HIM’s Ville Valo: Ace at heart

Finnish Love Metallers (yes, we’re still using it) and former Metal Hammer coverstars HIM performed a brand new track at a show in Helsinki at the Helldone Festival on December 29.

New HIM album Tears On Tape will be out later this year, with production duties coming from Hiili Hiilesmaa in Helsinki’s Finvoxx Studios.

"Basically, we’re making what I’d call ‘modern retro,’” beanie-loving frontman Ville Valo told Revolver about the album, adding that it will sound like "Roy Orbison meeting Metallica.” We wanted it to be nasty, fucked-up, and messy, and have that punk-rock attitude. But then on the other hand, it would also have that Roy Orbison naive, sentimental, dream-like quality.”