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Wednesday, March 11, 2020

HIM - Tears on Tape (2013) | Analysis, Fun Facts & Trivia

HIM - Tears on Tape (2013) album front coverHIM - Tears on Tape (2013) album back cover
HIM - Tears on Tape (2013)
Front and back image covers

HIM – Tears on Tape (2013): Album Review, Tracklist, Credits, Legacy & Trivia

Released in April 2013, Tears on Tape is the eighth and final studio album by Finnish gothic rock band HIM (His Infernal Majesty). Combining love metal melodicism with gothic rock atmospheres and hard‑rock energy, the album reflects both the band’s signature emotional depth and a confident, streamlined songwriting approach.

🎡 Album Overview

  • Artist: HIM

  • Album: Tears on Tape

  • Release Date: 26 April 2013 (Finland), 29 April 2013 (Europe), 30 April 2013 (US/Canada)

  • Genre: Gothic Rock / Hard Rock / Love Metal

  • Labels: DoubleCross (UK), Razor & Tie (US), Universal (EU)

  • Producers: Hiili Hiilesmaa

  • Studios: Finnvox, MD & Peacemakers (Helsinki)

  • Length: ~40:56

Tears on Tape is known as HIM’s final studio album, completing their full‑length discography with a mix of emotional rock anthems and atmospheric interludes that highlight both heaviness and melancholic melody.

πŸ“œ Tracklist

  1. Unleash The Red

  2. All Lips Go Blue

  3. Love Without Tears

  4. I Will Be The End Of You

  5. Tears On Tape

  6. Into The Night

  7. Hearts At War

  8. Trapped In Autumn

  9. No Love

  10. Drawn & Quartered

  11. Lucifer’s Chorale

  12. W.L.S.T.D.

  13. Kiss The Void

Note: Several tracks (like Unleash The Red, Trapped In Autumn and Lucifer’s Chorale) function as instrumental or atmospheric bridges, showcasing the band’s layered approach to pacing and mood.

πŸŽ™️ Album Credits

Band Members

  • Ville Valo – Lead vocals

  • Mikko “Linde” LindstrΓΆm – Lead guitar

  • Mikko “MigΓ©” Paananen – Bass

  • Janne “Burton” Puurtinen – Keyboards

  • Mika “Gas Lipstick” Karppinen – Drums

Production

  • Producer: Hiili Hiilesmaa

  • Recording & Engineering: Heinola studios in Helsinki with Hiilesmaa’s longtime collaboration on board.

The album also features Tim Palmer in mixing duties on some editions and was one of the final projects that helped refine HIM’s polished, yet emotive rock South‑to‑North European sound.

πŸ“ˆ Reception & Impact

Tears on Tape earned generally favorable reviews from critics and listeners alike:

  • Metacritic Score: ~67/100 — generally favorable from professional reviews, with many praising its blend of heavy riffs and emotional songwriting.

  • Longtime fans and user reviewers rate it highly for its consistent mood and memorable hooks, giving it an 8.6/10 user score on Metacritic.

Critics noted that while the album doesn’t dramatically reinvent HIM’s sound, it captures their strengths — rich choruses, tender melancholic lyricism, and melodic depth that fans had come to expect.

Commercially, the album maintained HIM’s strong European presence, charting in several countries and reinforcing their legacy as one of Finland’s most internationally successful rock acts.

πŸ”₯ Notable Tracks

  • All Lips Go Blue – Opens with classic HIM melodic drive and emotionally charged vocals.

  • I Will Be The End Of You – Showcase of Valo’s storytelling and dynamic melody.

  • W.L.S.T.D. – A heavier, hard‑rocking standout that blends lyrical grit with groove.

πŸ’‘ Fun Facts & Trivia

  • 🎡 Tears on Tape includes four instrumental or mood pieces — rare for HIM and reminiscent of interludes in classic rock albums.

  • πŸ“€ The title’s concept reflects frontman Ville Valo’s view of music as emotional expression captured on tape, a tribute to rock’s enduring legacy and his own songwriting influences.

  • 🎸 The album was recorded in late 2012 and early 2013, marking a deliberate effort to create a compact yet powerful collection bridging gothic moods and melodic hooks.