Dark Light
by H.I.M.
  • Record Label: Sire
  • Release Date: Sep 27, 2005
User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 92 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 73 out of 92
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 92
  3. Negative: 17 out of 92

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  1. ZachM.
    Nov 27, 2005
    0
    This is the shittiest album ever. H.I.M. is the worst band ever. ''Wings of a Butterfly'' is the worst song ever. ''Goth'' does not mix with E strings. This isn't metal and it's not even close to tough. H.I.M. fans are pussys. That's not an opinion, it's a fact.
  2. MikeJ
    Jun 5, 2006
    0
    I heard my dog toot out better music
  3. Sauron
    Nov 11, 2005
    3
    Only one average song (killing loneliness) and the rest is mediocre pop. Disgusting
  4. sroberts
    Nov 24, 2005
    1
    TRASH!!!! this is a new breed of bad music made by goofballs
  5. Kat
    Nov 26, 2005
    3
    Definitely not as good as the older stuff. if this is the first album you've listened to...go back to Razerblade Romance, Deep Shadows and Brilliant Highlights, and Love Metal...much better
  6. JohnS
    Nov 5, 2005
    2
    Good music if someone shot the singer
  7. DrunkenMaster
    Dec 25, 2005
    1
    Utter garbage. The music is a retread of early 80s hairrock and the lyrics read like puerile cliches from a 13 year old girl's poetry notebook. Strictly for bandwaggoners, poseurs and idiots.
  8. Eljah
    Oct 22, 2005
    0
    Very very bad
  9. EitherOr
    Nov 4, 2006
    2
    On the bright side, these are their best lyrics to date. On the realistic side, the ideas seem recycled (just as they did on previous albums). The lyrics are especially recycled, though slightly more poetic (on the positive side...). Although I doubt any of their fans pay intensely close attention the lyrics all of the time because I'd imagine that they'd get bored with the same On the bright side, these are their best lyrics to date. On the realistic side, the ideas seem recycled (just as they did on previous albums). The lyrics are especially recycled, though slightly more poetic (on the positive side...). Although I doubt any of their fans pay intensely close attention the lyrics all of the time because I'd imagine that they'd get bored with the same formulas by now. Which brings me to another point, it seems that they have a tremendous ability of masking their lackluster lyrics with overproduction and over-emotional singing. I feel that nothing has changed. I thought that H.I.M. might have originally had some potential, but they continue in the same direction. Their guitarist relies on whatever effect or amount of distortion that he is using (maybe throwing in a few pull offs or hammer ons here and there but nevertheless uncompelling) and the singer has a profound way of making the songs sound way more important than they really are. Like I said before, when it comes down to it, the songs themselves rely on overproduction. And I will go as far as to say that most of these comments apply to all of their albums, although the first and the second could have been considered original for those reasons. I'd even like to extend this overall judgement of boring consistency to the cover of the album! This is undoubtedly nothing less than a marketing ploy. They might as well put Bam Margera's face on the cover too, and maybe with a little sticker proclaiming "songs featured on Viva La Bam!!!!" Alright, I feel that I'm beginning to express my true feelings on this album in an unrestrained manner so I will revert back to my original premise. If you love H.I.M.'s (or should I say H.I.S.) sound so much that you want to continue on the same path forever, then this album is for you (and likely the next one and the next one). However, if you don't, try playing the old albums backwards. The lyrics mostly suck, so it won't be hard giving those up, and the distortion/double bass will sound pretty sweet going backwards... way more original too. Anyway, I give T.H.E.M. a 2 for effort, because the overall tone of their songs make it sound like they really really really tried.… Expand
  10. RandyB
    Aug 8, 2006
    2
    I came into this CD with every intention of liking it. I even put it aside and waited to listen to it again after the first time I didn't care for it it just in case my disliking it had something to do with my fluctuating mood. Unfortunately for my precious hard- earned wages, it had nothing to do with my mood. The last time I bought a HIM record, it was the dented but still good I came into this CD with every intention of liking it. I even put it aside and waited to listen to it again after the first time I didn't care for it it just in case my disliking it had something to do with my fluctuating mood. Unfortunately for my precious hard- earned wages, it had nothing to do with my mood. The last time I bought a HIM record, it was the dented but still good RAZORBLADE ROMANCE. It was melodramatic, sure, but it had enough of a punch musically to keep it from being ridiculous, even with the lyrics never venturing far from the sad-in-love-wanting-to-die tree. That kind of thing was HIM's calling card, and I was prepared for that, but it was too much this time. On DARK LIGHT, the lyrics get even more wimp-gothy and cringe worthy (most times all you have to do is look at song titles like "Killing Lonliness" and "Under the Rose" and you get the idea of the depth of the songs), but this time around even the music can't save the disc from taking a crapsmacular divebomb. "Rip Out the Wings of a Butterfly" is practically the only track worth salvaging, with licks strong enough to support it's melodrama, with "Vampire Heart" coming in distant second. By the time "Under the Rose" had ended I was already bored and over it. And when "Dark Light" rolled around, any hopes of guitars rescuing this CD went out the window, replaced almost completely with weak string arrangements through the rest of the disc. I'm so thoroughly disappointed with this disc that if HIM ever releases another album, I will wait as long as it takes to borrow the thing from someone else to hear it for fear of wasting more money on something that will only take up space and collect dust.… Expand
  11. BendikD
    Nov 13, 2005
    1
    I HATE H.I:M!!!!!! When will Finland start making good music?
  12. Lev
    Dec 18, 2005
    2
    As a finn I would just like to take the opportunity to apologize for this appauling "music" that HIM makes, and while I´m at it apologize for Nightwish & Rasmus aswell. I´m very sorry...
  13. RandyS
    Dec 26, 2005
    0
    HIM sucks
  14. eduardoa
    Dec 27, 2005
    1
    H.I.M. has always been a pop band and they always will be, they're NOT underground as their fanbase wants to believe and this record is the proof to all I say, if you like songs with no personality and you love hearing to tunes that you have heard once and again since you were born this is definitely a must have for you (Y) :-S
  15. tyler
    Feb 16, 2006
    0
    complete shit
  16. KickerTom
    Feb 14, 2007
    1
    I gave them a 1 b/c I feel sorry for them. Emo crap.

Awards & Rankings

50
#50 Most Discussed Album of 2005
89
#89 Most Shared Album of 2005

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
52

Mixed or average reviews - based on 10 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 10
  3. Negative: 2 out of 10
  1. Spin
    25
    Listening to this disc sorta gives new meaning to the phrase virgin sacrifice. [Oct 2005, p.142]
  2. Amazon.com
    60
    A solid, if not wholly overwhelming album.
    Read full review
  3. Blender
    60
    It's refreshing to hear a band approach the form's familiar imagery from a place of romance, not cynicism. [Oct 2005, p.138]
See all critic reviews »