by Tracy Heck

Created on: February 14, 2010

Tuesday saw the release of Finnish metal band HIM's look at life, love and death.  However, this time around the band takes a step away from the doom and gloom of their last album Venus Doom with a lighter, more upbeat approach on Screamworks.

The album also takes a step away from the gothic rock feel of the band's previous material with a heavy pop feel .  The new style is partially due to the influence of American power pop producer

The Used). 

It is clear that singer Ville Valo used the record to experiment with his vocals and the entire band brings forth a new infectious energy that is perfect for live perfomances.

Screamworks also features some of Valo's best lyrics to date.  He takes a fresh look at his usual brand of love and death while creating haunting imagery and using some great metaphors to express his feelings.  In interviews Valo has said that he wrote the album based around a relationship in his life that he hopes to cultivate and it is obvious that he poured all of his emotions into the recording.

The album opens with the pop punk chords of In Venere Veritas as Valo croons "Let's fall apart together now!"  The song is the perfect opener full of sexual imagery and the Latin chorus does a great job of conveying the sense of the title which translated roughly means "in sex there is truth".

Up next is the highlight track of the album Scared to Death.  The track is a 80's tinged rock ballad that is possibly the most emotional moment of the album, "All these people blast from hell.  Ice break is infernal from a heart so black and blue only for you."  The track stands as a testament to the "love metal" that the band is known for.

Next up is the first track released off of the album, Heartkiller.  The track is a progressive one that feautures heavy instrumentation layered over the usual keyboard-singed tone that HIM is known for.  "Sparks will fly beneath the lunar lights.  Lazarus at Frankenstein's.  Babe, I"ll be a flatliner for a heartkiller."

Dying Song is up next and is another beautiful ballad.  The song's complex lyrics and twisted metaphors make for a great listen, "I've seen these dreams be crushed by a single thought and felt the envy of sadness engulf all warmth."

Up next is a ode to taking a chance on love with Disarm Me With Your Loneliness, "You keep on tempting me to go on whatever the cost to witness the prettiest flower in the wicked to dust."  The song is moving

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