Dark Light (HIM album)

Dark Light
Studio album by HIM
Released	23 September 2005 (Germany) 26 September 2005 (International) 27 September 2005 (United States)
Recorded	Paramour Studios, Los Angeles, USA
Genre	Alternative rock (see HIM (Finnish band)#Genre)
Length	45:30
Label	Sire Records
Producer	Tim Palmer
HIM chronology
Greatest Love Songs Vol. 666 / Razorblade Romance / Deep Shadows and Brilliant Highlights (2004) Dark Light (2005) Uneasy Listening Vol. 1 (2006)
Alternative Cover
iTunes Cover

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Kerrang!
TheMusicZine	[1]

Dark Light is Finnish rock band HIM's fifth full length album. This album was released on 26 September 2005 internationally and on 27 September 2005 in the USA with a limited edition pre-release of 20,000 some days before. This limited edition came in a tin case with a 24 page booklet with hand written lyrics by the band's lead singer, Ville Valo, a certificate of authenticity and a key chain laser pen that shines the Heartagram, the bands logo. It debuted in stores, however, with a glossy black plastic wrap covering the front, so in order to see the real cover one needed to purchase it. This album was originally supposed to be produced and mixed by Andy Wallace, an accomplished American producer, but vocalist Ville Valo said he made HIM sound too 'American' and they fired him, hiring Tim Palmer with whom they had worked before on Love Metal and And Love Said No. The first single released from the album was "Wings of a Butterfly," and the second single was "Killing Loneliness." The album charted at #18 in both the US and in the UK. In Germany, Dark Light reached #4.

The writing of Dark Light was inspired by a Finnish book with the same title and a collection of ancient mythologies and religions (mainly Christianity). Songs including mythological references are "Wings of a Butterfly," "Venus (In Our Blood)," "Drunk on Shadows," and "In the Nightside of Eden." "Wings of a Butterfly" is a reference to a Greek myth in which two souls destroyed something beautiful to live forever, and "Venus (In Our Blood)" has the line "Venus denies your seven towers," referring to another Greek myth portraying hell as seven towers protruding from dark waters. In the song "In the Nightside of Eden," there is a line, "we descend to the circle number four," a reference to The Divine Comedy's adaptation of hell, an adaptation that many mistake for an actual part of the Bible.

The Special Digibook Edition was released but was limited to 50,000 copies and included the track "The Cage." Also released was the Exclusive Heartagram Internet Edition, which in addition to including "The Cage", included the track "Venus (In Our Blood)." The Heartagram Internet Edition only produced 20,000 copies to be sold. The Japanese version of Dark Light also featured the HIM's cover of "Poison Heart," originally recorded and released by the Ramones.

Dark Light was the first Finnish album to sell gold in the United States, meaning it has sold over 500,000 copies in the U.S., and 1,500,000 copies worldwide. It was rated #9 in Metal Hammer's albums of the decade.

Several of the songs include easter eggs. In the exclusive bonus track "Venus (In Our Blood)," there is a little girl's voice speaking at the beginning, and in reverse the little girl says "Where are we going, daddy?" There is backmasked voice at the end of "In the Nightside of Eden" and "Behind the Crimson Door", continuing their trend, has a whispering voice at the bridge of the song.

Track listing

All tracks by Ville Valo except where noted.

1. "Vampire Heart" – 4:47
2. "Wings of a Butterfly" – 3:30
3. "Under the Rose" – 4:50
4. "Killing Loneliness" – 4:29
5. "Dark Light" – 4:31
6. "Behind the Crimson Door" – 4:37
7. "The Face of God" – 4:36
8. "Drunk on Shadows" – 3:50
9. "Play Dead" – 4:36
10. "In the Nightside of Eden" – 5:40
11. "Venus (In Our Blood)" ^{Exclusive Internet Edition bonus track} – 4:35
12. "The Cage" ^{Digibook, Internet Edition bonus track} – 4:19
13. "Poison Heart" ^{only available on the Japanese version} – 3:46

All three bonus tracks were also included on Side-4 of the double vinyl edition of the album in their respective order.

Dark Light Promo Release - EP

This promo has the label "Nearly There Version 7/14" because it has the mixes at that date. There is another version with a white-yellow case. On some printings the name of the artist is changed to "Harry Hits Parade", probably to prevent possible leaks.

Track List

1. "Vampire Heart"– 4:45
2. "Wings of a Butterfly"– 3:29
3. "Under the Rose"– 4:49
4. "Killing Loneliness"– 4:29
5. "Dark Light"– 4:30

B-Sides (Not Included On The Album)

1. "Wings of a Butterfly" (radio edit)^{'Wings of a Butterfly' single} - 3:30
2. "And Love Said No" (616 version)^{'Wings of a Butterfly' single} - 4:24
3. "Under the Rose" (live)^{'Killing Loneliness' single} – 3:55
4. "Wings of a Butterfly" (live)^{'Killing Loneliness' single} – 3:26
5. "Play Dead" (live)^{'Killing Loneliness' single} – 4:00
6. "Vampire Heart" (live)^{'Killing Loneliness' single} – 5:13

Personnel

HIM

• Ville Hermanni Valo — lead vocals
• Mikko Viljami "Linde" Lindström — lead guitar
• Mikko Henrik Julius "Migé" Paananen — bass guitar
• Janne Johannes "Emerson Burton" Puurtinen — keyboards
• Mika Kristian "Gas Lipstick" Karppinen — drums

Technical Staff

• Sonny Gerasimowicz – Cover Design
• Michael Goldstone – A&R
• Brie Greenberg – Supervisor
• Stephen Marcussen – Mastering
• Mark O'Donoughue – Engineer
• Tim Palmer – Producer, Mixing
• Cindi Peters – Production Coordination
• Dave Starr – Assistant
• Seymour Stein – Supervisor
• Ralf Strathmann – Photography
• Steef Van De Gevel – Assistant
• Ellen Wakayama – Art Direction
• Craig Winkler – Supervisor

Charts

Chart	Peak position
Finland	#1	Platinum & Gold[2]	39,000
Greece	#1	Gold[3]
Austria	#4
Germany	#4
Sweden	#7
Switzerland	#8
Italy	#10
Japan	#53
Spain	#10
Czech Republic	#13
Norway	#13
Hungary	#15
UK	#18
U.S.	#18	Gold[4]	500,000
Ireland	#19
Canada	#24
Holland	#25
Australia	#40
Belgium	#42
France	#155

References

1. ^ http://www.themusiczine.com/album.php?id=22 TheMusicZine review
2. ^ HIM Finnish sales
3. ^ Greek charts
4. ^ HIM U.S Billboard