| Neon Noir | ||||
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| Released | 13 January 2023 | |||
| Recorded | 2019–2022 | |||
| Length | 56:33 | |||
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| VV chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Neon Noir | ||||
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Neon Noir is the debut studio album by former HIM frontman Ville Valo, released on 13 January 2023. The album debuted at number one on the Finnish albums chart and in the top five of the German albums chart.
Upon the conclusion of his previous project Ville Valo & Agents in August 2019, Valo began experimenting with recording new music in his home studio. With the onset of widespread lockdown measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, Valo self-released a three-track EP entitled Gothica Fennica, Vol. 1 under the moniker VV to gauge interest. [1] The EP was fully produced, engineered, and performed by Valo with mixing by longtime HIM collaborator Tim Palmer. Through 2021, Valo continued recording material and negotiating distribution deals for the impending release of a full-length album, ultimately settling on his own Heartagram Records imprint publishing while distribution is handled by Universal and its subsidiary, the established Finnish heavy metal record label Spinefarm.
The album title, Neon Noir, carries over HIM's convention of combining two contradictory ideas in album titles. Neon referring to bright lighting and "noir" being the French word for black. The title is also a pun nodding to neo-noir films, exemplified by melodramatic storytelling and visually contrasting darkness and light.
On 14 September 2022, Valo confirmed the tracklist and release date of Neon Noir. Pre-orders with limited edition bundles were made available the same date. [2]
The cover photograph for the album was shot by Joonas Brandt using a Mamiya RZ67 black and white camera on Kodak Tri-X 400 film. The album will be released in limited edition vinyl, CD, and cassette formats, with packaging designed by Ville Valo and graphic designer Rami Mursula, with whom Valo has been working since HIM's 2013 release Tears on Tape .
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metal Injection | 7/10 [3] |
| Wall of Sound | 9/10 [4] |
Reviewing the album for Tone Deaf, Conor Lochrie wrote that "Instrumentally the album sounds most like the latter of HIM's discography, taking from albums like Screamworks: Love in Theory and Practice and Tears on Tape", and concluding that "Neon Noir is a glowing hope in a murky world". [5]
All tracks are written by Ville Valo
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Echolocate Your Love" | 3:24 |
| 2. | "Run Away from the Sun" | 4:12 |
| 3. | "Neon Noir" | 4:56 |
| 4. | "Loveletting" | 4:49 |
| 5. | "The Foreverlost" | 3:30 |
| 6. | "Baby Lacrimarium" | 3:50 |
| 7. | "Salute the Sanguine" | 5:06 |
| 8. | "In Trenodia" | 5:04 |
| 9. | "Heartful of Ghosts" | 4:52 |
| 10. | "Saturnine Saturnalia" | 6:37 |
| 11. | "Zener Solitaire" | 2:31 |
| 12. | "Vertigo Eyes" | 7:42 |
| Total length: | 56:33 | |
| Chart (2023) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) [6] | 13 |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [7] | 187 |
| Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista) [8] | 1 |
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [9] | 4 |
| Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE) [10] | 34 |
| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [11] | 19 |
Ville Hermanni Valo is a Finnish singer, songwriter and musician. He is best known as the lead vocalist of the gothic rock band HIM.
HIM was a Finnish gothic rock band from Helsinki. First formed in 1991 by vocalist Ville Valo and bassist Mikko "Mige" Paananen under the name His Infernal Majesty, the band broke up after only a few years, only to be reformed in 1995 by Valo and guitarist Mikko "Linde" Lindström. After being rejoined by Mige, as well as keyboardist Antto Melasniemi and drummer Juhana "Pätkä" Rantala, the band, now called HIM, released its debut album Greatest Lovesongs Vol. 666 in 1997. In 2000, now with drummer Mika "Gas Lipstick" Karppinen and keyboardist Juska Salminen, the band released Razorblade Romance, which reached the number one spot in Finland, Austria and Germany. The first single "Join Me in Death" also charted at number one in Finland and Germany, eventually going platinum and gold, respectively. Following the addition of Janne "Burton" Puurtinen on keyboards, HIM released Deep Shadows and Brilliant Highlights (2001) and Love Metal (2003). Both cracked the top ten in several countries and allowed the band to tour in the United Kingdom and the United States for the first time.
Love Metal is the fourth studio album by Finnish gothic rock band HIM. Released on 11 April 2003, HIM began recording demos for the album in northern spring 2002, after an exhausting touring cycle for their previous album, which nearly broke the band up. Excited and invigorated by the new material, HIM entered Finnvox Studios in September 2002 with producer Hiili Hiilesmaa, who had previously helmed the group's 1997 debut album. Musically Love Metal featured a more raw and organic sound, inspired by the band's early influences, which was also seen as a reaction to the difficulties they faced while recording their previous album. Vocalist Ville Valo has since described Love Metal as the album where HIM found their sound. Love Metal was also the band's first album to predominantly feature their logo, the Heartagram, on the cover, while the album's title was coined in the mid-nineties as a description for HIM's musical genre.
Deep Shadows and Brilliant Highlights is the third studio album by Finnish gothic rock band HIM, released 27 August 2001. The album was produced by Kevin Shirley, T. T. Oksala and HIM. The record had a troubled production, which lasted approximately eleven months. The prolonged recording process was partially due outside influences within the music industry hoping to repeat the success of HIM's previous album. As a result, Deep Shadows and Brilliant Highlights features a sleeker and more pop-oriented sound. It is the first HIM album to feature keyboardist Janne "Burton" Puurtinen.
Razorblade Romance is the second studio album by Finnish gothic rock band HIM, recorded with producer John Fryer. HIM initially began recording the album with producer Hiili Hiilesmaa, who had helmed the group's 1997 debut album, however these sessions proved unsuccessful, and HIM parted ways with Hiilesmaa, and recruited Fryer. The band, along with Fryer, relocated to Rockfield Studios in Wales to begin recording, and released the album on 24 January 2000. Musically, the album featured a sleeker production and a more melodic sound compared to their debut. The album's lead single "Join Me in Death" would prove to be HIM's breakthrough single, reaching number one in Finland and Germany. The song also found its way on to the soundtrack of the 1999 science fiction film The Thirteenth Floor.
Hefty Fine is the fourth studio album by American alternative rock band Bloodhound Gang, released on September 27, 2005. Produced by band frontman Jimmy Pop, it was Bloodhound Gang's third release on Geffen Records following the band's smash hit Hooray for Boobies which managed to sell over one million copies in the United States and Europe. It was also the band's last album with former guitarist Lüpüs Thünder and the only album with drummer Willie the New Guy—they were replaced in 2008 and 2006 by A members Daniel P. Carter and Adam Perry, respectively. The album contains electronic instruments and heavy emphasis on scatological humor.
Dark Light is the fifth studio album by Finnish gothic rock band HIM. Released on 26 September 2005, HIM began recording the album in March 2005 at the Paramour Estate is Los Angeles with producer Tim Palmer, who had also mixed the band's previous album Love Metal. Dark Light also served as HIM's first worldwide release with Sire Records, with whom the band had signed with in September 2004. In Finland, however, the album was released under the band's own label Heartagram. Musically, Dark Light featured a more "polished" and "accessible" sound than previous albums, and was written as a cross between Black Sabbath and U2, also influenced by the work of composer Angelo Badalamenti.
Finnish gothic rock band HIM has released eight studio albums, one live album, eight compilation albums, one EP, twenty-eight singles, three video albums, and twenty-nine music videos. Formed in 1991 by vocalist Ville Valo and bassist Mikko "Mige" Paananen under the name His Infernal Majesty, the band broke up in 1993, but was reformed in 1995 by Valo and guitarist Mikko "Linde" Lindström. After being rejoined by Mige, as well new additions keyboardist Antto Melasniemi, rhythm guitarist Oki and drummer Juhana "Pätkä" Rantala, the band, now called HIM, signed to BMG, and released the EP 666 Ways to Love: Prologue in 1996. The EP charted at number nine on the Finnish Singles Chart, and in 1997, the band, sans Oki, released their debut album Greatest Lovesongs Vol. 666, which was certified gold and later platinum in Finland. In 2000, now with drummer Mika "Gas Lipstick" Karppinen and keyboardist Juska Salminen, the band released the album Razorblade Romance, which was certified double platinum in Finland, triple gold in Germany and gold in Austria. Its first single, "Join Me in Death", also charted at number-one in Finland and Germany, eventually going platinum in their home country and gold in Germany and Austria. Following the addition of Janne "Burton" Puurtinen on keyboards, HIM released Deep Shadows and Brilliant Highlights and Love Metal in 2001 and 2003 respectively. Both were certified platinum in Finland, as well as gold in Austria and Germany respectively.
Neon Bible is the second studio album by Canadian indie rock band Arcade Fire. It was first released on March 5, 2007, in Europe and a day later in North America by Merge Records. Originally announced on December 16, 2006, through the band's website, the majority of the album was recorded at a church the band bought and renovated in Farnham, Quebec. The album is the first to feature drummer Jeremy Gara, and the first to include violinist Sarah Neufeld among the band's core line-up.
Venus Doom is the sixth studio album by Finnish gothic rock band HIM. The album was recorded at Finnvox Studios in Helsinki with producers Hiili Hiilesmaa and Tim Palmer, both whom had collaborated with the band on various occasions, and released on 14 September 2007. During the making of Venus Doom, HIM was struggling with the personal problems of their vocalist Ville Valo. Among other things, his alcohol abuse had worsened to the point that he suffered a nervous breakdown during the recording process, after which he was admitted to the Promises Rehabilitation Clinic in Malibu by HIM's manager Seppo Vesterinen. Musically the album has been described as HIM's heaviest and darkest album to date, with influences from bands such as My Dying Bride, Anathema and Paradise Lost. Much of the album's lyrical themes and heaviness were inspired by Valo's personal difficulties, including his break-up with fiancé Jonna Nygrén.
Digital Versatile Doom: Live at the Orpheum Theatre XXXVII A.S. is a live double album by Finnish rock band HIM. The DVD was directed by Meiert Avis in Los Angeles at the Orpheum Theater between 14 and 15 November 2007. The DVD features the live performance, as well as behind the scenes look at the show. Also featured on the DVD is the winner of HIM's biggest fans competition go to Seattle, Washington, to meet the band. A special edition was available for pre-order on 1 February 2008, which comes with a limited edition 6" X 4" hand-numbered flipbook limited to 3500 copies in North America and 500 in the UK. The imagery is from HIM's live performance of "Sleepwalking Past Hope" at that concert.
We're Here Because We're Here is the eighth album by the British rock band Anathema. It was released on 31 May 2010. The working title of the album was Horizons. The album was mixed by Steven Wilson of Porcupine Tree.
SWRMXS is a remix album by Finnish band HIM. It features remix versions of songs featured on their seventh studio album Screamworks: Love in Theory and Practice. Pre-orders began on 12 November 2010, and the album was released on 7 December 2010. In a story told by Valo, he created the cover for the album late one night after seeing the image in a dream. He went downstairs, broke a VHS tape open, and carefully arranged the tape into a heartagram.
Tears on Tape is the eighth and final studio album by Finnish rock band HIM, released 26 April 2013 in Finland, 29 April 2013 in Europe, and on 30 April 2013 in the US and Canada. It is produced by Hiili Hiilesmaa, and was recorded at Finnvox, MD and Peacemakers, Helsinki. It is their first release containing instrumentals. A deluxe edition was released containing a DVD with a live in studio performance of some of their greatest hits.
Avīci (01) is the fourth and final extended play by Swedish DJ and record producer Avicii, serving as the last release in his lifetime. It was produced by Avicii, Benny Blanco, Andrew Watt, Cashmere Cat and Carl Falk, and released through Avicii Music on 10 August 2017. The specific spelling of the EP is the name of a hell realm in both Hinduism and Buddhism (Avīci), but this may be a coincidence.
Sick Boy is the second studio album by American DJ and production duo The Chainsmokers. It was released on December 14, 2018, via Disruptor and Columbia Records. The album features collaborations with French DJ Aazar and fellow American DJ NGHTMRE as well as co-production from Sly, Chris Lyon, and Shaun Frank, and writing credits from frequent co-writer Emily Warren, Kate Morgan, Drew Love of THEY., Tony Ann, Corey Sanders, and Chelsea Jade. Sick Boy's tracklist is made up of singles gradually released throughout 2018 as an attempt to increase the songs' success.
The solo discography of Finnish singer, songwriter and musician Ville Valo consists of one studio album, one collaboration album, one extended play, ten singles and four music videos. He has also made several guest appearances on other artists' releases.
Pegasus is the third studio album by American rapper Trippie Redd, released on October 30, 2020. The album features guest appearances from Myiah Lynnae, Yung LB, PartyNextDoor, Chris Brown, Rich the Kid, Young Thug, Future, Lil Mosey, Quavo, Busta Rhymes, Sean Kingston, Doe Boy, Lil Wayne, HoodyBaby, and Swae Lee. The deluxe version titled Neon Shark vs Pegasus made in collaboration with Travis Barker was released on February 19, 2021, featuring Machine Gun Kelly, blackbear, Chino Moreno, Scarlxrd, and ZillaKami.
Attacca is the ninth extended play (EP) by the South Korean boy band Seventeen released on October 22, 2021 by Pledis Entertainment, the EP contains seven tracks including the EP's single "Rock with You".
minisode 2: Thursday's Child is the fourth Korean-language extended play (EP) by South Korean boy band Tomorrow X Together. It was released on May 9, 2022, through Big Hit Music and Republic Records. Centered on an "intense" and "dark" concept, the EP consists of five tracks, including the lead single "Good Boy Gone Bad".
