• Facts
      • Band: HIM
      • Date: February 28, 2008
      • venue: Paradiso Amsterdam, the Netherlands
      • Genre: love metal
      • Official website: Heartagram
      • The Bullet Rating: 8/10
      • .
    • Setlist
      • Razorblade Kiss
      • Right here in my arms
      • Poison girl
      • Join me
      • Buried alive by love
      • Soul on fire
      • Funeral of hearts
      • The sacrement
      • It's all tears
      • Wicked game
      • Rip out the wings of a butterfly
      • Dead lovers lane
      • Kiss of dawn
      • Sleepwalking past hope
      • Bleed well
      • Passions killing floor
      • Killing loneliness
      • Your sweet 666
      • .

    • Rating
      • 10 - Head banging rock
      • 8 - Rock N Roll
      • 6 - Wobble
      • 4 - Sway
      • 2 - Seaside rock

Live review: HIM in Amsterdam

We’re in the exact same spot as two and half years ago, when HIM played Paradiso right after releasing Dark Light. Same place, same band, but with a few differences. First of all, there again is a new album. But Venus Doom is much better than its predecessor and we’re looking forward to seeing the band play the songs live! Secondly, Ville has given up alcohol, and apparently this makes the shows a lot better. In the light of the interview we did with him in 2005 we have got to mention the fact that he has grown his hair again. Definitely an improvement!

When we arrive at half past 4, there are at least a hundred people waiting outside. All two thousand tickets have been sold, it’s gonna be packed tonight. Doors open a little later than planned, and people are getting annoyed and anxious. When staff try to open the doors, the people at the door have to take a step back, but the kids in the row start pushing and are struggling to get in. It’s a mess and we’re somewhere in the middle of it, trying not to stumble over the rubbish people that have been queuing all day have left. It’s worse than in 2005, and not much fun. Once inside things are a lot calmer, and we take our usual spot on the right side of the stage, on the steps overlooking the crowd. Perfect view of the stage! Supporting HIM is 80’s rock band Paradise Lost, who don’t seem to get any contact with the crowd. They do their songs and then take off, not leaving much of an impression. It’s HIM we’ve come here for, and we’ve been waiting long enough!

The crowd is young today, and as usual full of guys dressed as Ville or Bam. In front of us, one step below, are three girls no older than 13, if they even were that. One of them was holding a cuddly bunny with her phone number written on it. You’ve got to be fucking kidding me! Go see a boyband if you want to throw stuffed animals! The bunny-kid decides she could see the stage better if she stood a step higher, which is where I am at. After pushing, shoving and even asking nicely, she’s still there and we’re even more annoyed. In the end we manage to get her to move to the side and we keep our feet firmly on the edge so none of her friends can repeat the same trick.

HIM

When the band finally gets on stage, the crowd goes insane. What a great start! HIM opens with Passion’s Killing Floor, which is a nice one after years of beginning with Buried Alive By Love! The band looks amazing and Ville smiles a lot tonight. They are definitely playing much better than last time. Ville looks healthier and happier, and is better vocally too. Tonight’s setlist is a mix of singles, crowd favourites and new songs. Nothing unexpected, but not bad at all! Ville gets confused during Soul On Fire and completely fucks up during Razorblade Kiss, not singing at all and when he does he sings the wrong part of the song. Ah well, at least the others know what they are doing! Ville demands perfection of his band, telling Gas to play louder before they start Sleepwalking Past Hope, performed absolutely beautifully. Definitely the highlight of the evening.

A thong hits the stage and Ville takes it and stuffs it in his back pocket. Mige is grossed out by this, and pulls weird faces to show us his disgust. Especially when Ville uses it to wipe the sweat of his face later on. Yuck indeed. Yes, the stuffed bunny also gets a flying lesson, but lands between the stage and the crowd. The overall vibe is good, the sound is good enough – better than most other HIM shows I have been to – and the setlist is nicely composed. Except for tonight’s final track, Funeral of Hearts. Of all the songs they can end with, they choose this boring one. Not my kind of end-with-a-bang. They come back to play The Sacrament and one of the newer songs. Then it’s definitely over and we leave on a high.

Verdict: This was my 6th HIM-show and one of the better ones. The songs of Venus Doom fit right into their set list and especially Sleepwalking Past Hope is amazing live. I loved the old ones like Your Sweet 666 and Soul On Fire too. It was great to see Ville smiling so much, this was totally worth the trip!

Imre