The band from Helsinki is right now one of the biggest bands of the old continent as far as popularity levels are concerned. Despite the fact that their audience is getting wider every day, nowadays their number of rock fans is not the most numerous among their parish, because the truth is that His Infernal Majesties are very keen to support what is undoubtedly the result of a considerable commercial network. But well, there we have them, and their great virtues for the moment are enough to throw away these inconveniences that we hope do not continue increasing and separating them from our roll.
La banda de Helsinki es ahora mismo una de las grandes formaciones del viejo continente en lo que a niveles de popularidad se refiere. Pese a que su publico es cada dia mas amplio, actualmente su numero de fans netamente rockeros no podemos decir que sean los mas numerosos entre su parroquia, pues lo cierto es que His Infernal Majesties se muestran muy dados a secundar lo que sin duda es fruto de un entramado comercial considerable. Pero bueno, ahí les tenemos, y sus grandes virtudes por el momento les bastan para tirar por tierra estas inconveniencias que esperamos no sigan aumentando y separándolos de nuestro rollo.
Although they debuted in 1997 with “Greatest Lovesongs Vol. 666”, it would not be until the year 2000 when they would taste the sweetness of success throughout Europe. That first work, now re-released, already showed the distinctive notes of their sound, dark passages of gothic air, careful melodies of pop dye and the resounding and deep voice of their undisputed leader, Valo, a pale and somewhat androgynous young man who went from working in a sex shop in his cold native Finland to be a new rock idol in front of the band. “Greatest Lovesong...” got great recognition in Germany, but ‘Razorblade Romance’ was their baptism of fire in the European music scene (because on the other side of the Atlantic they still haven't managed to make a niche for themselves).
Aunque debutaron en 1997 con “Greatest Lovesongs Vol. 666”, no seria hasta el año 2000 cuando saborearían las mieles del éxito en toda Europa. Aquel primer trabajo, ahora reeditado, ya mostraba las notas distintivas de su sonido, pasajes oscuros de aire gotico, cuidadas melodías de tinte pop y el poso de la voz rotunda y grave de su indiscutible líder, Valo, un palido joven algo andrógino que paso de trabajar en un sex shop en su fría Finlandia natal a ser un nuevo ídolo del rock al frente del grupo. “Greatest Lovesong…” obtuvo gran reconocimiento en Alemania, pero “Razorblade Romance” fue su bautismo de fuego en el panorama musical europeo (pues al otro lado del Atlantico todavía no han logrado hacerse con un hueco).
The heaviness of Sabbath's sound, the melodic touch of The Cure and some slight traces of Depeche Mode's electronic pop was the recipe that came to be known as “Romantic Metal” or “Love Metal”, labels undoubtedly encouraged by the treatment of love melancholy and palpable dramatic romanticism that the singer gave to the compositions. This aspect, together with his childish and glamorous image, led him to conquer the hearts of many young girls, and thus to give a boost to the album, which would climb the charts and generate very good sales in many countries, supported by perfect singles like “Join Me In Death”. In addition, the place of honor reserved for the guitars and the hard rock atmosphere of some of the songs also ensured the attention and support of a large number of heavy music lovers.
La pesadez del sonido de Sabbath, el toque melódico de The Cure y algún ligero rasgo del pop electrónico de Depeche Mode fue la receta que se vino a denominar “Romantic Metal” o “Love Metal”, sin duda etiquetas fomentadas por el tratamiento de melancolía amorosa y palpable romanticismo dramático que el cantante daba a las composiciones. Este aspecto, unido a su aniñada y glamurosa imagen, le llevo a conquistar los corazones de muchas jovencitas, y asi a dar un empujon al disco, que escalaria las listas y generaría muy buenas ventas en bastantes países sustentado en perfectos singles como “Join Me In Death”. Además, el lugar de honor reservado para las guitarras y el ambiente duro y rockero de algunos temas también aseguraban la atención y el apoyo de un gran numero de amantes del heavy.
Expectations were high, and boy, did they raise them. All Europe was watching their movements when they released their latest album to date, “Deep Shadows And Brilliant Highlights”, in which they dive even more into the gothic element of their sound from the very cover, exploring their most sensitive side, and consequently lowering the rock intensity in favor of a softer and, why not, more easily exportable orientation. New hysteria was unleashed around the release and around Valo's charisma and attractiveness for women. An accurate commercial shot and their definitive rise to stardom, even if it shows them walking on the thin edge that dangerously threatens to dissociate them from rock n' roll and turn them into a fashion band suspiciously exploited by the media. Their last tour didn't help them to break this dissatisfaction either, since on the stage we could see an apathetic, conformist and not very dedicated band.
La expectación estaba servida, y vaya si la levantaron. Toda Europa estaba pendiente de sus movimientos cuando publicaron su ultimo redondo hasta la fecha, “Deep Shadows And Brilliant Highlights”, en el que bucean aun mas en el elemento gotico de su sonido desde la misma portada, explorando su faceta mas sensible, y por consiguiente bajando la intensidad rockera a favor de una orientación mas suave y porque no, mas fácilmente exportable. Nueva histeria desatada en torno al lanzamiento y alrededor del carisma y el atractivo de Valo para las féminas. Un certero disparo comercial y su definitiva ascensión al estrellato, aunque les muestre caminando sobre el delgado filo que amenaza peligrosamente con desvincularlos del rock n’ roll y convertirles en un grupo de moda explotado sospechosamente por los medios. Su ultima gira tampoco ayudo a romper este sinsabor, ya que sobre las tablas se vio a un grupo apático, conformista, y poco entregado.
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