You can’t argue with it. HIM is a good band.

The group showed the power of love metal when they appeared after a long time in North. The band expanded this year the traditional New Year Tavastia gig to a small tour, whose northernmost location was set up in Oulu’s Club Teatria.

Rock-nation heard their heroes’ Helldone Festival invitation, and a huge rock club was filled with people nearly the fullest. Might not have been quite sold out, but almost. A hint of that crowd could have been seen in the yard area, where the line of queuing people was two-hundred-metres long.

Success, not extatic
The reception was not as extatic as one might have imagined. The audience got excited when maestro Ville Valo walked to his place next to microphone. Also applaudes, screams and other shouts between songs soon dried after each song to an awaiting of a next song. Sure there were shouting storms, but less than expected and more mild.

But hardly is HIM's popularity waining. Proof of this was audience’s willingness to co-sing with Valo whenever there was an opportunity.

All in all, HIM played during an hour and three quarters under the heartagram logo 18 songs, of which the majority were hits, and that's what the band surely has; for example Wings Of A Butterfly, Right Here In My Arms, Join Me In Death, Wicked Game, Soul On Fire, In Joy and Sorrow, Your Sweet Six Six Six, The Sacrament, Poison Girl and When Love and Death Embrace.

Valo’s appeal
HIM’s appeal – both in Finland and abroad – is based on two facts; Ville Valo’s charisma and great melodic songs. But without Valo, HIM, a band that started with the name His Infernal Majesty in 1995, would still be a group among gray band mass.

Valo’s charisma is propably natural. Skinny chain smoker, wearing beanie and a cigarette between his fingers, leaning on the microphone, Valo does not use much of traditional stage maneers.

And not less move, but the most important thing comes from his throat. Inimitable voice that is immediately recognizable, and the use of it, has made Ville Hermanni Valo an international rock star, and he’s looking like one in his leather jacket.

Finnish article here:
http://www.pohjolansanomat.fi/cs/Satellite/Kulttuuri/1194610278305/artikkeli/him+n+lovemetalli+puree.html

Special thanks to mhesh @ VD for translating it better than the google translation.

BTW- some of the lovely photos I uploaded earlier came from the site where this article is at.