Review by Jenna Hughes. Photos by Ken Lackner.
Finnish rockers H.I.M. returned to Atlanta March 18, playing Center Stage Atlanta in support of their latest album, 2013’s Tears on Tape.
Opening band Anathema, out of Liverpool, England, wowed the audience with its heavy melodic sound. Though they only played a half hour set, the band was very invested in the crowd, encouraging them to clap and sing along as they performed songs such as “Untouchable” from the latest album, 2013’s Universal. Though the band has an extensive collection, the rest of the short set focused on Universal, including “Deep,” “Thin Air” and current single “Fragile Dreams.”
The crowd was pumped and ready for H.I.M. when they took the stage and launched right into “Buried Alive By Love,” from 2003’s Love Metal. Front man Ville Valo, dressed in trademark head to toe black, didn’t have much to say to his screaming fans, but the smile never left his face as he continued through the band’s lengthy catalog, including “Rip Out the Wings of a Butterfly” from 2005’s Dark Light, “Join Me In Death,” from 1999’s Razorblade Romance and “All Lips Go Blue,” from the band’s latest, Tears on Tape. A cover of Chris Issak’s “Wicked Game” had the crowd going crazy as Valo serenaded them and things slowed down a bit for “Tears on Tape,” as fans held up their lighters and/or cell phones. “The Funeral of Hearts” closed out the set but the crowd demanded an encore. H.I.M. returned to play “Into the Night” and “When Love and Death Embrace.”
Full Set List:
Buried Alive By Love
Rip out the Wings of a Butterfly
Right Here In My Arms
The Kiss of Dawn
All Lips Go Blue
Join Me in Death
Your Sweet 666
Passion’s Killing Floor
Soul on Fire
Wicked Game
Tears on Tape
Poison Girl
For You
The Funeral of Hearts
Encore:
Into The Night
When Love and Death Embrace
