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Screamworks: Love in Theory and Practice
by
Screamworks: Love in Theory and Practice Image
Metascore
61

Generally favorable reviews - based on 7 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.7

Universal acclaim- based on 144 Ratings

  • Summary: Finnish goth-rock outfit, HIM returns with its seventh studio album on Sire Records.

Top Track

Ode To Solitude
Easy on the eyes, uneasy on the heart Sew my wrists shut Sew my wrists shut with hope straight into light Shining bright I dare you you to dream... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 7
  3. Negative: 0 out of 7
  1. Billboard.com
    70
    A mixed bag, but an appealingly bold one.
  2. Alternative Press
    70
    When the band are a little more concrete and less spooky, the results are especially compelling, but Screamworks is ultimately successful in its blending of melody and muscle. [Mar 2010, p.90]
    All this publication's reviews
  3. Rock Sound
    70
    This is a solid album, rife with brooding love metal and big choruses, but while this is HIM’s most accessible album to date it’s also the most unpalatable, as Ville takes one step too many towards self-satire.
  4. Absolute Punk (Staff reviews)
    65
    If I lived completely under a rock, I'd say Screamworks, and HIM in general, would hit Twilight tweeners straight in the heart with its dark, dismal and dire themes, but the more mature crowd would see the excessive sentimentality as almost self-parodying.
  5. AllMusic
    60
    The material sits within the band’s canon well enough to please longtime fans, and listeners looking for some kind of middle ground between Evanescence, late-period Queensrÿche and Fall Out Boy will more than likely find a few wicked gems to hang their heads to.
  6. Spin
    60
    Old-school romantic Ville Valo croons as often as he screams, so that even when aiming for the stylistic median, a bit of local weirdness oozes forth to make Screamworks more interesting than it's designed to be.
  7. Q Magazine
    40
    While his lyrics are lascivious to a point, songs such as "Love," "The Hardest Way" and "Heartkiller" are strictly soft-focus, with any semblance of attitude--or actual sex--air-brushed into radio-friendly oblivion. [Mar 2010, p.102]
    All this publication's reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 10
  3. Negative: 1 out of 10
  1. tarekmallo
    Jun 8, 2011
    10
    The tracks' composition may seem similar but the great sound and nice lyrics make this album a must for H.I.M fans and is in my opinion theirThe tracks' composition may seem similar but the great sound and nice lyrics make this album a must for H.I.M fans and is in my opinion their best just after Razorblade Romance.… Expand
  2. DinC.
    Feb 23, 2010
    10
    Great work. Great sound. And great band.
  4. AlexandraZ.
    Feb 23, 2010
    10
    To me this album seemed to become something totally new from the band without them losing the features I have always loved them for.
  5. IgorS.
    Mar 2, 2010
    10
    Very good album.
  6. FredH.
    Feb 26, 2010
    8
    Aside from the autotuned mess that is the first track, this album is fantastic.
  7. yamurbina
    Aug 12, 2016
    8
    Although is not a bad album, I think H.I.M. tried to go a little bit more mainstream with this album.
    Something that will attract new    Although is not a bad album, I think H.I.M. tried to go a little bit more mainstream with this album.
    Something that will attract new listeners. Some kind of pop-rock choruses but other than that it still feels like H.I.M.
    Nice to see the band trying something a little different.    … Expand
  8. Angel666
    May 20, 2020
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Screanwork love in theory album of him

    To me it sound very new Him ville valos going into Gothic tinged alt rock popular dark Finnish roots thid album seems to become something totally new from the sound and music that he make for 19 years band Screanwork is ultimately successful in its blending of melody
    So far his lyrics are lascivious to a point, song such as "Love", The Hardest Way"Heartkiller"are strictly soft focus radio friendly I think him is going mainstream with this album I love it    … Expand

See all 10 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

92
#92 Most Discussed Album of 2010