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Valo has just released a three-song EP called “Gothica Fennica Vol. 1”

HIM's VILLE VALO Is Back With 'Gothica Fennica Vol. 1' EP

March 19, 2020

ind Ville Valo has returned with what appears to be a solo project simply called VV.

Valo has just released a three-song EP called "Gothica Fennica Vol. 1". The effort, which bears a strong musical resemblance to HIM, features the following tracks: "Salute The Sanguine", "Run Away From The Sun" and "Saturnine Saturnalia".

HIM completed a farewell tour in 2017, closing the final chapter on the band's 26-year career.

At the time, Ville explained to Kerrang! magazine why the band decided to call it a day.

"We were tired of the same shit," he said. "When you've done it for a long time, at some point it doesn't taste good anymore. We started working on some stuff, it didn't sound good enough, and we didn't get the teenage buzz you're supposed get."

He also discussed the future of his artistic and musical endeavours.

"I'll be figuring out the emotions I'll be going through after the HIM period is done," he said. "That's how I experience life. I experience it through music, I'll pick up the guitar and start writing and I'm sure some of the emotions that come out of this wild ride will come through. My life is not done yet. The HIM part is done, as it is now, the chapter is closed, but the book is still unfinished…"

Formed in 1991 by Valo, guitarist Mikko "Linde" Lindström and bassist Mikko "Migé" Paananen, HIM offered the world a new take on the metal genre, which became known as "love metal" (also the title of their fourth album).

HIM in 2015 parted ways with its longtime drummer, Mika Kristian Karppinen (a.k.a. Gas Lipstick), and replaced him with Jukka "Kosmo" Kröger (formerly of HERRA YLPPÖ & IHMISET).

Last year, Valo teamed up with guitar legend Esa Pulliainen to record an album based on songs by the late, legendary Finnish singer Rauli "Badding" Somerjoki. The self-titled album by VILLE VALO & AGENTS was released in February 2019 and was followed by a short tour.

Listen here:

LISTEN: VILLE VALO IS BACK WITH A NEW EP THAT SOUNDS JUST LIKE HIM

JOE DIVITA

March 20, 2020

Johnny Perilla, Loudwire

HIM singer Ville Valo is back with new EP, Gothica Fennica Vol. 1, featuring three brand new songs that sound just like, you guessed it — HIM!

The frontman has mostly been quiet since HIM's dissolution in 2017, which left many fans wondering what his next move would be. Last year, he surfaced with the project Ville Valo & Agents whose self-titled record was based on songs by late Finnish rocker Rauli "Badding" Somerjoki, and now he's entered the solo arena.

While it's only three songs, the EP is a promising start and the Vol. 1 designation suggests this is only the beginning of Valo's solo career.

"Salute the Sanguine" (which could easily be nestled somewhere on HIM's Dark Light), "Run Away From the Sun" and "Saturnine Saturnalia" each explore varying moods spanning from twinkling lullaby-like melodies and mournful, forlorn passages, all perfectly befitting of the gothic crooner.

Listen to each track below.

In March of 2017, HIM revealed that they would be embarking on a farewell tour, stating, "After a quarter of a century of Love and Metal intertwined we sincerely feel HIM has run its unnatural course and adieus must be said in order to make way for sights, scents and sounds yet unexplored. We completed the pattern, solved the puzzle and turned the key. Thank you."

HIM’s Ville Valo returns with new three-track EP Gothica Fennica Vol. 1

By Scott Munro (Metal Hammer) 6 hours ago

Former HIM frontman Ville Valo has announced his comeback by releasing a three-track EP titled Gothica Fennica Vol. 1

Ville Valo (Image credit: Chiaki Nozu/WireImage - Getty)

Former HIM frontman Ville Valo has announced his return by releasing a new three-track EP titled Gothica Fennica Vol. 1.

It’s been launched under the VV banner and includes the songs Salute The Sanguine, Run Away From The Sun and Saturnine Saturnalia, with all three available to listen to below.

HIM split up following a farewell tour in 2017, with Valo going on to hook up with Esa Pulliainen in Ville Valo & Agents, with their self-titled studio album released last year.

Speaking exclusively to Metal Hammer just before HIM’s final tour, Valo said: “It’s been an amazing journey and I really mean that. It’s also like the first time I can really appreciate what we’ve done because I won’t be worrying about what happens next.

“It’ll be cool to sing Join Me In Death because I can think how far it’s brought us. I don’t have to think about the next album because there isn’t going to be one, and as an entity HIM deserves the respect, and maybe we need to do this so people can understand it really is over and so we can close that door.”

Photos: Ville  Juurikkala

Wow so I opened my fanpack and BAM! First I managed to get to get tickets to the Dingwalls gig and now THIS. 

Last month, K! snapper Paul Harries flew to Finland to shoot some new pictures of Ville Valo. "It's always a pleasure to photograph Ville, so I jumped at the chance to meet up with him in Helsinki," explains Paul. "This location may look like a mystical cave, but it's actually a car park wall."

Via Kerrang Issue 1485, Mar 23 2013

Still from the Into The Night video shoot, Angel Films Oy