Ah yes, HIM - I still remember watching them for the 1st time performing live on the German VIVA music channel back in the day, dudes were great and Greatest love songs vol.666 is a legit good goth metal album, razorblade romance also had a couple of nice tunes, after that though they literally became a pop-rock boy band.
Unfortunately, the whole HIM shtick wore thin since it was solely based on the frontman's good looks, I mean, just take a look at every HIM video comment section on YouTube not to mention the hundreds of female young virgins screaming "VillllllleeeeeeeEEEE" at every live show/gig, I mean, shit, after a while i just couldn't take the band seriously when it came to their musical prowess, it was literally the Ville Valo show.
Don't get me wrong, the man's a handsome motherfucker and also has a good voice so it's kinda expected but, again, after a while the whole "love metal" and - generally speaking - target group became obnoxious/insufferable.
Saw a couple of new interviews regarding neo noir and...it's more of the same shit, the guy is like he's wearing a "costume", eyeliner, "stylish" hat, V-neck t-shirt+blazer combo etc etc and just like their/his music, the whole thing is just so image-based that it grinds my friggin' gears.
Salute the sanguine and Echo-locate your love are nice-ish tunes but, yeah...
Anyway, wish the dude the best 'cause apparently he got mentally fucked up during the 2 year COVID shit-show (like many of us) and with that I can sympathize.
PS: Don't fear the reaper (cover), your sweet 666 and when love and death embrace will always have a place in my rock/metal playlists.
