After the highly polished yet ultimately dissapointing sounds of 'dark light' and the brooding darkness of the forgettable 'venus doom', HIM are back stronger than ever with Screamworks, an album showing encouraging signs of a welcome return to their more upbeat and almost at times 'glam' rock side of earlier years, feeling closer in tone to razorblade romance and deep shadows than the confused directionless offerings of the last two albums.

The whole album is bristling with energy and power. Its like someone taught them all how to smile again and enjoy making music. The three opening tracks are stellar pieces of music, some of the bands best work is shown off here with plenty of fast riffs, catchy hooks and throat ripping choruses of 'In Venere Veritas' and 'Heart Killer', mixed in with the poppy melancholy of 'Scared to Death', (which is probably going to be a surefire hit on release).

The middle section, although a little slower in pace is just as good, 'Disarm Me… more »

After the highly polished yet ultimately dissapointing sounds of 'dark light' and the brooding darkness of the forgettable 'venus doom', HIM are back stronger than ever with Screamworks, an album showing encouraging signs of a welcome return to their more upbeat and almost at times 'glam' rock side of earlier years, feeling closer in tone to razorblade romance and deep shadows than the confused directionless offerings of the last two albums.

The whole album is bristling with energy and power. Its like someone taught them all how to smile again and enjoy making music. The three opening tracks are stellar pieces of music, some of the bands best work is shown off here with plenty of fast riffs, catchy hooks and throat ripping choruses of 'In Venere Veritas' and 'Heart Killer', mixed in with the poppy melancholy of 'Scared to Death', (which is probably going to be a surefire hit on release).

The middle section, although a little slower in pace is just as good, 'Disarm Me (With Your Loneliness)' gives you a breather before 'Love, the Hardest Way' continues in the same vein as the albums opening.

The last few tracks are not as strong by comparison to the rest of the album and feel a little more heavy in tone but they are not weak songs by any means and never stray into the dark bogged down misery of some of the tracks from 'Venus Doom'.

The albums closer is truly brilliant, its not like anything ive heard HIM attempt before but it works brilliantly. Its a fitting end to a quality album.

There are only a few blips I can think of on the whole of the album and even these are only minor gripes. 'Dying Song' feels a little out of place in the track ordering and as stated above, one or two of the later songs feel a little weaker than the rest but its not enough to derail HIM's strongest album since 'Love Metal' and a truly fine return to form for our fave finnish boys!

Highlights are;

In Venere Veritas
Scared To Death
Heartkiller
Disarm Me (With Your Loneliness)
Love, The Hardest Way
The Foreboding Sense Of Impending Happiness.