Maximum Metal Rating Legend
5 Excellent - Masterpiece. A classic.
4.5-4 Great - Almost perfect records but there's probably a lacking.
3.5 Good - Most of the record is good, but there may be some filler.
3 Average - Some good songs, some bad ones at about a half/half ratio.
2.5-2 Fair - Worth a listen, but best obtained by collectors.
1.5-1 Bad - Major problems with music, lyrics, production, etc.
0 Terrible - Waste of your life and time.

Note: Reviews are graded from 0-5, anything higher or not showing is from our old style. Scores, however, do not reveal the important features. The written review that accompanies the ratings is the best source of information regarding the music on our site. Reviewing is opinionated, not a qualitative science, so scores are personal to the reviewer and could reflect anything from being technically brilliant to gloriously cheesy fun.

Demos and independent releases get some slack since the bands are often spent broke supporting themselves and trying to improve. Major releases usually have big financial backing, so they may be judged by a heavier hand. All scores can be eventually adjusted up or down by comparison of subsequent releases by the same band. We attempt to keep biases out of reviews and be advocates of the consumer without the undo influence of any band, label, management, promoter, etc.

The best way to determine how much you may like certain music is to listen to it yourself.
Band
H.I.M.
Title
The Video Collection
Type
DVD
Company
Universal
YOR
2004
Style
Gothic/Symphonic
11/3/2005 - Review by: Ken Pierce
HIM - The Video Collection: 1997-2003 - 2004 - Universal Records

Track Listing
1. Buried Alive By Love
2.The Funeral Of Hearts
3.Gone With The Sin
4.Heartache Every Moment
5.In Joy And Sorrow
6.Join Me In Death
7.Poison Girl
8.Pretending
9.Right Here In My Arms
10.The Sacrament
11.When Love And Death Embrace
12.Wicked Game
13.The Fourth Wall – bonus feature
14.Interrogation Footage – bonus feature
In the United States H.I.M. seems to be an overnight sensation that just came to us early last year. In truth the group has had a far longer and more successful career in Europe for over 10 years. Most of their CD Releases were made available to us in 2004 and 2005 and among these pieces was also the DVD Collection of the bands videos. I have to inform readers that it was the video for “Join Me In Death” that first drew me to the music and this is the type of appeal that this band of Finns has over the listener. This is a perfect companion to the H.I.M. CD collection and almost a necessity since these videos will probably never be featured on MTV or VH1. To describe the music of H.I.M. to the inexperienced is quite simply to take a Rock vibe and mix with hints of Gothic and Dark overtones. The band has more in common with Billy Idol and Joy Division than other types of Finnish Metallers. Ville Vallo sings of love, loss, heartbreak and death in almost every song and while the material might seem utterly morose based on the titles you will find that the music breaks from the dismal nature and is very creative and catchy.

There is some cool bonus footage included such as the Making of “The Sacrament” and “Buried Alive By Love” as well as some interview segments. Bam Marguera, an MTV celebrity from the show “Viva La Bam” describes what about the band appealed to him so much that he would help with the creation of their last few videos. Ville Vallo also gives some good background on the band and its origins as “His Infernal Majesty” up until the time of the interview. I enjoyed the piece as I always like a nicely done video and their mini-movies are shot well. Like I said one of them actually made me look more into the band and that amounts to something. They hold some difference to videos from straight ahead Metal bands were everyone is in a room jamming. I have to also inform the female fan base (which is massive in scope) that they will enjoy all the various shots of Ville that they get in this DVD.

There is no booklet to speak of, just a page that lists the existing CD Releases. Yet overall it’s a great introduction to the style, look and sound of the group. It’s also very affordable in most cases. Take a look into it.

Rating: 7/10

--Ken Pierce 11.04.05

  • 1 :REVIEW COUNT
    N/A :AVE RATING

ALL REVIEWS FOR: H.I.M.
TITLE
DOR
COMPANY
REVIEWER DATE MADE RATING
Deep Shadows And Brilliant Highlights
2004
Universal
Ken Pierce11/4/2004
-
Love Metal
2003
BMG
Nate Turpin8/13/2003
-
Razorblade Romance
2003
Universal
Ken Pierce6/3/2004
-
The Video Collection
2004
Universal
Ken Pierce11/3/2005
-

ALL INTERVIEWS FOR: H.I.M.
INTERVIEW INTERVIEWER DATE TAGLINE


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