Tears don't lie | Sonic Seducer | November 2012

Granted, it isn’t Chinese Democracy, but three years of silence on the airwaves is a quite a long time in the merry-go-round of musical vanity. The long absence didn’t leave the “Sexiest Frontman”, as he’s voted with increasing regularity on Kerrang! magazine, unaffected and is bad for complexion and business. So it’s not surprising that the gossip factory temporary dished prophecies of an unsung end of the band. There is enough fuel for that rumour: First, the seventh album “Screamworks. Love in Theory and Practice” (2012) isn’t toured anymore, then Ville Valo with “SWRMXS” as well as bass player Migé and guitar player Linde deliver more or less respected solo projects until the iron curtain of silence finally falls – the band’s homepage goes offline and no more news cross the Gulf of Finland. Until a few weeks ago, when the message of a certain Monsieur “V” appears on the band’s facebook page and proclaims that even two releases await the fans in the next months. For one thing a greatest hits compilation on October 26th and for another the new, eighth studio album “Tears on Tape” which is planned to be released in early 2012. Sure thing, we immediately contacted the by now 35-year-old singer to ask about the why, wherefore and forwhy of the past few and coming months!

MTV3 | October 2012

Positioned amongst the most successful Finnish bands HIM makes the expected return in late October, published a collection plate.
Six million albums sold worldwide HIM is living quietly for a long time. Now the band is active again, and the plan is to publish in the spring completely new music. The new album is progressing is a working title of Tears Tape.

- It seems to me that it remains as the name of the album, the band's singer Ville Valo says.
Working on a new album, compounded by the fact that HIM are currently a record company, as the band decided to co-operation with Warner.

- From there, we went out behind us were people out. It also meant we and the label's co-end. Now, we thought we'd hit the band's pension money in the game. We carry the entire album from start to finish for you. Only then we are looking for a publisher.

The label's absence is not the only problem with the band, as the HIM drummer functioning Mika Karppinen's illness has delayed the return of the album to do. Karppinen hands kipeytyivät is so severe that no call was successful.

- It had to then think about what to do with that. Bring world's cheapest drum machine into studio or something? I do not remember this at once that I own myself the world's cheapest drum machine. It would not have sounded like HIM.

20 Years Of Heavy Romance

HIM has returned to the studio and soon to the stage. Making songs is still like cutting himself for Ville Valo.

Ville Valo, 35, rides down the hill of Arinatie on an old mens' bicycle to Finnvox studio. For the most well known Finnish rock musician, his day begins like anyone elses'. Actually HIM is preparing for a celebration. At New Years' it has been 20 years since their first gig and to honor this,  HIM returns as the main act of their own Helldone festival at Tavastia. All four concerts were sold out in 20 minutes.It is a good sign since many old fans started to get worried about the destiny of their favorite band.

Interview with Soundi magazine

HIM is already twenty years old. That is impressive for any band, but the band members assure me, that you don't even notice the time passing by.

"When you do something with great intensity, time flies and you don't even notice", says Ville Valo. "We have had a million things and a lot of changes, both good and bad. I have speculated over this with a few friends, if it is like this for everyone or just for rock musicians. The rhythm of life is different."