When Good And Evil Embrace: Love Metal

11 Pages 2697 Words

tertaste, like Belgian beer or something, ha-ha….” (www.joinhim.com/menu.html).
On the album, they wanted to embark on a darker version of Chris Isaak’s “Wicked Games.” When Ville was asked his feedback on HIM’s cover of “Wicked Games” he said, “I could relate to the mood in that song, it contains that same kind of melancholy feeling that you can find in our music. After all, we have much more in common with a guy like Chris Isaak than any testosterone-heavy metal band. I hate joyful music! “For You” is my 'headbanging anthem', if you know what I mean? “When Love and Death Embrace” on the other hand is my version of all those cheesy 80's pop ballads.” They also did a cover of Blue Oyster Cult’s “Don’t Fear The Reaper.” Ville explained, “You could say that Romeo and Juliet are the hero and heroine in our music - that's why we chose to cover (Don't Fear) The Reaper. I heard the original for the first time on the soundtrack of Halloween and it has stayed with me ever since” (www.joinhim.com/menu.html).
Chris Isaak’s, “Wicked Games,” helped HIM portray their image of “Love Metal.” “Love Metal” was seen as a combination between Evil and Love within the realm of music. This was something HIM desired to generate due to the lack of soul and imagination in music. HIM desiderated something that would provoke the emotions and feelings of the people listening to their band. They wished to capture the very essence of powerful music, engulfing the mind and soul. Greatest Love Songs Vol. 666 definitely accomplished this goal. With their heavy guitar riffs and Ville’s melodic, dark, high-pitched voice, the album became an instant success in the Finnish music world. HIM had finally fabricated a new type of music, waiting to be called “Love Metal.”
Although their album was successful their critics hated them. They thought their music was satanic and spreading a negative message towards its l...