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Razorblade Romance

“It’s not necessarily what makes me happy, but it’s the only reason I get up every morning” (Ville Valo)

1997: The world of metal shakes. His Infernal Majesty has arrived on earth taking the form of five men from Helsinki, among whom Ville Valo stands out. The Finns release their first album "Greatest love songs - Vol. 666," which is regarded as the group's satanic album since the number 666 recurs frequently. Three years later, H.I.M. astonishes everyone with their second album “Razorblade Romance.”

The first impression of the record, besides the cover prominently featuring the singer, are the song titles: titles like “Your Sweet 666”, “Join Me In Death”, and “Death Is In Love With Us” can certainly influence the purchase or even just the listening of this album. However, the recurring themes of the twelve tracks are love and dying of love. The musical genre of this group was initially called Gothic Metal and soon became its main European, if not global, representative.
The record opens with a remake of a piece from their first album “Your Sweet 666”, rendered less gloomy and more intense while maintaining the song’s quality and adapting to the style of the rest of the release. In this song, the Metal vein in the music is immediately noticeable, but what characterizes it are the background keyboards, which propagate dark sounds. “Poison Girl” maintains the sounds of the first song, while the third track is the masterpiece, the first single released from the album in Italy, “Join Me in Death”. Keyboards, chorus, and then distorted guitars proceed with a haunting pace and Ville Valo’s voice, tormented and sensual, troubled and moved at the same time, make it magnificent.

“Right Here In My Arms” is a “quick-grab” song where the keyboards take a back seat, marked by the guitarist’s solo halfway through. The pace is faster and more aggressive compared to the previous tracks. Completely opposed is “Bury Me Deep Inside Your Heart”, where the group surprises us with a slow piece. Unlike the other tracks, the voice is almost whispered, the keyboards and drums lead the piece, and the guitar is heard for only a few seconds. A song that surprises and leaves the listener in awe. “Wicked Game,” a Chris Isaak cover, starts abruptly with the group’s characteristic distorted sound more present in the first album but nonetheless engaging and completely changed from the original version: from slow and sensual to fast and obsessive. This song is very important for the album and helps improve its quality. With this song, H.I.M. confirm themselves as cover kings, thanks also to the magnificent remake of “Don’t Fear (The Reaper)” by Blue Öyster Cult in the first album.

“I Love You” begins with the whispered voice of the group’s leader, and after a few seconds, the music kicks in. The pace approaches punk, but the sound remains theirs. A good track. In “Gone With The Sin”, Ville Valo opens the track with tones that are very difficult to reach, as it seems like a voice from a man living between the underworld and our world. Then the drums and bass characterize the whole song. Towards the end, a chorus appears that seems celestial, creating a beautiful contrast with the singer’s voice. A unique and special slow piece.
And here is “Razorblade Kiss” which, unlike the other tracks, starts with a guitar riff, followed by the other instruments creating dark, obsessive sounds more metal than the other songs. As for the singing, in the chorus, the singer reaches sounds never touched before, allowing the song to be one of the most beautiful on the entire LP.

“Resurrection” and “Death Is In Love With Us” are two contrasting pieces but united by a common thread: the guitar. “Resurrection” is the most celestial song on the record thanks to keyboards and choruses, but the guitars, especially at the end of the piece, pave the way for the next song, rough, fierce, short, and fast. The rhythmic phase created by the bass is impressive and can quickly appeal even to those who want nothing to do with gothic metal. The epilogue of this record is “Heaven Tonight”. Even in this piece, the rhythmic phase is the focal point of the composition. The song is more delicate compared to all the other songs on the album, and the keyboards give a touch of freshness.

This is the best record of the group’s career so far, better describing their musical genre than other LPs. This release became a bestseller in Northern Europe and Germany, while in Italy, the H.I.M. phenomenon started to spread the following year with “Deep Shadows And Brilliant Highlights” until reaching the last and terrible "Dark Light."
In any case, music doesn’t become great by the number of copies sold but by the originality of those who write it. Ville Valo has created a musical style all his own and is a rock genius of the last century, even if his creative period lasted only four years.