Venus Doom

''Venus Doom'' is the sixth studio album by Finnish gothic rock band HIM. The album was recorded at Finnvox Studios in Helsinki with producers Hiili Hiilesmaa and Tim Palmer, both whom had collaborated with the band on various occasions, and released on 14 September 2007. During the making of ''Venus Doom'', HIM was struggling with the personal problems of their vocalist Ville Valo. Among other things, his alcohol abuse had worsened to the point that he suffered a nervous breakdown during the recording process, after which he was admitted to the Promises Rehabilitation Clinic in Malibu by HIM's manager Seppo Vesterinen. Musically the album has been described as HIM's heaviest and darkest album to date, with influences from bands such as My Dying Bride, Anathema and Paradise Lost. Much of the album's lyrical themes and heaviness were inspired by Valo's personal difficulties, including his break-up with fiancé Jonna Nygrén.

''Venus Doom'' received positive reviews from critics, with many commending the album's heaviness and experimentation. The album charted in thirteen countries, including the top ten in four. ''Venus Doom'' was eventually certified gold in Finland and gave the band their highest US chart position to date at number twelve. The album also gave the band their first Grammy nomination for " Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package". Two singles were released, with "The Kiss of Dawn" reaching number two in Finland. During the summer of 2007, HIM toured across the United States as a part of Linkin Park's Projekt Revolution Tour, as well as opening for Metallica in Europe. HIM began the supporting tour for ''Venus Doom'' in the fall of 2007 in North America, followed by the UK, before returning to Europe in early 2008.

Production

In September 2006, HIM cancelled a forthcoming North American tour in support of their previous album '' Dark Light'' to begin work on new material. In February 2007, the band entered Finnvox Studios in Helsinki to record their sixth studio album, with producers Hiili Hiilesmaa and Tim Palmer, both of whom had previously worked on the band's 2003 album ''Love Metal''. After three months of recording, the album was mixed at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles by Tim Palmer, and mastered by Ted Jensen at Sterling Sound in New York.''Venus Doom'' album sleeve notes. For the album's front cover the band used a painting by artist David Harouni, that vocalist Ville Valo had purchased while on tour in New Orleans. The painting had been hanging on Valo's living room wall while he was writing material for the album, so he felt it was only natural to use it as the cover art. The title ''Venus Doom'' continues the band's tradition of contrasts in album titles, with Venus being the Roman goddess of love, and doom representing Judgement Day and doom metal.

The making-of the album was plagued with problems Valo was facing in his personal life.''Metal Hammer'' Presents HIM: ''Tears On Tape'' Fanpack Magazine – pg. 21 Exhaustion and his break-up with fiancée Jonna Nygrén had severely affected Valo's worsening alcohol abuse, resulting in him reportedly vomiting and defecating blood at one point. All these issues came to a head when Valo suffered a nervous breakdown during the recording process. Valo did manage to recuperate, until the mixing stage, when he began drinking again. Eventually he was admitted to the Promises Rehabilitation Clinic in Malibu by the band's manager Seppo Vesterinen.

Music and lyrics

''Venus Doom'' has been described as HIM's heaviest and darkest album to date, and was written with the intent of creating a much heavier and darker follow-up to ''Dark Light''. Valo stated that the band's idea was to combine '' Loveless'' by My Bloody Valentine and ''Master of Puppets'' by Metallica, and that the album drew on some of the band's early influences, including My Dying Bride, Anathema and Paradise Lost. Valo also described ''Venus Doom'' as a more personal album than previous efforts, as well as more "organic" and "violent". Valo also wrote some of the album while in Sirkka, Lapland. Speaking on the sound of the album, BBC
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