Formed in Finland in mid-1995, the band H.I.M. (His Infernal Majesty) marked an attempt to reinvent gothic rock. The band’s main ambition was to follow in the footsteps of groups like Sisters of Mercy and The Mission (UK), which led them to adopt a style characterized by fury and mystical love to define their songs.
The band was founded by Ville Hermani Valo (vocalist and songwriter), joined by Mige Amour (bass), Linde Lazer (guitar), Gas Lipstick (drums), and Zoltan Pluto (synthesizer). Their EP, 666 Ways to Love, the band’s first recording released in 1996, conquered the Scandinavian sales market. A year later, Greatest Love Songs Vol. 666 strengthened their position as a cult band, notably with their cover of “Wicked Game,” a song that had originally brought great success to Chris Isaak. By that time, the band had built a sizable fan base across Europe through touring and captivating stage presence.
Three years later, their second album, Razorblade Romance, broke sales records, solidifying their status as a widely recognized band. The success prompted Valo to abandon partying and hallucinogens and retreat to his room (without police, emergency doctors, or handcuffs) to focus on writing songs that began selling in multiple countries. Commercial success was aided by producer John Fryer, who had previously worked with White Zombie and Nine Inch Nails. Mixing was handled by Randy Staub (Metallica, Bon Jovi) and Chris Lord-Alge (Tina Turner, Keith Richards).
A few months later, H.I.M. experienced their first lineup change, with Pluto leaving and being replaced by Emerson Burton. The band’s third album, Deep Shadows and Brilliant Highlights (2001), met fans’ expectations. The title refers to photography, defining black-and-white images similar to frames of Greta Garbo, characterized by strong contrasts. Tracks like “Pretending,” “Heartache Every Moment,” “In Joy and Sorrow,” and “Close to the Flame” reveal the band’s passion for “metal,” featuring a deep sound—a combination of effects the members call “Scandinavian blues.” H.I.M. also reconnected with bands that inspired them from the start, including Kiss, Black Sabbath, and Led Zeppelin.
