From: Billboard.com

HIM frontman Ville Valo says that “accessibility was a key factor” in making the Finnish hard rockers’ seventh studio album, “Screamworks: Love in Theory and Practice,” which is due out Feb. 9.

Acknowledging that the 13-song set is the group’s most “straightforward” and hook-filled release yet, Valo tells Billboard.com that he wanted “Screamworks” to “kind of have the similar vibe as Depeche Mode’s classic albums such as ‘Violator’ and ‘Songs of Faith and Devotion’ — brooding, melancholy albums but they still make you want to dance. The big picture production view I had was to have the rock in there so you could drink a beer and do all things legal and illegal but then hopefully have that more poetic and sensitive sensibility in there as well.”

Valo, however, might not be hoisting his own glass while listening to the album. “I quit drinking — not for good but for awhile — about two and a half years ago,” he says. “This is the first album I wrote fully sober, and I wanted to put all the energy I used to put into hanging out in pubs into working on the music. So it was pretty insane, working 18-hour days for the past year, year and a half. We really went for all those details and didn’t leave any stone unturned. Hopefully it shows.”

READ MORE HERE!

Interesting video…press play.

Original Article by: sineresi

Here’s the translation of the Ville Valo interview in today’s Helsingin Sanomat. There was a small bit on the first page and a full-page article in the culture section.

Story on the front page:

VILLE VALO SACRIFICED HIS HEALTH FOR ROCK

“I have sacrificed myself for rock ‘n’ roll already a long time ago,” says Ville Valo, the most famous Finnish rock star.

In ten years, HIM and Valo have slowly climbed to worldwide success. The road has included disagreements and a stint in rehab.

In the interview given to Helsingin Sanomat, Valo finds it lucky that HIM didn’t get success any sooner.

Caption to the photo: Ville Valo doesn’t drink any alcohol anymore.

READ MORE OF THE ARTICLE HERE!

Found this cute/funny video on Valo_Daily. Thought some of you might get a little giggle from it. Go Ville!

Check out the “Heartkiller” lyrics video from HIM’s Official YouTube.com Channel

From: HeartagramLA NEW PHOTOS!! – http://twitpic.com/s4wxe http://twitpic.com/s4wy6 http://twitpic.com/s4wyh

Have you heard the new HIM song “Heartkiller”? You can check out the full length song at HIM’s Official MySpace Music Profile. It will also be available on iTunes December 8th 2009!

I’ve been mulling it over in my head about what to say about this song exactly. I like the chesse feel that HIM normally has with some of their songs. Being as this is a single release I did expect it to be “radio friendly” and “poppy” which it is. But there is something about it I just can’t put my finger on that I both like and dislike about this particular song.

I have listened to the full length “Heartkiller” track about 6 times now. I can see it being on the radio as much as “Wings of A Butterfly” was a few years back.

Perhaps I should wait to hear the whole album Screamworks: Love In Theory and Practice and come up with more solid conclusions about this album then I already have floating about in my head. But I have to say it’s at least interesting…I am a HIM fan. I can’t say I am in LOVE with the song “Heartkiller” but it could grow on me…like a kind of fungus.

Posted by: wato_food on Valo_Daily

(Scan by silverblue8 @ Valo_Daily)

Man I hope this works, I am so not good with computers and technical stuff. But here comes the translation from Rockoon magazine.

“Let us go down in a blaze of glory.”

A grey Monday in Hamburg is the right setting for HIM and their new release Screamworks: Love in Theory and Practice.
Ville Valo came to see us personally when the first sonic impressions of the seventh studio album by the finish heartbreakers were given to the press. A perfect time to talk with the charismatic lead singer about his newest creation, his plans for this year’s Christmas and his New Year’s resolutions for 2010.

Rockoon: Hello Ville – lovely to see you. Are you excited about presenting the new album to the press?

Ville: Let’s put it this way: I am nervous. But not because of the new album, cause this time I’m totally satisfied with it. You just put loads of time in it. Therefore it is really lovely that it is finally done. I feel absolutely agitated and enthusiastic about the album, now that the baby has finally been born.

READ MORE OF THE INTERVIEW HERE!

And I couldn’t help it. I love crazy face pictures of Ville. So I cropped this out of the magazine scans.

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