HIM - Dark Light (2005)
Tracklist front / back album covers
All tracks written by Ville Valo, except where noted
1. "Vampire Heart" 4:46
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" 3:49
9. "Play Dead" 4:36
10. "In the Nightside of Eden" 5:40
Total length: 45:44
Dark Light is the fifth studio album by Finnish gothic rock band HIM. Released on 26 September 2005, HIM began recording the album in March 2005 at the Paramour Estate is Los Angeles, California, with producer Tim Palmer, who had also mixed the band's previous album Love Metal. Dark Light also served as HIM's first worldwide release with Sire Records, with whom the band had signed with in September 2004. In Finland, however, the album was released under the band's own label Heartagram. Musically, Dark Light featured a more "polished" and "accessible" sound than previous albums, and was written as a cross between Black Sabbath and U2, also influenced by the work of composer Angelo Badalamenti.
Dark Light received mostly positive reviews from critics, with many praising the writing and the band's performance, while some criticism was given to the second half of the album. Dark Light charted in fifteen countries, reaching number one in Finland, later going platinum, as well as gold in Germany, the UK and the US, making HIM the first Finnish artists to receive a gold record in the United States. Three singles were also released, with "Wings of a Butterfly" peaking at number one in Finland, and "Killing Loneliness" at number two. "Wings of a Butterfly" later received the award for "Song of the Year" at the 2005 Emma Awards, and was awarded at the 2007 BMI Pop Awards as well. During the album's world tour, HIM made their live debut in various countries, including Japan and Australia.
