how to name it. It's pretty Dark Light-ish but... good.
Ode To Solitude - that one would be fantastic, but the song is killed just as chorus kicks in. If every chorus was like the last one, OTS would be sooo much better. Verses are great though.
Shatter Me With Hope - I've said enough about it. Cool riffs, awesome solo, it rocks.
Acoustic Funeral - if not Scared to Death and Disarm Me, I'd say it's good stuff. Coming to this point of album I have enough of mediocre ballads though. I have to admit it's better than STD and it's clone anyway.
Like St. Valentine - enough said. That song rocks and it's better than whole rest of album. Fast, direct, powerful. This is how Screamworks should be.
The... - I hate that electro stuff. Song without real instruments is not a song. Is this HIM or a f*cking Depeche Mode album?
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I'm going to hold off a bit until I give full track by track reactions but I will say that Screamworks is definitely a great album, both from HIM standards, and in general. It feels like they finally captured that radio friendly feel they were going for with Dark Light. Screamworks feels like HIM through and through, even TFSOIH. I'm very much digging all of the 80's style synths. Ville has always said that HIM was influenced by 80's bands, but aside from a few moments here and there I never felt it. On Screamworks I do.
I started to list the songs that I loved, liked, and disliked, but I ended up with everything under loved except:
Heartkiller
Disarm Me
In The Arms Of Rain
TFSOIH
Which is not to say I dislike these...they just haven't grown on me yet. Heartkiller I think I'm just sick of. MY favorite song on the album at the moment is Katherine Wheel, but I'm sure that will change over time. As it stands my favorite moment of the album is during Katherine Wheel...
"Holding hands won't be enough in a world giving head to a god, love in theory and practice: chapter one." Mmmm mmmm goooooood.
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Sounds like you were expecting an album that was never being made to be honest. Has been mentioned many times that this was going to be a poppy, radio friendly more mainstream album. An album to introduce to the masses is what I think Ville said at some point.
Hopefully it will grow on you more soon :)
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I've listened to Screamworks just once...what can I say, for now I'm pretty disappointed. I hardly like any of the songs beside St.Valentine and maybe Dying Song. And I wish Valo would stop using that fucking pseudo-falsetto, I can't stand it.
I'll wait for the acoustic cd to leak and hope it'll be worth the 25 euros I'll have to squander for the special edition.
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I have not had the chance to listen to the album from start to end, but im gonna do it now ;D
But so far my favourite songs are:
Shatter Me With Hope
Love, The Hardest Way
Both songs are just so fast rocking and typical "old" school HIM. I also like Foreboding Sense Of Impending Happiness. I wouldent listen to a whole HIM electronica album, but that song is pretty awesome. Not what i expected at all.
But what the hell is up with the chourse on Ode To Solitude. The guitar riff and verse are just awesome and then "the american rejects" chourse kicks in :-\
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Ok, here we go in detail. By detail I don't mean an amateurish track-by-track review because I find that method quite simplistic for the "review" of an album.
First and quite obvious thing: the production. Many (and by this I mean MANY) details in Squire's work kill and ruin some of the best ideas in the album. The very beginning of "In Venere Veritas" is the perfect example. The radio-friendly effect is completely useless and affects the whole appreciation of one of the best tracks in 'Screamworks...'.
Second (also indirectly concerning the production) and we'll probably be a complaint of almost anybody who doesn't like the album: the abuse in electronic sounds and synth effects. This is mostly prejudicial when the guitars are put down comparing to the synths... Like in the past with 'Deep Shadows And Brilliant Highlights' keyboards over guitars produces... well, here it produces "Scared To Death"...
Actually, I need to say it straightforward: there's too much keyboards. Of course that being mostly filled with happy melodies and random effects that go nowhere instead of being gloom and melancholic, doesn't help at all. Everybody that follows the band remembers how memorable HIM keyboards were in the past... but it was when they sounded like a piano and not like some plastic incursions in modern Pop.
The more audible and clear synth-influences were the band's point and well, it failed... Maybe if they would listen "Too Happy To Be Alive" a few times it could actually work. And the problem isn't strictly the Pop influences. For example, "In The Arms Of Rain" is quite Alternative and the electronic effects are just too much...
This abuse not only blurs the band's identity but it becomes just a bad idea when some of the songs have its best parts underline by these annoying and random effects. A pretty decent song most of the time (with some of the best riffs in the album) is almost thrown apart by some "beatbox" moments near its end.
Furthermore, the predictability of the tracks is really frustrating. It's perhaps the band's album where the feeling of knowledge of the album is bigger... Well, this is not so good since everything is explored so fast and easy. Of course a monster like 'Venus Doom' is not HIM's standard but the deepness in the past was far bigger... and when that lacks something just overwhelms that "problem": great songs.
Which brings me to my next point: there is a huge lack of memorable moments. What "saves" (not totally, though) 'Deep Shadows And Brilliant Highlights' is the tremendous "Love You Like I Do", the catchy "Lose You Tonight" or one of the best Pop songs by HIM, "Heartache Every Moment". Here, those moments are almost absent.
Like I said, it's easy to predict what's coming (and worse: how it's coming) but also because everything is standardised (same type of riffs, vocal variations similar in each part of the songs and the keyboard effects in the beginning, chorus and then in the closing parts) there is no great break, no moment of genius.
A song which is somewhat out of this is "Acoustic Funeral (For Love In Limbo)" that being far from the great ballads of the band stands out precisely because overcomes the structure that every single songs has... and it doesn't work.
It's true that 'Venus Doom' aside, HIM was never outside the typical Rock structures (few exceptions here) but they never made an album all under 4m either. "Disarm Me (With Your Loneliness)" is the only one above it (and barely). I think this is factor to keep in mind...
I've talked about this before, but I must repeat: there's always some detail that ruins the song and doesn't allow the songs to fulfil their full potential. "Like St. Valentine" has almost everything to be one of the best songs of HIM in years and then that somewhat bogus chorus draws the music a bit down. And I mentioned this one, as I could mention several that have good ideas, great riffs, Valo's voice at its very 'Love Metal'-style best and all of a sudden is a mellow chorus, random electronic effects or a will just to oversimplify that blows the greatness of the song away...
Valo's voice has a inconstant performance. If some of the more screamed moments are a direct hint to 'Love Metal' and give the music a new perspective and a fresh sound which is very good; some of the high notes are totally inappropriate and mixed with some annoying synths... well, it just ain't pretty to listen. Also, no low vocals (the vest work by Ville is in this type of vocalizations) but the melodic warm voice still saves some songs from (and I'm very sad to say this) mediocrity.
Unfortunately even the lyrics are a bit too simplistic and even when they are not the metaphors and images used are not as great as in the recent past. It's a big drawback since this aspect of HIM's music was one of those which I never thought would get worse... There are great lines like in 'Venus Doom', but also some things that don't really go nowhere and are to common. Oversimplification once again is the keyword.
You can forget about bass and drums too... It's a shame to see a member like Mige underused this way. I remember the surprising highly versatile work in 'Venus Doom' or the simple but beautiful lines under the guitar which drove 'Razorblade Romance' to its absolute peak and then I listen to this... Maybe "Like St. Valentine" aside and some other moments (very very few) the bass never stands out and is even hard to hear outside the "wall of sound" which creates with the guitar. The drums do its part when it's requested but Gas is much more than a usual Pop/Rock drummer...
The guitar is not that neglected but some of the good riffs are ruined by the disaster options already mentioned and besides, many of the guitar work tends to repeat itself... I still think (even after three albums... or even four if you count 'Love Metal') the distortion that defined HIM's "early" sound is hugely missed, specially to make the songs a less poppy. If not that, at least the dirty and almost Stoner distortion of the last work...
Not being totally aside, Linde's work is far more modest than in the past... too much for the band's own identity.
It's disappointing, I must say. The second album from the band where the first reaction is not that good after 'DS&BH'. This time I think it's worse since there are no memorable moments. In an appreciation more detached from what the band has done, it's just a decent album... If I get completely out of the bands universe it's a bit better but this doesn't matter since it's an impossible abstraction. HIM's greatness suffered a downgrade for the reasons mentioned and the irritating moments hurt 'Screamworks...' even more.
Just to give this initial appreciation a final and perhaps different tone I want to talk about "The Foreboding Sense Of Impending Happiness". Obviously I don't want this kind of sound for HIM... but it's a really surprising track! It's a difference, a ray of "light". Never thought HIM would do a track like this and although it's not what I except from the band (I would be hugely disappointed If they went this path exclusively) it's a nice experimental moment. Here, the electronic experimentation is direct and works... mainly because it's nor ruining what HIM traditionally does very well.
Maybe few people will understand and like this last track but in my opinion they achieve more with this track than with electronic stuff all over the place and that hurts the final product of lot of songs. The problem is not the change but what this change represented when was mixed with what HIM's all about.
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I like your review PhilLiz, you bring up a lot of points I didn't notice.
The problem I have with it though, is that if you didn't state song titles, album titles and other things of that nature, it just seems like an album review made for Dark Light, 5 years ago. "Over production, too much keyboards, predictable, Ville's vocals being sub-par, lack of Linde's shredding" etc. These were things ALL OF US were saying about Dark Light when it came out. However, I disagree with a lot of those statements regarding Screamworks. I think it's what they meant for Dark Light to sound like, which is why you can find so many similarities between the two albums, but it's much more of a success, artistically speaking.
I feel like this album is a step forward from Dark Light, and a step horizontally from Venus Doom. It's just a different sound they experimented with. And judging by the reviews, I'd say around 80% of the people on this forum have a favorable view of the album, which is saying something considering the fans on this site (myself included) can be extremely critical of Ville and the gang when it comes to making new material. More so than any other fan site I've been a part of.
However, I did like your review a lot. Nice to hear another detailed opinion of the album other than my own. +1 for you.
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The opening of Katherine Wheel is akin to Sigillum Diaboli
EDIT - And a lot of people are blaming Matt Squire for a lot, but you can't hold him 100% accountable - Ville has always said that he likes to have his hands on everything involved with the album. So you have to blame Mr. Valo as well ;)
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From hearing the album last night, I must say I really like this record and can't wait for the special edition cd to come to my house and listen to the acoustic disc
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If it was 'Dark Light' my problem with electronic would not make sense... and most of all, I really liked 'Dark Light'. Sure it was not heavy, but that's not the only thing I want to hear in HIM's music (I would be more displeased than pleased throughout their career it it was the case) and despite the lack of heaviness I find 'Dark Light' a very mature and good album. It's not my favourite and it's not near 'Venus Doom' but it's good.
So, this is as linear as saying less heavy equals bad in every case. it really depends and in this case lack of some hard tunes is just one of the problems and maybe it ain't even the biggest I have with the album...
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I misread your post I guess. I'm looking back, and you actually said that earlier. My bad.
I have to say though, in recent years, as I've evolved from the 12 year old HIM fan who's other favorite bands were CKY and Cradle of Filth, to the 20 year old HIM fan I am today, I've expanded my musical tastes a hell of a lot. I say this because I enjoy all music, including electronic. So it's very nice and comforting to me to know that my favorite band ever, is still evolving with me after being a fan for 8 years. Since Venus Doom came out 2 and a half years ago, I've developed a really alternative and different taste for music, and it's great to see HIM change with me.
So I guess I could say, yes, I am a fan of the electronic influences on the album.
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PhilLiz - you just said everything I feel about this album! Can't add a word really.
The opening of Katherine Wheel is akin to Sigillum Diaboli
EDIT - And a lot of people are blaming Matt Squire for a lot, but you can't hold him 100% accountable - Ville has always said that he likes to have his hands on everything involved with the album. So you have to blame Mr. Valo as well ;)
I won't buy the whole "don't blame producer, Ville decides here" stuff anymore :P
On DSBH Sony and bunch of producers raped the sound like they liked to, on DL Palmer raped the guitars like he wanted to, and now Squire raped the whole sound just like he wanted to. I'd say it again, it's no coincidence that best HIM albums were the ones produced by Kai Hiilesmaa.
By the way, Katherine Wheel is even more similar to "Christina Bleeds" by other Finnish band, Charon. If you don't know the song, check it out. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E565p79JfHM
Sounds like you were expecting an album that was never being made to be honest. Has been mentioned many times that this was going to be a poppy, radio friendly more mainstream album. An album to introduce to the masses is what I think Ville said at some point.
Hopefully it will grow on you more soon :)
Has been mentioned that it will be punky, in-your-face stuff, and that Ville is a real asshole now :P
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It takes awhile to get use to an album, the more times you listen to it the more you like it or hate it.
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Vpr I really think you missed the point for this album. Ville never intended it to be heavy, and wanted it to be poppy. Hence why he chose Matt Squire for the job. To me it seems like you were expecting a Venus Doom part 2 which obviously wasn't going to happen.
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Vpr I really think you missed the point for this album. Ville never intended it to be heavy, and wanted it to be poppy. Hence why he chose Matt Squire for the job. To me it seems like you were expecting a Venus Doom part 2 which obviously wasn't going to happen.
Maybe he was expecting GLV666 vol 2 ;D anyway which it's a lot heavier and not in a poppy way then VD. Anyway I still love HIM nowdays and it's a verry verry good produced album i think. I just like it... if we want to listen to something heavy we have a variety of choices... anyway HIM will be our relaxing place to turn to.
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lol I know but I highly doubt that HIM would make an album similar to GLSV 666. Making a Venus Doom part 2 seemed at least a little more realistic.
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Vpr I really think you missed the point for this album. Ville never intended it to be heavy, and wanted it to be poppy. Hence why he chose Matt Squire for the job. To me it seems like you were expecting a Venus Doom part 2 which obviously wasn't going to happen.
It's not the first time I've seen one but these type of commentaries really make no sense...
Whatever the band's objective was it doesn't matter when I'm listening to the album... What matters is if I like what I'm hearing. My perspective... Why would I listen to it by the band's perspective or anyone else's?
Also, "missing the point" is quite pretentious. So, you "get" the point why? Just because you like it? Again, making no sense.
if we want to listen to something heavy we have a variety of choices... anyway HIM will be our relaxing place to turn to.
The exact same point can be made for exactly the opposite: HIM is a Rock band, if I want to listen something "light" I have a variety of choices...
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Vpr I really think you missed the point for this album. Ville never intended it to be heavy, and wanted it to be poppy. Hence why he chose Matt Squire for the job. To me it seems like you were expecting a Venus Doom part 2 which obviously wasn't going to happen.
It's not the first time I've seen one but these type of commentaries really make no sense...
Whatever the band's objective was it doesn't matter when I'm listening to the album... What matters is if I like what I'm hearing. My perspective... Why would I listen to it by the band's perspective or anyone else's?
Also, "missing the point" is quite pretentious. So, you "get" the point why? Just because you like it? Again, making no sense.
if we want to listen to something heavy we have a variety of choices... anyway HIM will be our relaxing place to turn to.
The exact same point can be made for exactly the opposite: HIM is a Rock band, if I want to listen something "light" I have a variety of choices...
U are right dude. Ave Maria!
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Vpr I really think you missed the point for this album. Ville never intended it to be heavy, and wanted it to be poppy. Hence why he chose Matt Squire for the job. To me it seems like you were expecting a Venus Doom part 2 which obviously wasn't going to happen.
It's not the first time I've seen one but these type of commentaries really make no sense...
Whatever the band's objective was it doesn't matter when I'm listening to the album... What matters is if I like what I'm hearing. My perspective... Why would I listen to it by the band's perspective or anyone else's?
Also, "missing the point" is quite pretentious. So, you "get" the point why? Just because you like it? Again, making no sense.
if we want to listen to something heavy we have a variety of choices... anyway HIM will be our relaxing place to turn to.
The exact same point can be made for exactly the opposite: HIM is a Rock band, if I want to listen something "light" I have a variety of choices...
In the end it comes down to opinion. You think that all the synth and electronic sounds detract from the songs. I think it's the opposite and adds a whole new layer of depth to them.
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Since everyone seems to be indulging each other in over saturated reviews of the album, I thought I would give my two cents.
I wanted to hate this album before I even listened to it. HIM hasn't blown me away since Deep Shadows and Brilliant Highlights, which by popular opinion, isn't considered a great album and was the first sign of weakness for the band among fans. To me, DS&BH worked because of its modest song structure and restraint. There was sense of sincerity in the music. They weren't trying to be flashy nor were they trying to overwhelm us in the vain of Razorblade Romance, which was very synth heavy with outlandish gothic overtones. Don't get me wrong, RR had sincerity as well of course, but it was presented playfully, resulting in a unique sound separate from anything else they've done since, including DS&BH.
I consider Dark Light to be my least favorite release by the band. To me, it was stale and brought nothing new to the table. It also ventured too far from the simplicity they excelled at. The band sounded tired and the new direction pursued was underwhelming following the great success that was Love Metal, which mixed everything HIM had done at that point. Venus Doom came soon after with the promise of something grander, but while it showcased some of the heaviest material they had done so far, HIM's music has never really been heavy. With the exception of their first album, their most popular albums, Razorblade Romance and Love Metal, were quite alternative and even poppy in some respects. Venus Doom suffered from being too bloated, and both it and Dark Light had some of Ville's most contrived and downright silly lyrics to date. They had become too heavy on metaphor and weren't as direct as previous albums.
At first, Screamworks sounded like the final nail in the coffin. After listening to it though, I realized the winning formula was there. The basic, verse, chorus, verse song structure had returned from RR and DS&BH, the edgy metallic riffs from Linde were back and most importantly... the hooks! The music was catchy again. I found myself wanting to actually sing along, which I haven't done since before Love Metal. The album is infectious. Ville sounds like he means every word he sings and the lyrics feel more relevant than ever before. Instead of monotonous convoluted drivel, the band sounds refreshed and excited to play what they're playing. Instead of releasing another hopeless, melancholy filled feature, Ville is charged with energy and is sexually fueled, which hasn't been heard since Razorblade Romance and Love Metal. While the electronic influences may be new and may hit or miss with a lot a fans, they're definitely inspired. As a fan of various kinds of music, experimentation is well encouraged by me. The album is just so damn catchy, I find it nearly impossible to hate.
The sex is back.
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In the end it comes down to opinion. You think that all the synth and electronic sounds detract from the songs. I think it's the opposite and adds a whole new layer of depth to them.
I think it's a matter of subjective appreciation that's why I don't understand remarks like yours about "getting the point" of the album just because I didn't like it...
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Dark Light gets way too much criticism... when it came out people were blown away by certain songs, even with saying this it is my least favorite album as a whole... But it still gets played way more in my zune or car than any other band....
I loved Venus Doom when it first came out, but since I'm not a huge fan of Sleepwalking Past Hope, it feels like a 7 track album (I will not include Songs or Suicide)... While on this Bleed Well, Cyanide Sun, Passion's Killing Floor, and Love in Cold Blood are completely memorable and all time classic HIM songs in my opinion....
I won't get into the other 4 albums because I grew up with them and maybe found two tracks on each that I did not like... otherwise they were unbelievable
With Screamworks, right now, I'm already finding a few songs that I just want to skip, but on the other hand, there are plenty of the memorable ones already, for me it's In Venere Veritas, Katherine Wheel, Heartkiller, Disarm Me.... On the other songs I find parts that I think are awesome, but are doomed by either ridiculous lyrics (that seem to not fit a lot of the times on the album) or lacking choruses..... I do like this album and when it's all said and done it will probably be in the top 3, the only thing that sucks is now we have to wait another 2.5 years to make this judgement again on a whole new album
Correct me if I'm wrong, but HIM has two more albums on their contract with Sire, right?
Screamworks will have to keep me satisfied until then
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i'm hoping one of those 2 left is like a bonus demo greatest hits thingy or some unlreleased stuff from sire that would be cool.
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I actually just bought the double album at a record store today.... Baudelaire in Braille is really cool.... its rough acoustic recordings, also the lyrics came in the book, so I could make amends to those in their threads
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i'm hoping one of those 2 left is like a bonus demo greatest hits thingy or some unlreleased stuff from sire that would be cool.
That would be sooo great. We've all heard how fantastic Kiss of Dawn demo was, would be cool to get few more demos. Especially from DL and Screamworks - I'm curious, how it was before Palmer and Squire did their... umm... "job" :P
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I actually just bought the double album at a record store today.... Baudelaire in Braille is really cool.... its rough acoustic recordings, also the lyrics came in the book, so I could make amends to those in their threads
Budelaire in braille include the same songs of the Screamworks album but all of them in acoustic, doesn't it?
Are the same lyrics too or do they change in some parts or something?
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'Screamworks...' might be my least favourite HIM album, but at first sight 'Baudelaire In Braille' is quite good.
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I actually just bought the double album at a record store today.... Baudelaire in Braille is really cool.... its rough acoustic recordings, also the lyrics came in the book, so I could make amends to those in their threads
Budelaire in braille include the same songs of the Screamworks album but all of them in acoustic, doesn't it?
Are the same lyrics too or do they change in some parts or something?
I'm pretty sure Katherine Wheel has diff lyrics.
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Well I have to say that I am constantly listening to this thing, and I think it's better than Dark Light and Venus Doom. To me, it sounds like what they had been shooting for when they first broke into the US, only two albums later. There are a few songs that I'm still not sure about, Scared To Death for instance. Before the chorus in that song there is some weird kind of 1990's US grunge/pop guitar chord that is very strange for HIM.
Overall Screamworks is much better than what I thought it would be. I still consider the band to have kind of ended with And Love Said No, and now a new version is in their place, but this is easily the best effort of the new HIM.
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great album!
i think the album has a natural sequence of songs, making it sound great!
but Katherine Wheel, Dying Song, Ode to Solitude(great guitar Riff from Linde!) and In the arms of rain are my favorites!
HIM still rocks!
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This album is awesome, all song are great, have a great feeling, my fav songs: Love, The Hardest Way, Ode To Solitude, In The Arms Of Rain, Like St. Valentine
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I love ACOUSTIC FUNERAL!!!
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i love how on the cd it gives you the beats per minute and the key of every song don't be surprised if they end up having a cover contest again. im gonna work on a few now before hand so if they do im ready lol
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Well they have a karaoke contest going on now...
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I love ACOUSTIC FUNERAL!!!
I love specially the part when Valo sings: underneath the ice so thin..
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My biggest question with Screamworks is; did HIM suddenly become a one man band? I just got my pre-order in the mail today. The insert has only one picture of Ville and that's it. And nowhere does it say HIM is......Ville, Linde, Mige, Gas, & Burton
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While I'm well aware HIM is a band, Ville does write everything, so I imagine how HIM is presented is entirely up to him. No pun.
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Has anyone noticed that on Itunes america it categorizes Screamworks under both rock and j-pop?
I know their sound changed. but i didn't know it was that drastic lol
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Ok, so I listened to it quite a few times - some songs grew on me, some I dislike even more. I still can't stand Scared to Death and Disarm Me...
Of course my favorites are Like Saint Valentine and Shatter Me With Hope, but I really like Katherine Wheel too. It reminds me of "Christina Bleeds" by Charon a lot. You hear the lyrics "baby, these are the things you make me do" and "please don't stop until my heart no longer screams" you're like "meh, another love-song", but when you'll find out what exactly the "Katherine wheel" is, it gives the lyrics completely new dimension.
I also like In Venere Veritas more. It's a song that would fit perfectly on Dark Light, but there's something really cool about it. It's pretty powerful too, maybe not as rocking as Like St. Valentine, but still good. Real shame that the verse is stripped out of guitar, Linde would make this song better :D
The rest of Screamworks is pretty average. Some songs (In The Arms of Rain, Dying Song) would go completely unnoticed if placed on any other HIM album, nothing special about them. Other (Ode to Solitude, Acoustic Funeral) seem like they lack something, and with better producer would be amazing. Maybe someone should tell Ville, that those high vocals in OtS chorus aren't cool :P
Oh, and the album would be a lot better without the synth stuff. Some of the electronic sounds seem totally out of place. It looks like in studio they had the songs done, and then Squire was like "ok, let's throw in some electro-stuff, just for the sake of it"...
The Baudelaire in Braille disc isn't something amazing, but as a Special Edition bonus, it's great thing. Especially considering that last time the super-cool-exclusive-bonus-tracks were two shitty remixes.
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I love the Ode to Solitude introduction.
It's rocks.
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Has anybody gotten word from Warner, or received their package if ordered from Heartagram?
Edit: Nevermind, I have it in my hot little hands now.... :)
A 320 rip will go to my iPod, and the CD will be put away...lol, I'm so ghey.
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Yeah, I'm 320 ripping both CD's now. I went out and bought a copy thinking I wouldn't get it today. Had to have it. Now I have the regular and 2 CD edition.
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Has anyone noticed that on Itunes america it categorizes Screamworks under both rock and j-pop?
I know their sound changed. but i didn't know it was that drastic lol
Jpop like Japanese Pop? Thats weird. Honestly, with the exception of about 5 tracks, I haven't liked much of anything new since Love Metal and before, but I really like Screamworks. Its catchy and Ville's trying out some different stuff with his voice and it works
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Well, its funny how everybody has different views of this new album, but as they say, as tastes vary like colors if everyone had the same taste this surely would be a very sad and boring world.
Well, let's see:
I would not like to say that SW its better than Venus Doom, more likely an evolution. In VD they were trying to be something that they are not, they screwed a lot of songs but probably that album was necessary to achieve the sound in SW, you know "sometimes you gotta take a nasty shit before taking a good shit".
How would I describe this album? beautiful yet annoying in certain aspects but impresively addictive.
My fav songs so far: In Venere Veritas, Scared To Death and Ode To Solitude.
In Venere Veritas has this great punch to it.
Scared to Death has a very very 80's melodic feel into it.
Ode to Solitude loved the metal riffing that Linde added and the chorus its amazing.
Just a couple of songs I get to press the skip button - Acoustic Funeral and Katherine Wheel.
This is just my opinion but the annoying parts come from mr. Valo himself. The lyrics have too many biblical references, did he started reading the bible at last?. The last part of the chorus in Dying Song.. annoying, that ruined the song for me. The excessive and completely unnecessary screaming in some parts of the song. Oh well, hence the Screamworks title.
The best part of the albums sound comes from Burton, I like the more synth driven arrangements that the missplaced guitar riffs found in all the VD album.
Linde had the major improvement musically but I totally dislike the abuse of the Wah pedal in the faster solos.
At the end, today I love the album, its the total contraire of VD, in VD just 2 or 3 songs are the ones that are not skipped and in this one 2 songs are the losers XD.
Even though that HIM new album its more "acquired taste" and its very far to be the classic HIM, I love the songs and I'm looking forward to travel to the states in May to see em live in Orlando.
Cheers!
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On wednesday when I bought the album, I absolutely fell in love with the album. I'm sure this happened to you too? ;))
I admit that I had little doubts about this album. I've been a HIM fan since the first album and when I heard Heartkiller I was little bit dissapointed. I waited more and the HIM sound was gone. The finnish melancholic and dark heavy rock sound, the sound that makes HIM different wasn't there anymore. But when I got the album and I've been listening to it all the time, I fell in love. Yes it's different and very pop album, but it's genious. There's no bad song in the album, but if I had to say my favourites I would say:
In Venere Veritas
Scared To Death
Dying Song
Disarm me (With Your Loneliness)
Ode To Solitude
Acoustic Funeral (For Love In Limbo)
The Forbidden Sense Of Impending Happiness
Your favourites?
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I merged the topics since there was already a "favorites" sort of thread...
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The main riff of "Ode To Solitude" is one of the best on a HIM record.
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The main riff of "Ode To Solitude" is one of the best on a HIM record.
It's just kicking ass out of the gate....I love it.
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The main riff of "Ode To Solitude" is one of the best on a HIM record.
It's just kicking ass out of the gate....I love it.
Hell yeah, it's just killer. Linde has some great licks on the album for sure.
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I like very much this new album, the sound is very clear and the letters are direct, the chorus :o in some songs...I despair...thankfully are short :-\
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I realize this is a petty complaint, but at the end of "Scared To Death" when Ville says, "and you're sweet like poison," really upsets me. Not only does it just sound like an unnecessary addition, but it's also factually inaccurate. One of the primary reasons things taste bitter to us, is because taste buds evolved over thousands of years to protect us from poisons, which usually taste bitter.
If most poisons tasted sweet, we would have built up a tolerance to that sense, and sugar wouldn't be used in nearly every food we consume now.
I'm sorry, but I feel I have to confront Ville on this should we meet on the future tour.
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I hope you're kidding.
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Well the evolutionary theory is accurate. My real gripe is that an extra line was added at all; it just disrupts the flow of the song. Granted it was already the weakest song on the album.
It still might be funny to talk to Valo about it though. I feel someone should tell him his lyrics are getting a bit overly wordy.
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Maybe he meant it in a sarcastic/ironic sort of way...I'm not defending him, just throwing my two cents.
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thats what i was just gonna say i definately hear the sarcasm
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Well if you are going to ask him, call in right now to ask him at the rockline radio broadcast.
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I'm still loving every track on this album- hasn't left my player since I finally got it. I can't pick a favorite but really feeling Heartkiller, Arms of Rain and acoustic funeral. Only complaint I have? Not a big fan of the packaging.
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I must admit, after now listening to the album the first time, that I don't like it. I like som parts, but the these parts are ruined by less good parts, or really awful parts.
I can understand that some people like this new album. The refrains are catchy, the whole album is nearly 100% radio material. But I think the melodies are too easy, it's sounds allmost like whatever song you hear now days by a typical radio-rock-band. But there are, as I said, som good melodies. But again, these are ruined by the other mediocre ones.
If this is the way "new" HIM is going, my realations with the bands music will soon be long gone.
I'm going to see them live at Sonisphere in Finland this summer, hope they will convince me to stay.
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i've listened this album many times, much more than the previous one, but venus doom was only 9 songs
i'm listening it right now
so many times that i've lost the count
Mat1az, you seem to be talking about a Girl!
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Maybe he meant it in a sarcastic/ironic sort of way...I'm not defending him, just throwing my two cents.
I thought I was laying it on pretty thick.
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Oh I meant Ville was being sarcastic/ironic. Or...I'm confused now. The little hampster in my head is tired and will not work anymore....
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I realize this is a petty complaint, but at the end of "Scared To Death" when Ville says, "and you're sweet like poison," really upsets me. Not only does it just sound like an unnecessary addition, but it's also factually inaccurate. One of the primary reasons things taste bitter to us, is because taste buds evolved over thousands of years to protect us from poisons, which usually taste bitter.
If most poisons tasted sweet, we would have built up a tolerance to that sense, and sugar wouldn't be used in nearly every food we consume now.
I'm sorry, but I feel I have to confront Ville on this should we meet on the future tour.
I felt the same way when I heard "Killing Loneliness". How can one kill loneliness? Loneliness is a feeling, not a living thing. It kind of pisses me off... what was Ville thinking when he wrote that lyric! Make sure you confront him about that too! Don't even get me started on "In The Arms of Rain" WTF!! How can one be held in the arms of that which has no arms? Am I right??
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I realize this is a petty complaint, but at the end of "Scared To Death" when Ville says, "and you're sweet like poison," really upsets me. Not only does it just sound like an unnecessary addition, but it's also factually inaccurate. One of the primary reasons things taste bitter to us, is because taste buds evolved over thousands of years to protect us from poisons, which usually taste bitter.
If most poisons tasted sweet, we would have built up a tolerance to that sense, and sugar wouldn't be used in nearly every food we consume now.
I'm sorry, but I feel I have to confront Ville on this should we meet on the future tour.
I felt the same way when I heard "Killing Loneliness". How can one kill loneliness? Loneliness is a feeling, not a living thing. It kind of pisses me off... what was Ville thinking when he wrote that lyric! Make sure you confront him about that too! Don't even get me started on "In The Arms of Rain" WTF!! How can one be held in the arms of that which has no arms? Am I right??
Hahah literary technique i love metaphors, and similies i think Ville is very good at using them.
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That's actually one of my favorite tracks on the album, though largely in part due to the music. I am very unhappy with a good deal of the lyrics on this album, but I had the same feeling with parts of Dark Light and a decent section of Venus Doom. It's probably just a change in my own personal taste though.
Did it both anyone else that in "Disarm Me" he says "loneliness" exactly the same as he did in "Killing Loneliness?" Personally I would have tried to come up a different word.
Oh, and another thing. In Heartkiller he says "luna alight," but it seems clear to me that it's really supposed to be "lunar light." Sorry Ville, but if it walks like a duck, looks like a duck, and sounds like lunar light, then it probably is.
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It's sort of like "killing time." How would you do that?
And Razorblade Kiss....that would be painful!
And Drunk On Shadows!! How the fuck do you consume a shadow??
;)
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anyway...
Fucking love screamworks.
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the more you listen to Screamworks, more the songs grows on you...that is great!
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Not really, if anything, Scared to Death is the most radio friendly track on the cd.
I really think the band doesn't get anymore recognition because after people in America heard Dark Light and loved it, they released Venus Doom. People who loved the shitty radio friendly songs of Dark Light hated Venus Doom and didn't even bother buying anymore things from the band. If Screamworks followed Dark Light the band may have had more recognition still in America.
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I am just not sure about this yet, I have listened to it but not as much as the other Cd's,I miss the melancholy sound of the old HIM.I miss the sound that I fell in love with the band in the first place.
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i don't know why but this album is like an addiction for me i try to listen to something else and end up playing screamworks 10 minutes later
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First I didn't like the album but now...I love it!
It sounds different from the albums before.
My favorites are Ode To Solitude (like so many people :D), Dying Song, Shatter Me With Hope and Like St. Valentine.
I don't like The Foreboding Sense Of Impending Happiness, but my mother love it... :-\
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You know what dudes? I give up! I cannot stop to listen to the damn album! its so addictive! Honestly I like all songs! I hope they are playing many of them in their new tour.
Cheers!!!
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This a a great album! Not HIM's best, but still wonderful. I'm glad it's more upbeat and hopeful. It's hard to pick a fave song, but I think its a tie b/t In The Arms of Rain and TFSOIH. I wish they would do In The Arms of Rain live, it would be amazing!
And, is it just me, or does it seem that the bridges in most of the songs are the best parts, like the monk-chanting moment in the first track?