User ratings in Music are temporarily disabled. More info

Dark Light
by
  • Record Label:
  • Release Date:
Dark Light Image
Metascore
52

Mixed or average reviews - based on 10 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 92 Ratings

  • Summary: This is the first U.S. release for the popular Finnish goth-rock band (the initials stand for His Infernal Majesty) fronted by Ville Hermani Vallo.

Top Track

Killing Loneliness
Memories sharp as daggers Pierce into the flesh of today Suicide of love took away all that matters And buried the remains in an unmarked grave in... See the rest of the song lyrics
See Full Track List »
Powered by

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 10
  3. Negative: 2 out of 10
  1. Q Magazine
    80
    A collection of irresistible pop-rock anthems. [Nov 2005, p.125]
    All this publication's reviews
  2. The New York Times
    80
    The songs are sturdier than ever, and they possess a sneaky sort of power. [10 Oct 2005]
    All this publication's reviews
  3. musicOMH.com
    80
    Easily HIM's most accessible album to date.
  4. Drowned In Sound
    50
    An unremarkable, yet solid record.
  5. New Musical Express (NME)
    40
    The truth is that metal fans used to have a word for music like this, and that word is wimpy. [1 Oct 2005, p.45]
    All this publication's reviews
  6. Uncut
    40
    Sisters Of Mercy fans will remain defiantly nonplussed. [Nov 2005, p.103]
    All this publication's reviews
  7. Stylus Magazine
    25
    While the drop in adrenaline has left room for some good ideas, they’re not fleshed out well enough, and with the lack of a single flat-out rocker, there’s nothing to get excited or exhilarated over.

See all 10 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 50 out of 66
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 66
  3. Negative: 16 out of 66
  1. VenusDoom
    Apr 1, 2009
    10
    This album blew me away!
  2. anthonym
    Mar 13, 2006
    10
    excellent
  4. samw
    Nov 13, 2005
    10
    they are fanstically amazing!!! i love ville valo so much!!!! i would die for valo!!! Hail to His Infernal Majesty
  5. kristyvampire
    Aug 20, 2006
    10
    I LOVE HIM!!!!!!! THEY F***ING ROCK!! i particularly like this album, not they're best but still sexy and deep. i havbe every album of I LOVE HIM!!!!!!! THEY F***ING ROCK!! i particularly like this album, not they're best but still sexy and deep. i havbe every album of they'res and I think they're storngest album would be RAZORBLADE ROMANCE. DARK LIGHT is good. I like it. I LOVE VILLE VALO!!!… Expand
  6. Sarah
    Dec 20, 2005
    9
    Dark light is a fantastic piece of music, HIM are musical geniuss'. Ville Valo's lyrics and voice sooth the soul and warm ur heart, Dark light is a fantastic piece of music, HIM are musical geniuss'. Ville Valo's lyrics and voice sooth the soul and warm ur heart, what a man. the only reason this is a nine instead of a ten is because i have all of their albums and Razorblade romance overshadows all the rest by far!… Expand
  7. BrianH
    Mar 27, 2006
    7
    As a fan of the boys of HIM (by the way, they have not used the acronym of His Infernal Majesty since their first show in 1995) for a long As a fan of the boys of HIM (by the way, they have not used the acronym of His Infernal Majesty since their first show in 1995) for a long time, I think it's fair to say that I know what to look for in a HIM album. In a way, this one is definitely HIM, but that way is mostly in the fact that no two of their albums share much in common concerning sound. While their first and third albums were more gothic, their second and forth albums metal, and all the b-sides and singles released in between, despite the difference in sounds I believe people will still be caught off-guard by this punk-influenced disc. It's not bad, but it is definitely an acquired taste. When I first heard it, I might have given it a 5/10, but now it's definitely grown on me.… Expand
  8. Eljah
    Oct 22, 2005
    0
    Very very bad

See all 66 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

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

Current Music Releases

Full List »
99 Band on the Run [50th Anniversary Edition] - Paul McCartney & Wings
95 If I don't make it, I love u - Still House Plants
95 The Sky Will Still Be There Tomorrow - Charles Lloyd
91 COWBOY CARTER - Beyoncé
91 The Carnegie Hall Concert - Alice Coltrane
90 Iechyd Da - Bill Ryder-Jones
90 This Could Be Texas - English Teacher
89 I Got Heaven - Mannequin Pussy
89 Tigers Blood - Waxahatchee
89 All Born Screaming - St. Vincent
88 Only God Was Above Us - Vampire Weekend
88 What Now - Brittany Howard
88 Hey Panda - The High Llamas
88 Orquídeas - Kali Uchis
88 The Past Is Still Alive - Hurray for the Riff Raff
87 Filthy Underneath - Nadine Shah
87 i/o - Peter Gabriel
87 Blue Lips - ScHoolboy Q
87 Bright Future - Adrianne Lenker
87 Bite Down - Rosali
All Current Music »