Dark Light
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| Dark Light | |||||
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| Studio album by HIM | |||||
| Released | September 23, 2005 (Germany) September 26, 2005 (International) September 27, 2005 (United States) |
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| Recorded | Paramour Studios Los Angeles, USA | ||||
| Genre | Alternative rock | ||||
| Length | 45:30 | ||||
| Label | Sire Records | ||||
| Producer | Tim Palmer | ||||
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| HIM chronology | |||||
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| Alternate Cover | |||||
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| iTunes Cover | |||||
Dark Light is Finnish rock band HIM's fifth full length album. This album was released on September 26, 2005 internationally and on September 27, 2005 in the USA with a limited edition pre-release of 20,000 some days before. This limited edition came in a tin case with a 24 page booklet with hand written lyrics by the band's lead singer, Ville Valo, a certificate of authenticity and a key chain flash light that flashes the Heartagram, the bands logo. It debuted in stores, however, with a glossy black plastic wrap covering the front, so in order to see the real cover one needed to purchase it. This album was originally supposed to be produced and mixed by Andy Wallace, an accomplished American producer, but vocalist Ville Valo said he made HIM sound too 'American' and they fired him, hiring Tim Palmer with whom they had worked before on Love Metal and And Love Said No. The first single released from the album was "Wings of a Butterfly," and the second single was "Killing Loneliness." The album charted at #18 in both the US and in the UK. In Germany, Dark Light reached #4.
The writing of Dark Light was inspired by a Finnish book with the same title and a collection of ancient mythologies and religions (mainly Christianity). Songs including mythological references are "Wings of a Butterfly," "Venus (In Our Blood)," "Drunk on Shadows," and "In the Nightside of Eden." "Wings of a Butterfly" is a reference to a Greek myth in which two souls destroyed something beautiful to live forever, and "Venus (In Our Blood)" has the line "Venus denies your seven towers," referring to another Greek myth portraying hell as seven towers protruding from dark waters. In the song "In the Nightside of Eden," there is a line, "we decend to the circle number four," a reference to The Divine Comedy's adaptation of hell, an adaptation that many mistake for an actual part of the bible.
The Special Digibook Edition was released but was limited to 50,000 copies and included the track "The Cage." Also released was the Exclusive Heartagram Internet Edition, which in addition to including "The Cage", included the track "Venus (In Our Blood)." The Heartagram Internet Edition only produced 20,000 copies to be sold. The Japanese version of Dark Light also featured the HIM's cover of "Poison Heart," originally recorded and released by the Ramones.
Dark Light was the first Finnish album to sell gold in the United States, meaning it has sold over 500,000 copies in the U.S., and 900,000 copies worldwide.
Several of the songs include easter eggs. In the exclusive bonus track "Venus (In Our Blood)," there is a little girl's voice speaking at the beginning, and in reverse the little girl says "Where are we going, daddy?" There is backmasked voice at the end of "In the Nightside of Eden" and "Behind the Crimson Door", continuing their trend, has a whispering voice at the bridge of the song.
[edit] Track listing
- "Vampire Heart" – 4:45
- "Wings of a Butterfly" – 3:29
- "Under the Rose" – 4:49
- "Killing Loneliness" – 4:29
- "Dark Light" – 4:30
- "Behind the Crimson Door" – 4:34
- "The Face of God" – 4:34
- "Drunk on Shadows" – 3:49
- "Play Dead" – 4:36
- "In the Nightside of Eden" – 5:39
- "Venus (In Our Blood)" - 4:35 *
- "The Cage" - 4:29 **
- "Poison Heart" - 3:46 (The Ramones cover)***
[edit] Footnotes
- * Only available on the Exclusive Internet Edition and Japanese version
- ** Only available on the Special Digibook Edition, the Exclusive Internet Edition or the Japanese version
- *** Only available on the Wings of a Butterfly single and the Japanese version
The songs Venus (In Our Blood), The Cage and Poison Heart were also included on the double vinyl edition of the album.
[edit] Charts
| Chart | Peak Position |
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| Finland charts | #1 |
| Greece charts | #1 |
| Austria charts | #4 |
| Germany charts | #4 |
| Sweden charts | #7 |
| Switzerland charts | #8 |
| Italy charts | #10 |
| Spain charts | #10 |
| Czech Republic charts | #13 |
| Norway charts | #13 |
| Hungary charts | #15 |
| U.K. charts | #18 |
| U.S. Billboard Top 200 | #18 |
| Ireland charts | #19 |
| Canada charts | #24 |
| Holland charts | #25 |
| Australia charts | #40 |
| Belgium charts | #42 |
| France charts | #155 |
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