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Venus Doom
Venus Doom
Venus Doom
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Venus Doom
Studio album by
HIM
Released14 September 2007
Recorded2007
StudioFinnvox Studios in Helsinki
Genre
Length48:12
LabelSire
Producer
HIM chronology
Uneasy Listening Vol. 2
(2007) 		Venus Doom
(2007) 		Digital Versatile Doom
(2008)
Singles from Venus Doom
  1. "The Kiss of Dawn"
    Released: 28 July 2007
  2. "Bleed Well"
    Released: 9 December 2007

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 vocalist Ville Valo. In particular, his alcohol abuse had worsened to the point that he suffered health problems and a nervous breakdown during the recording process, after which he entered rehab. 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, selling over 38.000 copies in the first week.[1] 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

[edit]

In September 2006, HIM cancelled a forthcoming North American tour in support of their previous album Dark Light to begin work on new material.[2] 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.[3] 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.[4] For the album's front cover the band used a David Harouni painting that vocalist Ville Valo had purchased while on tour in New Orleans.[5] 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.[5] 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.[5]

The making of the album was plagued with problems Valo was facing in his personal life.[6] 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.[5][6] All these issues came to a head when Valo suffered a nervous breakdown during the recording process.[6] Valo did manage to recuperate, until the mixing stage, when he began drinking again.[6] Eventually he was admitted to the Promises Rehabilitation Clinic in Malibu by the band's manager Seppo Vesterinen.[6]

Music and lyrics

[edit]
"Sleepwalking Past Hope" (2007)
"Sleepwalking Past Hope" is HIM's longest song at over 10 minutes in length, and demonstrates the doom metal influenced sound of Venus Doom.[6]
Problems playing this file? See media help.

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.[6] 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.[6][7] Valo also described Venus Doom as a more personal album than previous efforts, as well as more "organic" and "violent".[8] Valo also wrote some of the album while in Sirkka, Lapland.[5] Speaking on the sound of the album, BBC described it as a "grand, gothic metal [record] combined with cod-mysticism, crunchy guitars, thrashy drums and a breathy vocal delivery tinged with effects."[9]

Talking about the themes explored on Venus Doom, Valo stated: "Lyrically, it's about me losing a relationship and then actually regaining it, and losing my sanity and regaining it [...] It's like me getting rid of my demons and putting the pain in the music."[7] The title track talks about "how much love has to suffer for our humankind's insanity and our stupidity to get through to our jaded, cold hearts".[10] "Passion's Killing Floor" was included on the soundtrack album of the 2007 film Transformers, while "The Kiss of Dawn" was partly inspired by a friend of Valo's who committed suicide.[11] In "Song or Suicide", Valo used lines from the poems of Finnish author Timo K. Mukka, while the title was inspired by American singer-songwriter Judee Sill.[12] Valo also described the song as being very "positive", and talks about the "feeling that you have enough to do and say, at least for yourself, not to end your days, and not to want to leave this world."[12] The track was also recorded at the Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles.[4] "Sleepwalking Past Hope" is the longest song in HIM's catalogue and was partly inspired by Valo's relationship with Jonna Nygrén.[13] Valo explained, stating: "It's about 'When do you really want to let go?' 'When is the time?', because nobody can tell you the time to let go of a relationship or let go of yourself."[13]

Release and promotion

[edit]
HIM performing in Marysville, California, in August 2007

Venus Doom was originally scheduled to be released on 10 July 2007, but was pushed back to September in May 2007.[14] From 25 July to 3 September 2007, HIM toured the US with Linkin Park on their Projekt Revolution Tour, which also included My Chemical Romance, Taking Back Sunday and Placebo.[15] Prior to the beginning of the tour, HIM also held a contest for fans to win a trip to meet the band at tour's opening date in Seattle.[16] The winners of the contest would also be featured on a forthcoming live DVD.[16] HIM also played a number of concerts in the summer of 2007 opening for Metallica on their Sick of the Studio '07 Tour, including a show at Wembley Stadium in London.[17][18] "The Kiss of Dawn" was released as the first single from Venus Doom on 28 July 2007, and reached number two in Finland,[19] number 30 in Sweden,[20] number 44 in Germany,[21] and number 59 in the UK.[22] "Bleed Well" followed later that year as the second single from the album.[23] Both also received music videos.[24][25]

Venus Doom was released on 14 September 2007, and charted in thirteen countries, including at number two in Finland,[19] number three in Germany,[21] number five in Switzerland,[26] and number nine in Austria.[27][28] The album also gave HIM their highest US chart position to date at number twelve.[29] Venus Doom was eventually certified gold in Finland,[30] and was also nominated for the "Grammy Award for Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package",[31] as well as "Rock Album of the Year" at the 2007 Emma Awards.[32] HIM began the North American leg of the supporting tour for Venus Doom on 18 October 2007 in Sayreville, New Jersey, with Bleeding Through serving as support.[33] The band's shows at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles on 14 and 15 November 2007 were also filmed and recorded, and later released as the live album Digital Versatile Doom on 29 April 2008.[34] In December 2007 HIM toured across the UK, before starting a European tour in early 2008.[5]

Reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic67/100[35]
Review scores
SourceRating
NOWStarStarStarStarStar[36]
SoundiStarStarStarStar[37]
RumbaStarStarStarStar[38]
Imperiumi.net8+/10[39]
AllmusicStarStarStarHalf star[40]
NMEPositive[41]
SpinPositive[42]
BBCPositive[9]
Helsingin SanomatMixed[43]

Venus Doom received positive reviews from critics, with an average score of 67 out of 100 on Metacritic.[35] NME described it as "an extremely well-executed pop-metal album", while Aaron Burgess of Spin called the album "may be the year's heaviest, creepiest, and sexiest hard-rock group effort".[35] He also commended the rest of the band for being able to stretch out alongside Valo.[42] Sauli Vuoti of Soundi awarded Venus Doom four stars out five and described as "dark, depressing and extremely twisted".[37] He also gave praise to guitarist Mikko "Linde" Lindström's performance, and called "Sleepwalking Past Hope" "melancholic HIM at their best".[37] Vuoti did compare Venus Doom as being less "hit-focused" and "straightforward" than Dark Light, describing the album as more "experimental".[37] Rumba's Janne Flinkkilä also gave the album four out five stars, and while he did comment on the band's intent on repeating themselves, he still touted Venus Doom as HIM's best album, with special praise being given to Valo's vocal performance.[38] Mape Ollila of Imperiumi.net also called Venus Doom the band's heaviest and darkest album yet, awarding the album eight-plus out of ten.[39] He also commended the band's decision not to repeat the formula of Dark Light to gain more success.[39]

NOW also commended the band's choice to experiment, while Rolling Stone stated: "The melodies tend toward the lush, while underneath, Valo's bandmates rock with fury and efficiency, ensuring that all the heartbroken laments are badass enough for hardcore metalheads."[35] AllMusic's Jason Lymangrover gave the album three-and-a-half stars out of five, and described the album as finding the band "back on track and sounding more metal than ever."[40] He did criticize the lyrics, but also stated that "most fans of the band don't want to philosophize, they want to hear the group rock out, and this release shows them doing precisely that, even harder than before."[40] Eamonn Stack of the BBC was also positive in his review of Venus Doom, describing the album as "instantly catchy, heavy and melodramatic, and produced with polish and with some great choruses", but did feel that the material lacked variety.[9] Jarkko Jokelainen of Helsingin Sanomat was more mixed in his review, giving kudos to the Lindström's guitar playing and the arrangements, but overall felt that the album lacked the hit-potential of Dark Light.[43]

Valo later ranked Venus Doom as one of his favorite albums by the band,[44] and in 2017 described it as a "tribute album to the artists, because of whom we formed the band", and as a "look at personal limits through the lenses of Melleri and Mukka. The search for the core of Slavic melancholy."[45] Loudwire later ranked Venus Doom fifth in the band's discography, describing it as "focusing more on chunky, heaving riffs" and displaying "HIM's dynamic interplay between unchained love and heartbreak".[46] Kaaoszine ranked the album as HIM's fourth-best album, calling it "one of the band's strongest albums as a whole".[47] "Sleepwalking Past Hope" was also voted the band's best song by the readers of Metal Hammer in 2017.[48]

Track listing

[edit]

All Lyrics written by Ville Valo.

No.TitleLength
1."Venus Doom"5:08
2."Love in Cold Blood"5:55
3."Passion's Killing Floor"5:10
4."The Kiss of Dawn"5:54
5."Sleepwalking Past Hope"10:03
6."Dead Lovers' Lane"4:29
7."Song or Suicide"1:10
8."Bleed Well"4:24
9."Cyanide Sun"5:57
Total length:48:12
Special edition bonus disc
No.TitleLength
1."Love In Cold Blood" (Special K RMX)4:25
2."Dead Lover's Lane" (Special C616 RMX)4:29
Total length:57:15
Special limited edition bonus disc
No.TitleLength
1."Love in Cold Blood" (Special K RMX)4:25
2."Dead Lovers' Lane" (Special C616 RMX)4:29
3."Bleed Well" (acoustic VRS)3:53
Total length:61:08
iTunes bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
10."Killing Loneliness" (live)4:21
11."Wings of a Butterfly" (live)3:19
Total length:68:48
Japanese bonus track
No.TitleLength
1."The Kiss of Dawn" (video)3:55

Personnel

[edit]

Charts

[edit]
Chart Peak
position
Australian Albums Chart[49] 32
Austrian Albums Chart[27] 9
Belgium Albums Chart[50] 69
Finnish Albums Chart[19] 2
German Albums Chart[21] 3
Hungarian Albums Chart[51] 21
Italian Albums Chart[52] 20
Dutch Albums Chart[53] 36
Norwegian Albums Chart[54] 22
Spanish Albums Chart[55] 22
Swedish Albums Chart[20] 12
Swiss Albums Chart[26] 5
UK Albums Chart[22] 31
US Alternative Albums[29] 3
US Billboard 200[29] 12
US Hard Rock Albums[29] 1
US Top Rock Albums[29] 3

Certifications

[edit]
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[30] Gold 23,318[30]
Greece (IFPI Greece)[56] Gold 10,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Venus Doom

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Venus Doom is the sixth studio by the Finnish band HIM, released on September 14, 2007, through . Recorded primarily at Finnvox Studios in , the album features a heavier and darker sound compared to previous works, incorporating influences alongside the band's signature and elements. It consists of ten tracks, including the extended "Sleepwalking Past Hope," the album's longest song at over ten minutes, and runs for a total of approximately 48 minutes. The album was produced by Tim Palmer and co-produced by Hiili Hiilesmaa, both of whom had previously worked with HIM, with additional recording for the interlude "Song or Suicide" taking place at the in . Lyrically, Venus Doom explores themes of despair, loss, and toxic romance, deeply influenced by frontman Ville Valo's personal turmoil during its creation, including a broken , struggles with , the suicide of a close friend—dedicated in the track "The Kiss of Dawn"—and a subsequent nervous breakdown that led to rehabilitation shortly after recording. This emotional intensity is reflected in the album's brooding atmosphere and more experimental song structures, marking a mature evolution for the band. Upon release, Venus Doom debuted at number 12 on the Billboard 200 chart and achieved top-10 positions across several European countries, though it lacked major singles to drive commercial success like prior albums. Critically, it received mixed to positive reviews, with praise for its heaviness and emotional depth—earning a Metascore of 67 on —but some criticism for lacking sonic variety and dated elements in its gothic metal style. Over time, it has been regarded by fans and Valo himself as one of HIM's creative peaks, highlighting the band's ability to blend melodic hooks with darker, more aggressive riffs.

Background

Band's fifth album and lineup

HIM, originally known as His Infernal Majesty, was formed in 1991 in , , by vocalist alongside early members including bassist Mikko "Mige" Paananen and guitarist Mikko "Linde" Lindström. The band gained international attention with their major label debut, Razorblade Romance, released in 2000, which featured the hit single "Join Me in Death" and marked their breakthrough into global markets following initial independent releases. By the mid-2000s, HIM had solidified their "" identity through a series of successful albums, evolving from roots toward more polished sounds. Following their fifth studio album, Dark Light (2005), HIM released Venus Doom (2007) as their sixth studio album, representing a progression in their discography with an intentional shift toward a heavier, more aggressive sound while maintaining their signature blend of romantic themes and elements. This album arrived during a mature phase for the band, after achieving widespread commercial success, including multiple chart-topping releases and tours across and in the preceding years. The creation of Venus Doom occurred amid personal challenges for frontman , including struggles with relationships and health that influenced the project's intensity. The core lineup for Venus Doom remained stable, reflecting continuity since the early 2000s: on vocals and guitar, Mikko "Linde" Lindström on guitar, Mikko "Mige" Paananen on bass, Janne "Gas Lipstick" Suvanto on drums (who joined in 1999), and Janne "Burton" Puurtinen on keyboards (added in 2001). This quintet had been the primary recording and touring unit for several albums prior, providing a consistent foundation that allowed HIM to experiment with darker, doom-influenced tones on Venus Doom without lineup disruptions.

Pre-production challenges

During the pre-production phase of Venus Doom, frontman grappled with severe that escalated in 2006 and 2007, consuming upwards of two cases of beer daily and using it as a form of for underlying emotional turmoil. This addiction reached a critical point where Valo experienced vomiting and defecating blood while attempting to work on the album, symptoms that left him near death and prompted a doctor's warning of impending upon completing the mixing in September 2007. These health crises nearly derailed the project entirely, as Valo later described waking up at night to drink just to fall asleep amid the physical toll, yet the ordeal infused the album with its profoundly darker, more intense emotional foundation. The initial songwriting sessions took place in Helsinki, where Valo composed the majority of the tracks at his home, seeking solitude despite frequent interruptions from fans that added to his stress. These efforts unfolded against a backdrop of internal band tensions stemming from Valo's personal struggles and the pressure to evolve their sound, compounded by label expectations for a heavier direction following the gothic metal leanings of their 2003 album Love Metal. Valo aimed to blend influences like My Bloody Valentine's shoegaze haze from Loveless with the thrash aggression of Metallica's Master of Puppets, resulting in early demos that highlighted gothic rock foundations laced with industrial edges and prominent, riff-driven guitars. To guide this vision, the band decided to reunite with producer Hiili Hiilesmaa, who had previously collaborated on and helped define their signature "" aesthetic through its polished yet atmospheric production. Hiilesmaa co-produced alongside Tim Palmer, leveraging their shared history to refine the demos' heavier, more experimental elements without straying from HIM's core identity. With the lineup stable since their prior releases, these pre-production steps bridged Valo's turbulent personal phase into a cohesive creative push.

Production

Recording process

The recording of Venus Doom took place from February to March 2007 at Finnvox Studios in , , during the band's first collaborative session with producer alongside the returning Hiili Hiilesmaa. The process spanned roughly two months amid the cold, dark Finnish winter, which influenced the album's brooding atmosphere, as vocalist noted: "We recorded the album in during the winter, so it was cold and dark." Sessions were intensive, focusing on capturing a heavier, more organic sound compared to prior releases, with the band reaching a where performances became more relaxed and efficient. Guitars and were tracked early using a combination of and modern gear, including and ESP baritone guitars through Laney and Marshall amps, supplemented by Line 6 Amp Farm plug-ins for layered distortions that contributed to the album's "doom-laden" tone. were recorded on a Tama Starclassic kit with microphones on snare and U87 on overheads, emphasizing in the low-tuned arrangements. Valo's ongoing struggles with , exacerbated by personal challenges like a and a friend's , cast a shadow over the proceedings, though he powered through vocals using a Neumann valve 67 for a strained, emotive delivery reflective of his turmoil. Additional recording for the interlude "Song or Suicide" took place at the in . These issues culminated in Valo entering rehab shortly after mixing concluded in April 2007 at Paramount Studios in Hollywood, marking a turning point post-recording. The digital workflow, centered on LE via an SSL AWS 900 console, prioritized precision in layering keyboards (Roland V-Synth, Nord Modular) and bass (Mesa Boogie), while smashed violins were incorporated experimentally for textural release during tense moments. Tracks like "The Kiss of Dawn" benefited from this focused execution, with its epic structure emerging from iterative builds on guitar foundations before vocal overlays, though the overall process was shaped by the need to channel adversity into the album's infernal themes.

Production team and techniques

The production of Venus Doom was overseen by Tim Palmer as lead producer, with Hiili Hiilesmaa serving as co-producer alongside the band members themselves. Hiilesmaa, a longtime collaborator with HIM, had previously produced the band's debut album and , and worked on early sessions for . Recording engineering was handled by both Palmer and Hiilesmaa, with assistance from Arto Tuunela. Key techniques emphasized a dense, layered sonic texture to enhance the album's foundation. Lead vocals were recorded using a Neumann U67 valve microphone to capture Ville Valo's emotive delivery, while multi-tracked guitars—featuring instruments like the , 1940s Levin semi-acoustic, baritone, and —were amplified through Laney and Marshall stacks, often processed with the Line 6 Amp Farm plug-in for added aggression and depth. Subtle electronic elements, including pulses from Roland V-Synth, Fantom, and Clavia Nord Modular synthesizers, along with sampled music boxes and effects, were integrated to infuse industrial influences without overpowering the core rock . These methods were tracked in Finnvox Studios' large live room using an SSL AWS 900 console and Neve 1081 preamps, monitored on Genelec speakers. Mixing took place at Paramount Studios in Hollywood under Palmer's direction, with Jamie Seyberth assisting, utilizing a large J Series SSL console and extensive outboard gear to balance the album's dynamic contrasts. Post-production culminated in mastering by at Sterling Sound in New York, which refined the polished yet raw, aggressive palette defining Venus Doom's heavy, introspective tone.

Composition

Musical style and structure

Venus Doom marks a significant evolution in HIM's sound, shifting toward a heavier and more aggressive iteration of infused with undertones. This departure from the band's earlier melodic, pop-inflected is evident in the album's slower tempos, down-tuned guitars delivering thick, riff-heavy textures, and prominent, driving bass lines that contribute to a brooding, atmospheric density. Compared to the lighter, more accessible elements of predecessors like Dark Light, Venus Doom emphasizes a darker, more deliberate heaviness, with tracks often building through monolithic riffs and dynamic shifts rather than catchy hooks. The album's song structures predominantly follow verse-chorus forms but incorporate extended bridges, instrumental solos, and progressive flourishes to create a sense of epic progression and emotional depth. Across its 10 tracks, which total approximately 55 minutes in runtime, compositions vary in and complexity, ranging from concise ballads to sprawling opuses that allow for layered instrumentation and tempo changes. For instance, "Passion's Killing Floor" opens with a riff-driven intro featuring crunchy power chords and brooding grooves, evolving into a hypnotic verse-chorus structure punctuated by synth accents and a soaring , clocking in at 5:10. Such constructions highlight HIM's integration of traditional rock frameworks with experimental extensions, as seen in the 10-minute "Sleepwalking Past Hope," which blends monstrous doom riffs with orchestral gothic passages. Influences from classic doom pioneers shape Venus Doom's sonic palette, particularly drawing on Black 's heavy, Sabbath-esque riffing and 's gothic doom sensibilities, which are woven into HIM's signature heartagram motif via recurring melodic hooks and romantic undertones. Frontman has cited these bands as key inspirations during the album's creation, noting extensive listening to , , and similar acts to reconnect with foundational roots while pushing toward a more aggressive edge. This fusion maintains HIM's melodic core but amplifies it through doom-laden heaviness, distinguishing Venus Doom as a pivotal entry in their discography.

Lyrics and thematic elements

The lyrics of Venus Doom center on the destructive facets of love, intertwining motifs of mortality and religious symbolism to convey profound emotional turmoil. , the band's primary lyricist, described the album's overarching theme as "having sex with the ," portraying love as a diabolical force that leads to profound suffering and loss, often likened to a "." This is exemplified in the title track "Venus Doom," where love is depicted as an apocalyptic entity, with —goddess of —crawling through "dark gardens of insanity" to ensnare the soul, critiquing toxic relationships through metaphors of inevitable doom and entrapment. Similarly, "Sleepwalking Past Hope" explores the entanglement of love and despair, where "keeps sweet-talking to despair" amid a hopeless , reflecting cycles of emotional devastation and personal surrender. Valo's poetic approach draws heavily from gothic romanticism, employing vivid, melancholic imagery infused with biblical allusions to heighten the sense of existential dread and redemption. In "Passion's Killing Floor," lines such as "My heart’s a graveyard baby / And to evil we make love" evoke a profane union of passion and decay, while references to and Golgotha underscore mortality's shadow over romantic bonds, with Valo noting his own path as "my personal way to Golgotha." The track "The Kiss of Dawn" further incorporates resurrection-like imagery, born from the suicide of a close friend, as it pleads to " our fears goodbye" yet seeks solace in shared tears and dawn's light, symbolizing fleeting hope amid irreversible loss. These elements reveal personal references to Valo's struggles, including and relational fractures, transforming abstract themes into intimate confessions of . Compared to prior works, the lyrics of Venus Doom mark a shift toward greater , moving away from the more anthemic declarations of love in earlier toward raw explorations of inner psyche and regret. Valo emphasized this as his "most personal ," with no single song tied to one event but rather a "" tracing back to formative experiences, reflecting the band's maturation through deeper emotional excavation. This evolution amplifies the gothic romanticism, prioritizing psychological depth over universal romance, while maintaining around 150 unique lines across the record's verses and choruses that blend despair with poetic resilience.

Artwork and formats

Cover art and design

The cover art for Venus Doom features a painting by American artist David Harouni, depicting a stylized female figure with piercing eyes that convey a sense of intense vulnerability and introspection. Frontman discovered the original piece during a visit to Harouni's gallery in New Orleans while on tour, purchasing it on impulse before requesting a custom version specifically for the album sleeve. In interviews, Valo described the artwork's immediate emotional resonance, stating that "the painting chose me... that woman caught me just when I saw her, she came over me and she understood me at the same time," linking it to his personal struggles during the album's creation. The album's title logo is a custom "Venus Doom" emblem, incorporating stylized lettering that mashes together "VENUS" and "DOOM." The overall visual palette shifts from HIM's traditional red-and-black heartagram scheme to deeper crimson and shadowy tones, emphasizing a gothic atmosphere of amid ruin. The lyric booklet presents the songs' words in Valo's own handwriting.

Release formats

Venus Doom was released in a variety of physical and digital formats, with standard and limited editions available through in the United States and International Inc. for international markets outside the U.S.. The standard edition is a single containing the 's nine tracks, issued on September 14, 2007. A limited edition digibook version included the standard alongside a bonus disc featuring two remixes: "Love in Cold Blood ( RMX)" and "Dead Lovers' Lane ( RMX)". Additionally, a special limited edition was offered exclusively through the band's online store, comprising the two s housed in an antique-style leather-wrapped journal with 60 pages of photographs, illustrations, handwritten , and polaroids. Digital downloads were made available via platforms like upon release, with a deluxe edition incorporating the bonus remixes for a total of 11 tracks and exclusive digital artwork in some versions. International variations included a Japanese edition released as an with the standard nine tracks plus a bonus video clip for "The Kiss of Dawn," totaling the core content with elements. No official vinyl edition was produced at the time of launch, though unofficial double LP pressings emerged in later years, including colored variants; a potential official reissue was rumored for 2017 but did not materialize.

Release and promotion

Marketing strategies

The marketing campaign for Venus Doom began with a teaser initiative in June 2007, incorporating cryptic updates on the band's official website and heartagram-themed advertisements placed in prominent metal magazines to generate anticipation among fans. This effort was complemented by retail partnerships providing exclusive merchandise bundles tying into the album's gothic aesthetic to drive pre-order engagement. Sire Records, in collaboration with , strategically positioned Venus Doom as HIM's heaviest and darkest release to date, emphasizing its intensified sound to appeal specifically to and alternative audiences. A key element of this approach involved early radio premieres of the "The Kiss of Dawn" on alternative stations, capitalizing on the track's brooding intensity to broaden reach within targeted demographics. To further build momentum, the campaign featured promotional events alongside online fan contests offering signed copies of the album. These activities supported Sire's distribution plan, building on the commercial success of HIM's prior releases.

Singles and music videos

The lead single from Venus Doom, "The Kiss of Dawn", was released on July 28, 2007, available in and digital formats as well as a 7-inch , with "Venus Doom" serving as the B-side on select editions. It achieved commercial success in , peaking at number 2 on the Finnish Singles Chart and charting for 7 weeks. The accompanying , directed by Meiert Avis and filmed in the area, incorporates apocalyptic imagery, depicting the band amid desolate, end-times landscapes that align with the album's darker motifs. The second single, "Bleed Well", followed as a digital release on December 9, 2007, supplemented by promotional CD versions distributed to radio and media outlets. Its music video, also helmed by Meiert Avis, showcases the band performing in an intimate, shadowy setting, emphasizing HIM's signature gothic aesthetics through dramatic lighting and emotive close-ups. The track received airplay on rock-oriented channels, contributing to the album's promotional push. "Passion's Killing Floor" served as a promotional single, prominently featured on the soundtrack for the 2007 film Transformers, which helped broaden its exposure beyond traditional album promotion. A preview of its music video, directed by Meiert Avis, was released in August 2007, blending high-energy performance footage with stylized visuals that highlight gothic elements like ritualistic symbolism and intense atmospheric tension. Overall, the three singles' videos aired on networks such as and Kerrang!, reinforcing HIM's visual style rooted in traditions.

Venus Doom Tour

Tour overview

The Venus Doom Tour was the concert tour by Finnish rock band HIM in support of their sixth studio album, Venus Doom, released on September 14, 2007. The tour commenced in the summer of 2007 and extended through 2008, encompassing over 90 performances across North America and Europe, with additional dates in Australia and New Zealand. It began with festival appearances and the band's participation as a supporting act on Linkin Park's Projekt Revolution tour, which ran from July 25 to September 3, 2007, across 29 North American dates featuring acts including My Chemical Romance and Taking Back Sunday. Following the album's release, HIM launched a headlining North American leg from October 18 to December 2, 2007, starting at the in , and concluding at the Nokia Theatre Times Square in , with as the opening act on most shows. This segment included stops in major cities like , , , and . The European portion followed in late 2007, with arena and theater performances in the UK, , and , before resuming in early 2008 for additional continental dates and an Australian run from March 23 to 31, 2008. Production featured the band's signature elaborate staging, incorporating heartagram symbolism through lighting and visuals, alongside during key tracks to enhance the gothic atmosphere. The tour faced logistical challenges stemming from frontman Ville Valo's personal struggles with alcohol addiction, which intensified during the album's production in 2007 and led to his entry into rehabilitation in August 2007. Despite these hurdles, the shows emphasized darker, more intense performances aligned with the album's themes, including wardrobe evoking gothic and doom aesthetics. The tour concluded in August 2008 after summer festival appearances in Europe.

Setlists and performances

The Venus Doom Tour featured a consistent core setlist of around 17 songs, blending new material from the album with established hits from HIM's discography to engage audiences across venues. Typically opening with "Passion's Killing Floor" from Venus Doom, the set included 5 to 6 tracks from the album, such as "Dead Lovers' Lane," "The Kiss of Dawn," "Sleepwalking Past Hope," and the title track "Venus Doom," which highlighted the band's heavier, more aggressive sound during the main set. This was balanced by fan favorites from prior releases, including and "Buried Alive by Love" from , "Right Here in My Arms" and from , and "Rip Out the Wings of a Butterfly" from Dark Light, often closing the encore with "Heartache Every Moment." Standout live renditions emphasized the tour's dynamic energy, particularly during the two-night stand at the Orpheum Theatre in on November 14 and 15, 2007, where the band delivered extended, immersive performances of tracks like "Sleepwalking Past Hope." These shows, part of the North American leg, were professionally recorded and later compiled into the live album and DVD Digital Versatile Doom: Live at the Orpheum Theatre XXXVII A.S., released on April 29, 2008, via , preserving the raw intensity of the tour's production with full-band arrangements and Ville Valo's commanding vocals. Setlist adaptations were minimal but included occasional regional tweaks, such as substituting covers like "" more frequently in European dates, as evidenced by fan-recorded bootlegs from shows in the UK and . In the , performances leaned toward tighter, radio-friendly pacing to suit larger arenas, contrasting slightly with the extended jams favored in intimate European venues, though the core structure remained intact throughout the 56 documented concerts.

Reception

Critical reviews

Upon its release in 2007, Venus Doom garnered mixed reviews from music critics, resulting in a Metacritic aggregate score of 67 out of 100 based on nine professional reviews. The album was frequently praised for its increased heaviness and polished production, marking a shift toward a darker, more aggressive sound compared to HIM's prior efforts. Spin described it as "the heaviest, creepiest, sexiest hard-rock group effort of the year," highlighting the band's successful fusion of gothic elements with robust riffs. Alternative Press commended the return to an "organic, guitar-driven sound" unseen since the 2003 album Love Metal, appreciating the raw energy in tracks like the title song. Reviewers often spotlighted frontman Ville Valo's versatile vocal range, from brooding whispers to soaring cries, as a standout feature that elevated the material's emotional depth. Standout tracks such as "The Kiss of Dawn" drew particular acclaim for their melodic catchiness and anthemic quality, blending heavy instrumentation with accessible hooks that exemplified the album's strengths. noted the production's clarity, which allowed Valo's voice and the band's layered guitars to shine without overwhelming the compositions. However, criticisms centered on the album's perceived repetitiveness and over-reliance on familiar gothic tropes, with some outlets arguing it failed to innovate beyond HIM's established formula. awarded it 2.5 out of 5 stars, asserting that while moments like the opener "Venus Doom" deliver impact, the record overall "lacks innovation" and recycles ideas from earlier works. gave it a 6 out of 10, calling it "solid but uninspired" despite its execution, and pointed to the lyrics' clichéd romantic darkness as detracting from the heavier intent. Uncut echoed this sentiment, rating it 60 out of 100 and suggesting the blend of influences—evoking Metallica, , and —felt more derivative than transformative.

Audience and fan response

Upon its release in , Venus Doom garnered significant positive reception from fans within the community, who appreciated its intensified emotional depth and darker lyrical themes that aligned closely with the subculture's fascination with romance, despair, and the . Devoted followers on dedicated platforms like Heartagram.net demonstrated high engagement through discussions and shared enthusiasm for the album's progression from HIM's earlier work, viewing it as a bold evolution that captured the band's signature "love metal" ethos in a more introspective form. User-driven ratings on music sites reflected this approval, with an average score of 9.1 out of 10 based on over 200 votes, highlighting tracks like "The Kiss of Dawn" for their haunting melodies and raw intensity. However, the album's heavier, more experimental sound—characterized by prominent influences and extended song structures—elicited mixed responses from some longtime fans accustomed to HIM's melodic, radio-friendly hits from albums like . This shift was seen by a portion of the fanbase as a departure from the band's romantic accessibility, leading to perceptions that Venus Doom was undervalued compared to prior releases, despite its artistic ambition. Online in the immediate aftermath often contrasted its gloomier tone with expectations for lighter, more anthemic material, though supporters argued it represented a mature culmination of the band's influences. The album's promotion on emerging digital platforms like amplified fan interaction, where leaked tracks prior to official release sparked widespread sharing and debate, fostering a sense of immediacy and community among listeners. This era's online buzz contributed to a cult-like following, with fans creating and trading unofficial content, including bootleg editions of the record that circulated among collectors seeking the full experience beyond standard releases. Such activities underscored the dedicated, support that propelled Venus Doom within niche circles, even as broader commercial metrics were still unfolding.

Commercial performance

Chart positions

Venus Doom debuted strongly on international charts following its release in September 2007, particularly in where HIM enjoyed a dedicated fanbase. The album entered the Finnish Albums at number 2 and remained on the chart for 9 weeks. In , it debuted at number 3 on the Media Control Charts. The album also reached number 9 on the Austrian Albums and number 5 on the Swiss Albums . Internationally, Venus Doom marked HIM's highest chart entry to date, debuting at number 12 on the 200. In the , it peaked at number 31 on the Official Albums , spending 2 weeks in the Top 100.
CountryChartPeak PositionWeeks on Chart
IFPI Finnish Albums Chart29
Media Control Albums Chart3-
94
Swiss Music Charts56
12-
Official Albums Chart312
The "The Kiss of Dawn" also performed well, peaking at number 2 on the Finnish Singles Chart. This European success was bolstered by extensive tour support and radio airplay across the continent, while the album's niche style contributed to a more modest reception despite its peak position.

Sales and certifications

Venus Doom achieved moderate commercial success upon its release. In the United States, it sold 38,000 copies in its first week. The album received an official certification in , awarded gold status by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) in 2007 for exceeding 10,000 units. Following the band's indefinite hiatus announced in 2017, Venus Doom experienced a steady resurgence in streaming platforms, driving renewed interest as of 2025.

Track listing and personnel

Track listing

The standard edition of Venus Doom features nine tracks, all written by frontman , with a total length of 48:12.
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1"Venus (Doom)"Valo5:08
2"Love in "Valo5:55
3"Passion's Killing Floor"Valo5:11
4"The of Dawn"Valo5:55
5"Sleepwalking Past Hope"Valo10:03
6"Dead Lovers' Lane"Valo4:29
7"Song or Suicide"Valo1:11
8"Bleed Well"Valo4:25
9" Sun"Valo5:54
Select editions, such as the limited digipak release, include bonus remixes like "Love in " (Special Remix) and "Dead Lovers' Lane" (Special C616 Remix).

Band members

Production

  • Tim Palmer –
  • Hiili Hiilesmaa – co-producer
  • Mika Jussila – mastering

Additional contributors

All songs written by . No guest vocalists appear on the , with Valo also providing backing vocals and programming.

Legacy

Retrospective assessments

In the years following its 2007 release, Venus Doom has garnered more favorable retrospective assessments from critics, often highlighting its emotional rawness and departure from HIM's earlier sound. A 2014 on praised the as one of the band's finest moments, characterizing it as dark, brooding, catchy, and notably heavy, with standout tracks like "Passion's Killing Floor" and "Sleepwalking Past Hope" exemplifying its intensity. Similarly, a 2017 piece in Rue Morgue positioned it as an underrated gem within HIM's discography, commending its experimental song structures—such as the doom-laden epic "Sleepwalking Past Hope"—and its elegant handling of primal themes like , loss, and death through gothic romance. By 2022, Distorted Sound magazine described Venus Doom as HIM's creative peak, crediting its versatility in blending , , and elements, while noting that readers had voted "Sleepwalking Past Hope" as the band's best post-breakup song, underscoring its enduring appeal. From the band's perspective, Venus Doom marked a pivotal and deeply personal turning point, reflecting frontman Ville Valo's struggles during its creation. In a 2017 interview coinciding with HIM's disbandment announcement, Valo reflected on the album as a crystallization of his darkest phase, stemming from a toxic relationship, chronic depression, and excessive hedonism that culminated in a near-fatal health scare and subsequent rehab stint in . He emphasized its raw emotional core, born from self-medicating amid and relational turmoil, which infused the heavier experimentation with authentic . The album's influence persisted in HIM's later output, with tracks like "The Kiss of Dawn" featured on the 2012 compilation XX – Two Decades of , signaling its integration into the band's enduring legacy.

Cultural influence and covers

Venus Doom's heavier, doom-infused sound contributed to HIM's enduring influence on the and metal scenes, particularly in blending romantic lyrics with aggressive riffs that echoed in subsequent acts exploring similar dark aesthetics. The album's themes of personal turmoil, drawn from Ville Valo's experiences, resonated in broader gothic subcultures, where its raw emotional depth became a touchstone for fans navigating loss and redemption. In the years following HIM's 2017 disbandment, tributes to Venus Doom emerged through covers and live reinterpretations. Frontman , under his VV solo moniker, incorporated the album's track "The Kiss of Dawn" into his 2023 tour setlists, performing it alongside other HIM classics to honor the band's catalog during his promotional shows. Fan-driven covers proliferated on platforms like , with acoustic and full-band renditions of songs such as "Passion's Killing Floor" garnering thousands of views, reflecting the track's popularity from its inclusion in the 2007 film Transformers soundtrack. Additionally, tribute bands like the Italian group Venus Doom have kept the album alive through live performances of its material, including "Poison Girl," fostering a dedicated post-HIM community. Legacy events underscore the album's lasting appeal, such as the 2008 live release Digital Versatile Doom, captured during the Venus Doom tour at ' Orpheum Theatre, which preserved the era's intensity and sold steadily among collectors. In 2015, Valo's discussions in the Loud Legacy documentary highlighted Venus Doom's cathartic role amid his post-rehab recovery, framing it as a pivotal chapter in his health narrative and creative evolution leading to VV's . The album's 10th anniversary in 2017 coincided with HIM's farewell, amplifying fan engagement through online retrospectives. In the years following, unofficial vinyl presses have emerged amid ongoing demand for official reissues.

References

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