Critics have referred to the music of HIM as gothic rock , gothic metal , alternative rock , alternative metal , and dark rock . The band themselves have referred to their music as " love metal " , the title of their fourth studio album . According to Ville Valo , the term " love metal " was coined as a response to people having difficulties categorizing their music . In regards to HIM being labeled a " goth band " , Valo responded by stating : " We ca n't do anything about that label , but I think we are a special shade of goth , more tender than others . In Finnish tradition , our music is very melancholic . " Valo has described HIM 's sound as " sentimental , hard-hitting rock music " . According to Valo , since the beginning the band 's intent has been to combine more melodic and melancholic elements , with heavier influences . Valo has often cited Black Sabbath and Type O Negative as HIM 's biggest influences . Some of the band 's further influences include Paradise Lost , Anathema , My Dying Bride , Cathedral , Electric Wizard , Monster Magnet and Norwegian black metal . Regarding HIM 's sound , Valo has also stated that : " We never tried to claim that we have reinvented the wheel of rock 'n' roll . We 've always been proud to be the torchbearers for Sabbath , Type O , Paradise Lost and Anathema , and a lot of those bands . " '' Helsingin Sanomat '' described the band 's music as achieving " major crossover appeal " by combining " traditional Finnish melancholia " , with " gothic lyrics , walls of metal guitars , and keyboard riffs . " On their debut album , '' Greatest Lovesongs Vol . 666 '' , HIM 's sound was viewed as a combination of heavy metal and 1980s rock and goth music . These influences were further explored on '' Razorblade Romance '' , which featured less focus on guitar , in favor of a sleeker production and a more melodic sound . HIM continued to explore a more commercial sound on their third album '' Deep Shadows and Brilliant Highlights '' , which was met with mixed reactions . HIM 's fourth album '' Love Metal '' is widely viewed by the band as the album where they found their own sound , taking inspiration from old favorites , such as Black Sabbath , Led Zeppelin and Iggy Pop . '' Dark Light '' was the band 's breakthrough album in the United States , and once again featured a glossier production . According to Valo , 2007 's '' Venus Doom '' was written with the intent of creating a much heavier and darker follow-up , influenced by more early favorites such as My Dying Bride , Anathema and Paradise Lost . '' Screamworks : Love in Theory and Practice '' took influences from bands of the 1980s , such as a-ha , Depeche Mode and The Cult , while '' Tears on Tape '' saw HIM returning to their roots , combining elements from their sound on each song , as opposed to having " a fast song followed by a slow song " . Valo described '' Tears on Tape '' as a combination of Black Sabbath , The Smashing Pumpkins and Roy Orbison
Norwegian black metal
Early Norwegian black metal scene
HIM (Finnish band)