Greatest Love Songs Vol. 666

Greatest Love Songs Vol. 666
Studio album by HIM
Released 20 November 1997 (FIN)
31 August 1998 (EU)
13 September 2005 (US)
Genre Rock
Length 66:06
Label BMG, RCA, GUN, Supersonic {EU)
Jimmy Franks, Universal (US}
Producer Hiili Hiilesmaa
HIM chronology

666 Ways to Love: Prologue
(1996)		 Greatest Love Songs Vol. 666
(1997)		 Razorblade Romance
(1999)
Singles from Greatest Love Songs Vol. 666
  1. "When Love and Death Embrace"
    Released: October 16, 1997
  2. "Your Sweet Six Six Six"
    Released: February 2, 1998
  3. "Wicked Game"
    Released: September 28, 1998
  4. "It's All Tears (Drown in This Love)"
    Released: January 3, 1999
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic [1]
Sputnikmusic [2]
Starpulse [3]
Metal Storm [4]

Greatest Love Songs Vol. 666 is the debut studio album by Finnish band, HIM, released November 20, 1997. It was produced by Hiili Hiilesmaa and recorded at Finnvox, MD and Peacemakers in Helsinki, Finland. Guest vocals were provided by Sanna-June Hyde and Asta Hannula on "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" and "For You," respectively. The album has been certified platinum in Finland.[5] A two disc remastered edition was released on December 15, 2014 via The End Records.

Overview

Four singles were released from the album: "When Love and Death Embrace", which reached #9 on the Finnish chart, "Your Sweet Six Six Six", which reached #7 on the Finnish chart also, "Wicked Game", and "It's All Tears (Drown in This Love)". Greatest Love Songs Vol. 666 reached #4 on the Finnish album chart and #50 on the German album chart. The album has been certified Platinum by the Finnish music chart. Upon its US release in 2005, the album peaked at number 31 on the Top Heatseekers Chart.[6]

After track 9, on both versions of the album, there is a series of untitled hidden tracks (numbers 10 - 66) that fill 666 megabytes, although only track 66 contains music: the outro from the version of "The Heartless" released on the 666 Ways to Love EP (which, naturally, starts 6 minutes into the track). On the U.S. re-issue (due to Jimmy Franks Recording Company's extensive editing), the disc ended up being 664 megabytes in size and 66:04 in length.

In the second verse of "It's All Tears (Drown In This Love)," the woman heard screaming at the beginning of the EP version of "The Heartless" can be heard on the left channel.

The cover of "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" is actually a demo recording. When the band first put the album together, they found the material that they had recorded for it only came to 32 minutes. They recalled liking the demo they recorded for the song, so they put it on the end of the record (on the Finnish release). As the song is 6 and a half minutes long, this resulted in the album being as long as was originally planned.

Sounds and Themes

The album's overall sound is heavily rooted in traditional gothic metal and gothic rock, featuring down-tuned and highly distorted guitars while maintaining dark, haunting atmospheres throughout, on top of what would become Ville Valo’s trademark lyrics of dramatic laments of love and death.[7][8] The conceptual theme of the album is 666; the album is 66 minutes and 6 seconds long, contains 66 tracks and fills up 666 megabytes. Although sometimes perceived to have Satan-worshiping references, Valo has stated that the album was not to be perceived as such; these references are meant to symbolize the "darker" side of love.[9]

The album has been described as “…unveil[ing] its signature "love metal" sound to stunning effect. A potent combination of Sisters of Mercy-inspired goth and blistering hard rock mixed with a glam look and overtly romantic lyrics[…]front man Ville Valo's deep croon and charismatic presence are showcased throughout the album”[10]

In comparison to future releases, Greatest Love Songs Vol. 666 would eventually garner a reputation for being HIM's darkest and heaviest album to date, and has been recognized as such by critics and fans alike.[11][12][13]

Track listing

All songs are composed by Ville Valo, except where noted.

Original Finnish and U.S. Track listing
No. Title Length
1. "For You (Intro)" (Ville Valo/Mikko Lindström) 4:00
2. "Your Sweet Six Six Six"   4:12
3. "Wicked Game" (Chris Isaak) 3:54
4. "The Heartless"   4:03
5. "Our Diabolical Rapture" (Ville Valo/Mikko Lindström/Teemu Järvinen) 5:21
6. "It's All Tears (Drown in This Love)"   3:44
7. "When Love and Death Embrace"   6:08
8. "The Beginning of the End"   4:07
9. "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" (Donald Roeser) 6:30
Total length:
 41:19

B-Sides

No. Title Length
1. "Dark Secret Love"   5:16
2. "Stigmata Diaboli"   2:57
3. "Enjoy the Silence (Depeche Mode cover) (Performed live during 1997/1998)"   4:03
4. "The Heartless (Club Remix)"   3:58
5. "Wicked Game (666 Remix) (Chris Isaak)"   3:58
6. "The Beginning Of The End (Tandeberg B 74 Mix)"   3:17
7. "The Beginning Of The End (Satanik Love Mix)"   3:58
8. "When Love And Death Embrace (Original Single Edit)"   4:17
Total length:
 26:21

Personnel

HIM
Session musicians

References

  1. ↑ Allmusic review
  2. ↑ http://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/3719/HIM-Greatest-Love-Songs-Vol.-666/
  3. ↑ http://www.starpulse.com/Music/H.I.M./Discography/album/P429256/R497614/
  4. ↑ http://www.metalstorm.net/pub/review.php?review_id=2915
  5. ↑ http://www.ifpi.fi/tilastot/kultalevyt/haku?q=HIM
  6. ↑ http://www.allmusic.com/album/greatest-lovesongs-vol-666-mw0000470026/awards
  7. ↑ http://www.allmusic.com/album/greatest-lovesongs-vol-666-mw0000470026
  8. ↑ http://www.metalstorm.net/pub/review.php?review_id=2915
  9. ↑ 1998 Virus Interview
  10. ↑ http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=1269213&style=music
  11. ↑ http://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/7751/HIM-Greatest-Love-Songs-Vol.-666/
  12. ↑ http://www.metalstorm.net/pub/review.php?review_id=2915
  13. ↑ http://www.metal1.info/reviews/reviews.php?rev_id=337