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Linda Buie, Editor
LA Judge, Graphics
Damien Daville, Coder

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Greetings All!

Greetings again ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to the summer of love! It's 1967 all over again, and in this spectacularly sunny month of Summer Lithe (June), I have the pleasure of bringing you a band hailing all the way from Finland known as H.I.M. which is an acronym for "His Infernal Majesty". They consider their music something they call "love metal", though it's decidedly not metal, or at least, not in the sense that some of us old schoolers happen to know it as :o) They have great appeal with most out there, especially Goths, although their music is not - really, there is no real means of categorizing their music, therefore, love metal will suffice :o)

They are definitely getting a lot of air play, especially of late, both via radio and video coverage. Fairly recently, an entire show dedicated to H.I.M.'s music was featured on Scuzz, and hosted by none other than Bam Margera who stated that he had picked up one of their albums and liked every song on it! Sounds good to me. Therefore, I watched in rapt attention and decided I felt the same :o) As there were one or two songs in particular that caught my attention, I went in search of a particular album of theirs entitled "Deep Shadows and Brilliant Highlights". Canny name for an album featuring darkish, melodramatic music with uber severe romantic overtones..

The first song on the album is called "Salt in Our Wounds" and has a nice startup to it, rather dance-y, and then unleashing with a bit of aggression, and back to the dance-y sound again. The lyrics make me think the song is about one long, lovely, steamy sex session, that you just don't want to end, with wave upon wave of pleasure washing over you. Starting slow and deliberate, and then like a violent storm, it takes on a life all its own..Imagine the energy flow!

"Here we are
In the maelstrom of love
Waiting for the calm
To soothe our hearts

Here we are
And don't know how to stop
Waiting for the war
To end it all

Love is insane and Baby
We are tooIt's our hearts little grave
And the salt in our wounds"..

The next song sounds like it ought to be in a movie, as the start of it features keyboards, before deep bass and thrashing guitars jump into the midst. The singing is of epic proportions, and no doubt this is one of the more popular songs by H.I.M. I especially LOVE the lyrics, I think because it injects an element of S and M, and it really strikes a chord within your emotions. The name of this one is called "Heartache Every Moment", which could be taken so many ways, whether ache literally from the lashes, etc., or whether from the joy/pain which is intertwined in such a relationship. See if the lyrics strike you the same way - I suppose different people will interpret it in their own way and this is how it hits me!

"From lashes to ashes
And from lust to dust
In your sweetest torment
I'm lost

And no heaven can help us
Ready, willing and able
To lose it all
For a kiss so fatal
And so worn

Oh it's heartache every moment
From the start `til the end
It's heartache every moment
With you

Deeper into our heavenly suffering
Our fragile souls are falling
It's heartache every moment
Baby with you

And we sense the danger
But don't wanna give up
`Cause there's no smile of an angel
Without the wrath of god"..

Ok, moving onwards! So far, so good :o) I'm enjoying the album immensely. I have to say, the way this band harmonizes as far as their singing abilities go, is very different - it almost doesn't quite fit, yet it does, if that makes any sense whatsoever! I like them because their sound is very unique and I like the vocal techniques they make use of. I like a band that makes a good attempt at being expressive without sounding like every other band out there and I believe they have managed to pull it off.

The next song is something of an apology/pleading and though I like the song musically, I'm not overfond of the repetitive lyrics, but this doesn't make it a bad song - just one that no doubt gets more air play than it should. And that's fine - most bands have at least one song that falls into that category. To me, I sense from this song, most especially the lyrics, that an argument ensued in which both sides said/did some hurtful things and now the guy is trying like hell to make amends and put everything to rights again.

"Don't run away
Cause I can't live without you
Please stay
And I'll learn to love you right

I was waiting for you
Waiting for all my life
I've been crying for you
Dyin' for you all this time
I was waiting for you
Waiting for all my life
And I ain't gonna lose you tonight
No, I ain't gonna lose you tonight

Don't run away
I never wanted to hurt you
Please stay
And I'll learn to treat you right

I was waiting for you
Waiting for all my life
And I've been crying for you
Dyin' for you all this time
I was waiting for you
Waiting for all my life And I ain't gonna lose you tonight"..

Ok, the next song is what got my attention and made me decide to review H.I.M. in the first place. It's called "In Joy and Sorrow" and it's one of my favorites on this album. It just reaches out there and grabs a hold of your heart and refuses to let go. It's like the musical equivalent of a broken heart followed by long crying sessions filled with pain, regret, and memories of happy times. You can really empathize here with Ville, the lead singer, who really pours out the contents of his bleeding heart. All his emotions hit your senses like a ton of bricks, his pain becomes your own, and you feel it.

"Oh girl we are the same
We are young and lost and so afraid
There's no cure for the pain
No shelter from the rain
All our prayers seem to fail

In joy and sorrow my home's in your arms
In world so hollow
It is breaking my heart
In joy and sorrow my home's in your arms
In world so hollow
It is breaking my heart

Oh girl we are the same
We are strong and blessed and so brave
With souls to be saved
And faith regained
All our tears wipe away

In joy and sorrow my home's in your arms
In world so hollow
It is breaking my heart
In joy and sorrow my home's in your arms
In world so hollow
It is breaking my heart"..

Sigh..... Can't you just totally relate to that song though? It's like he is trying sooooooo hard to hang on and not lose the remnants of what remains, as though it were like an eggshell - very fragile. He makes a bold statement that in her arms is where he belongs. Gotta love a man who isn't afraid to show his innermost heart.....Rare man..This next song, "Pretending" has more of a Goth feel to it. I know this is one of their more popular songs as well, so you all will no doubt recognize it. There is a main theme here within all the songs on this album. It makes itself known in every song - overly passionate love, followed by stormy patches in which much emotional pain is expressed, tears fall, begging and pleading, going back to that passionate, stormy love..

"Love is a flame that can't be tamed
And though we are its willing prey, my darling
We are not the ones to blame

Trust is a word all lovers know
The glorious art of staining souls, my darling
We are not the ones to blame

The more we have the more we want
And the more it hurts our hearts, my baby
It always ends up in tears

So keep on pretending
Our heaven is worth the waiting
Keep on pretending, its alright
So keep on pretending
It will be the end of our craving
Keep on pretending
It's alright"..

I really dig this next tune a lot - it reminds me of a nice, comfy warm blanket, and an even warmer, loving hug, followed by many soft kisses on the neck..Yeah, that kind of song :o) You know the one...It's deliberately slow, and soft, kind of like warm bathwater..I won't bother to pick this one apart much more - just read and listen..

"The kiss sweetest
And touch so warm

The smile kindest
In this world so cold and strong
So close to the flame
Burning brightly
It won't fade away
And leave us lonely

The arms safest
And words all good
The faith deepest
In this world so cold and cruel

So close to the flame
Burning brightly
It won't fade away
And leave us lonely"..

Ok, I'm purposely skipping a song here, not because I don't like it, but because lyrically, the song after it, "Beautiful" is just so expressive and I really just felt to make a feature of the song, if for no other reason than because I have seen very few men really get this descriptive when it came to putting their heart on a platter and on a bended knee, serving it up to the women they love. It's so wonderful when you find one like this that, in spite of his fears, he bares all and opens up anyway. And to me, that's worth so much.. It's precious..Just feel this song within you..Don't try to take it apart, or form your own description of it - just feel..

"Just one look into your eyes
One look and I'm crying
`Cause you`re so beautiful

Just one kiss and I'm alive
One kiss and I'm ready to die
`Cause you're so beautiful

Just one touch and I'm on fire
One touch and I'm crying
`Cause you`re so beautiful

Just one smile and I'm wild
One smile and I'm ready to die
`Cause you`re so beautiful
Oh and you`re so beautiful
My darling
Oh you`re so beautiful
You're so beautiful
Oh my baby
You're so beautiful
And you`re so beautiful
Oh my darling
Oh my baby
And you're so beautiful"..

Although there are a further 2 songs left on the album, I really think it would be wrong to attempt to follow this last song, simply because it's just so emotionally/empathically outstanding..I really think it should stand alone for all to admire and wonder at the rare beauty of it..And so I'll leave you all with that! Now getting onto the good stuff..

For those who are interested in seeing what manner of extraordinary band H.I.M just happens to be, you might wish to click here and have a good look around. There's a lot on this site, including clips to all their albums, and it's just waiting for you to have a listen! To hear the songs on this album, please go here. By clicking on the song title, you'll bring up the lyrics to each song, but underneath all the song titles is a rewind, play, and fast forward button, so of course, if you hit the play button, each clip will play in order until you decide you're finished, or until all the clips have played. H.I.M. is not really a new band, but they are definitely a good band to listen to and this album is money well spent. So if you decide after listening to the clips that you like it, show your support by purchasing the album.

With all the garbage being flogged as "music" these days, it's refreshing to have a band of this magnitude that puts some real thought and talent into their music. Thanks go out to my partner Doktor Avalanche, who has been my sole inspiration with regards to the bands featured here of late, and of course, thanks to the gents of H.I.M. for the usage of pictures, lyrics, links, the ability to feature them, and make their unique sound available to you. As usual, here's hoping you enjoyed the review! Watch this space next month for an all female band who have been completely misunderstood, yet are one of the single most mind-blowing bands out there, both musically, and because of their stage presence, and beliefs that they incorporate into their shows and their music! Until next month..

Darkest regards,

Silver ~

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