‘SCREAMWORKS: LOVE IN THEORY AND PRACTICE, CHAPTERS 1-13′

I’m confused. I thought HIM was a lighter shade of metal, not a mainstream medium-heavy rock band. I’m even more confused by the high praise for the band as seen on Amazon from reviewers who must be loyal fans…  The only expanantion must be that the band has not sold enough records for its record company, and ‘radical’ sonic downgrading action was called-for, and on the strength of this album, was delivered. And what’s with the crazy title? ‘SCREAMWORKS (it doesn’t): LOVE IN THEORY AND PRACTICE, CHAPTERS 1-13!!!!

But is it good? Well, it starts encouragingly with ‘In Venere Veritas’ and tiny fragments of metal creeping in here and there, in a song that could loosely be described as heavy rock. There’s a monster melody and some clever vocal touches that lift the song out of mediocrity, and a pretty complex structure that sort of tries to appeal to all and everyone. It’s a record I would play on my radio show, which means I quite like it. ‘Scared To Death’ is nothing of the sort and reminds me of an Elliott Minor song from SOLARIS. This is about as mainstream rock-pop as you can get, and seems to me to be designed for Radio 1 and its comotose brethren.  It’s okay, but just okay (I prefer Elliot Minor). A line like “I’m scared to fall in love with you’ is hardly scary stuff now is it… ‘Heartkiller’ repeats the dose albeit with less quality - ideal for Radio 1 and maybe even Radio 2 (scary huh).

‘Dying Song’ just about sums this tune up. It’s mediocre and if the intention was to ape Shinedown or Nickelback, it fails badly. Moving on… ‘Disarm Me With Your Loneliness’  is more of the same as it lopes along like a wilting lettuce leaf until the fair-to-middling choruses arrive. ‘Love, The Hardest Way’ is a low point and repeats the synthy opening of the past three songs, just about…

But hope springs eternal! ‘Ode To Solitude’ is backed by pounding metal guitar riffs and has a threatening vibe, but I can’t help think that it’s mutton dressed up as lamb. In fairness,  it’s not bad and a standout in this company. ‘Shatter Me With Hope’ repeats the trick and it seems like the band has realised that a degree of ‘heaviness’ has to restore some credibility. Not bad. ‘Acoustic Funeral (For Love In Limbo)’  is a distinctive song with some clever guitar work and a pleasant reflective vibe.

‘Like St. Valentine’ ups the stakes substantially and we now seem to have arrived back (almost) on home ground. Finally, ‘The Foreboding Sense Of Impending Happiness’, with its novel bendy, dark gothic background sound, is adventurous enough to earn its standout stripe.

To me, this is a compromise album that just about gets away with it, but I’m left wondering where HIM is heading. But, what do I know? The fans love it and just maybe, more teeny boppers will flock to the cause, while Radio 1 will say, ‘hang on a minute, we can actually play this…’

3/5