Sacrament" were released as singles in May and June 2003 respectively, with both hitting the UK charts, and the latter also peaking at number four in Finland. Both received music videos, which were directed by professional skateboarder and Jackass member Bam Margera. The band had first met Margera in 2000, after a show in London, and played their first concert in the United States the following year at a party organized by Margera. "Buried Alive by Love" was shot in Los Angeles, with a guest appearance by actress Juliette Lewis, while "The Sacrament" was filmed in Prague. In May 2003, HIM performed a sold-out show at the London Astoria, before starting the album's supporting tour in October 2003 in Finland. HIM were also scheduled to support Ozzy Osbourne in the fall of 2003 on a European tour, but were forced to drop-out, after the tour was postponed due to Osbourne injuring his leg. Following the release of the compilation album And Love Said No: The Greatest Hits 1997–2004, HIM announced in August 2003, that they had parted ways with their record company BMG, having fulfilled their contractual obligations to the label. Around the same time the band also announced plans to release a new live album, tentatively titled Live Metal, in November 2003, but the record was ultimately scrapped, in favor of starting work on new material. HIM continued touring on 17 January 2004 in Italy, which was followed by a seven-date UK leg, which was entirely sold-out. From 15 April to 19 May 2004, HIM embarked on their first tour of the US, which was also entirely sold-out. HIM also received a nomination for "Best Band on the Planet" at the 2004 Kerrang! Awards. Reception Love Metal received positive reviews from critics. Mape Ollila of Imperiumi.net commended the consistent quality of the material, as well as the "hook-laden" songwriting. He concluded his review, stating: "There are a lot of goth pop bands in Finland doing the same thing, but Love Metal once again proves that HIM is one step ahead of everybody else." Thomas Kupfer of Rock Hard also commended the album's consistent songwriting. He also touted Love Metal as a return to form after Deep Shadows and Brilliant Highlights, calling it a "liberation" after the band's previous hardships. Lance Teegarden of PopMatters praised its "swooning pop hooks, a heavy yet harmonic sound, laments about love, death, and forgiveness,