Dark Light (HIM album)
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{good article}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Dark Light
| type = studio
| artist = HIM
| cover = HIM_-_Dark_Light.jpg
| alt =
| released = 26 September 2005
| recorded = 2005
| venue =
| studio = The Paramour Estate in Los Angeles, California
| genre = Gothic rock, pop rock
| length = 45:30
| label = Sire • Heartagram
| producer = Tim Palmer
| prev_title = And Love Said No: The Greatest Hits 1997–2004
| prev_year = 2004
| next_title = Uneasy Listening Vol. 1
| next_year = 2006
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Dark Light
| type = Studio
| single1 = Wings of a Butterfly
| single1date = September 2005
| single2 = Vampire Heart
| single2date = November 2005
| single3 = Killing Loneliness
| single3date = February 2006
| single4 = Under the Rose
| single4date = 2006
}}
}}
Dark Light is the fifth studio album by Finnish gothic rock band HIM. Released on 26 September 2005, HIM began recording the album in March 2005 at the Paramour Estate is Los Angeles with producer Tim Palmer, who had also mixed the band's previous album Love Metal. Dark Light also served as HIM's first worldwide release with Sire Records, with whom the band had signed with in September 2004. In Finland, however, the album was released under the band's own label Heartagram. Musically, Dark Light featured a more "polished" and "accessible" sound than previous albums, and was written as a cross between Black Sabbath and U2, also influenced by the work of composer Angelo Badalamenti.
Dark Light received mostly positive reviews from critics, with many praising the writing and the band's performance, while some criticism was given to the second half of the album. Dark Light charted in fifteen countries, reaching number one in Finland, later going platinum, as well as gold in Germany, the UK and the US, making HIM the first Finnish band to receive a gold record in the United States. Three singles were also released, with "Wings of a Butterfly" peaking at number one in Finland, and "Killing Loneliness" at number two. "Wings of a Butterfly" later received the award for "Song of the Year" at the 2005 Emma Awards, and was awarded at the 2007 BMI Pop Awards as well. During the album's world tour, HIM made their live debut in various countries, including Japan, Australia, and New Zealand.
Production
In August 2003, HIM separated from BMG, after fulfilling their contractual obligations to the label.{{cite news|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/h-i-m-part-ways-with-label-seek-new-record-deal/|title =H.I.M. Part Ways With Label, Seek New Record Deal |work=Blabbermouth |date=5 August 2003 |access-date=9 July 2017}} In September 2004, HIM announced that they had signed a new recording contract with Sire Records, who would handle the band's future releases in Europe, the United States, Japan and Australia.{{Cite web | title = H.I.M. Sign With SIRE RECORDS | date =9 September 2004 | website = Blabbermouth | url =http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/h-i-m-sign-with-sire-records/ | access-date = 9 July 2017}} In their native Finland, however, HIM's recordings would be released through the band's own Heartagram label. In March 2005, HIM relocated to Los Angeles to start work on their fifth studio album at The Paramour Estate, with producer Tim Palmer, who had previously mixed the band's fourth album Love Metal.{{Cite web | title = The Making of Dark Light | date = | website = YouTube | url =https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QnD_04Zxj4&t=910s | access-date = 9 July 2017}} After two days of rehearsals, the band began recording drums, which were done in two days.{{Cite web | title = HIM - Dark Light Podcast #2 | date = | website = YouTube | url =https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aa9RuSzLkVk | access-date = 9 July 2017}} This was followed by the bass, and then guitars and keyboards. The band were faced with multiple distractions during the recording process, including dogs around the estate, as well as a Playboy video shoot. Because of this, the studio equipment was moved upstairs for Ville Valo to record his vocals, while the other members of the band flew to Las Vegas with professional skateboarder and friend of the band Bam Margera.
In May 2005, HIM recruited Andy Wallace to mix the album; however, he was fired only a week later.{{Cite web | title = H.I.M. Tap Andy Wallace To Mix New Album | date =4 May 2005 | website = Blabbermouth.net | url =http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/h-i-m-tap-andy-wallace-to-mix-new-album/ | access-date = 9 July 2017}}{{Cite web | title = Interview with Ville Valo @ Ruisrock 2005 | date = | website = YouTube | url =https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlqKyPHyTE8&t=132s | access-date = 9 July 2017}} According to Valo, Wallace lost the "melancholia" in his mixes, explaining: "It sounded fucking good, but it sounded like radio-friendly American rock [...] and we're not that." Thus, producer Tim Palmer was tasked with mixing the album at Electric Lady Studios in New York, after which the album was mastered by Stephen Marcussen at Sterling Sound.Dark Light album sleeve notes. Originally planned as In the Nightside of Eden, the album's title was changed to Dark Light, because the band felt that the latter would be a more memorable title, seeing as how this would be HIM's first album to be officially released in Japan, Australia and North America. The title Dark Light was inspired by a book of the same name by Mette Newth, and was also thought up as a play on words; Ville Valo's last name translates to "light", and "dark light" in Finnish would be "pimeä valo", which in turn would mean that Ville Valo was "mad".{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaSOTXJSLYw |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/PaSOTXJSLYw |archive-date=21 December 2021 |url-status=live|title= HIM – Loud Legacy documentary|publisher=YouTube |date=25 February 2015 |access-date=9 June 2016}}{{cbignore}} Dark Light also continues the band's tradition of "contradictions in [album] titles".{{Cite web | title = MTV Switched on Ville Valo 2005 | date = | website = YouTube | url =https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xC8iVETcI98 | access-date = 9 July 2017}}{{cite news|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/h-i-m-frontman-says-new-album-sounds-like-gothed-up-bon-jovi.html#6dYirW1AuJbm2QKH.99 |title =H.I.M. Frontman Says New Album Sounds Like 'Gothed-Up BON JOVI'|work=Blabbermouth.net |date=16 July 2005|access-date=9 July 2017}} The cover art of Dark Light was designed by Matt Taylor and Sonny Gerasimowicz.
Music and lyrics
{{Listen
|filename = Wings of a Butterfly (sample).ogg
|title = "Wings of a Butterfly" (2005)
|description = "Wings of a Butterfly" has been described as fusing "echo-chamber guitars with a sugar-bomb chorus".
}}
According to Valo, the band entered the studio with the idea of creating a cross between Black Sabbath's Sabbath Bloody Sabbath and Achtung Baby by U2, and Dark Light has been described as more "polished" and "accessible" than HIM's previous albums. The first half of the record was written long before entering the studio, while the second half was composed a month and a half prior, after Valo threw away much of the original material, because "it was too slow".{{Cite web | title = H.I.M. Frontman Talks About Songwriting Process For 'Dark Light', Breaking U.S. Market | date =25 November 2005 | website = Blabbermouth.net | url =http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/h-i-m-frontman-talks-about-songwriting-process-for-dark-light-breaking-u-s-market/ | access-date = 9 July 2017}} According to Valo, the band's approach on Dark Light was to make the songs sound more "cinematic, epic, and close to the listeners", inspired by the works of composer Angelo Badalamenti.{{Cite web | title = H.I.M. To Release 'Dark Light' In September | date =27 May 2005 | website = Blabbermouth.net | url =http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/h-i-m-to-release-dark-light-in-september/ | access-date = 9 July 2017}} Valo also mentioned This Mortal Coil as an influence on the album's "spooky, eerie" sound.{{Cite web | title = HIM - Dark Light Podcast #3 | date = | website = YouTube | url =https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKYk11gD3Iw | access-date = 9 July 2017}} Lyrically, Dark Light deals mostly with themes of "girls and boys and the politics of the heart".
"Vampire Heart" opens with a riff reminiscent of the theme to the 1978 film Halloween, while "Rip Out the Wings of a Butterfly" was described by Valo as a "link between 'She Sells Sanctuary' by The Cult and 'Billie Jean' by Michael Jackson".Metal Hammer Presents HIM: Tears On Tape Fanpack Magazine – pg. 123 The lyrics were inspired by a legend of immortal souls possessing the wings of a butterfly, and talks about: "Whether you are willing enough to destroy something beautiful to gain yourself some power." According to Valo, the song was chosen as the first single from Dark Light, because it was "the perfect song to describe what's going to happen on the entire album", containing all the signature elements of the band's sound as well.{{Cite web | title = Ville Valo - Associated Press interview 2005 | date = | website = YouTube | url =https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTXUrq_-q5M | access-date = 9 July 2017}}{{Cite web | title = Ville Valo interview about Dark Light @ MTV Italia 2005 | date = | website = YouTube | url =https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pr-1hopxRo0&t=614s | access-date = 9 July 2017}} "Killing Loneliness" was partly inspired by professional skateboarder Brandon Novak and his heroin addiction, and talks about the various ways people "kill their loneliness, and with what", while "Behind the Crimson Door" features Valo humming a poem by Finnish author Timo K. Mukka.{{cite news|title = Kohu haihtui Timo K. Mukan elämästä|url =http://www.hs.fi/kulttuuri/art-2000004779037.html|newspaper=Helsingin Sanomat |date=3 January 2011 |access-date=9 July 2017}} Valo described "The Face of God" as "Achtung-era U2, with Queens of the Stone Age meeting the Satanic Bee Gees", and "In the Nightside of Eden" as the "prog rock" song of the album, which also makes mention of the Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri. The band's cover of "Poison Heart" by the Ramones features claps by Sire Records' co-founder Seymour Stein and A&R executive Michael Goldstone.
Release and promotion
File:HIM-milano1.jpg in September 2005]]
"Rip Out the Wings of a Butterfly" (under the title "Wings of a Butterfly") was released as the first single from Dark Light in September 2005, charting in ten countries, including at number one in Finland,{{cite web|url=http://www.ifpi.fi/tilastot/virallinen-lista/artistit/him|title=HIM Discography|publisher=Musiikkituottajat|date=|access-date=9 July 2017|archive-date=7 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160807112327/http://ifpi.fi/tilastot/virallinen-lista/artistit/him|url-status=dead}} number ten in Germany and the UK,{{cite web |url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/suche |title=HIM Discography |publisher=Offiziele Deutsche Charts |access-date=8 June 2017 |language=German }}{{cite web |url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/1099/him/ |title=HIM - Chart history|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=19 March 2017}} and at number 19 on the US Alternative Chart.{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/303494/him/chart|title=HIM - Chart history|publisher=Billboard|access-date=16 March 2017|archive-date=6 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170806203317/http://www.billboard.com/artist/303494/him/chart|url-status=dead}} A music video was also produced for the song.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUUSz54G6jc |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/aUUSz54G6jc |archive-date=21 December 2021 |url-status=live|title =HIM – "Wings of a Butterfly" (Music Video)|publisher=YouTube |date= |access-date=9 June 2016}}{{cbignore}} That same month, HIM embarked on European club tour to prepare for the release Dark Light.{{cite news|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/h-i-m-to-embark-on-european-club-tour-in-september/|title =H.I.M. To Embark On European Club Tour In September |work=Blabbermouth.net |date=11 June 2005 |access-date=9 July 2017}} The album was released on 26 September 2005, and charted in sixteen countries, including at number one in Finland and Greece, number four in Germany and Austria,{{cite web |url=http://www.austriancharts.at/showinterpret.asp?interpret=HIM |title=Discographie HIM |publisher=AustrianCharts.at |access-date=7 February 2009 |language=German }} and number 18 in the UK and US. The album would eventually be certified platinum in Finland, and gold in Germany, the UK, and the US, making HIM the first Finnish artist to receive a gold record in the United States.{{cite certification|region=Germany|artist=HIM|access-date=7 February 2008}}{{cite web |url=http://www.bpi.co.uk/certifiedawards/Search.aspx |title=Archived copy |access-date=25 January 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090924015932/http://www.bpi.co.uk/certifiedawards/Search.aspx |archive-date=24 September 2009 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.fi/viihde/musiikki/artikkeli/him-myi-kultaa-usa-ssa/2860784|title=HIM myi kultaa USA:ssa|publisher=MTV|date=28 September 2006|access-date=7 July 2016|archive-date=1 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160801172117/http://www.mtv.fi/viihde/musiikki/artikkeli/him-myi-kultaa-usa-ssa/2860784|url-status=dead}} The North American leg of the album's supporting tour began in Portland, Oregon, on 5 October 2005, and continued until the end of November, with Skindred and Flinch serving as supporting acts.{{cite news|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/h-i-m-u-s-headlining-tour-dates-announced/|title =H.I.M.: U.S. Headlining Tour Dates Announced |work=Blabbermouth.net |date=20 August 2005 |access-date=9 July 2017}} In November 2005, "Vampire Heart" was released as a promotional singles from Dark Light. For the 2005 edition of the band's annual New Year's Eve shows, the event was expanded into a festival and renamed Helldone.{{cite web |title=HIMin uudenvuodenkeikka laajenee festariksi |url=http://www.mtv.fi/viihde/musiikki/artikkeli/himin-uudenvuodenkeikka-laajenee-festariksi/2867472 |publisher=MTV |date=15 September 2005 |access-date=15 June 2016 |archive-date=10 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160810081625/http://www.mtv.fi/viihde/musiikki/artikkeli/himin-uudenvuodenkeikka-laajenee-festariksi/2867472 |url-status=dead }}
The band were scheduled to begin a tour of the UK and Ireland in January 2006, but were forced to postpone it until February, after guitarist Mikko "Linde" Lindström fractured his wrist after Helldone.{{cite news|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/h-i-m-guitarist-s-fractured-wristbone-forces-postponement-of-u-k-tour/|title =H.I.M.: Guitarist's Fractured Wristbone Forces Postponement Of U.K. Tour |work=Blabbermouth.net |date=8 January 2006 |access-date=27 June 2016}} At the 2005 Emma Awards, HIM went on to win "Rock Album of the Year", and "Song of the Year" for "Wings of a Butterfly".{{cite web|url=http://www.ifpi.fi/palkinnot/emmat/emma-palkinnon-voittajat#vuosi-2000|title=Emma-winners|publisher=Musiikkituottajat|date=|access-date=9 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304083049/http://www.ifpi.fi/palkinnot/emmat/emma-palkinnon-voittajat#vuosi-2000|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead}} Dark Light was also nominated for "Album of the Year".{{cite web|url=http://www.emmagaala.fi/fi/arkisto|title =Emma Gaala - Arkisto |publisher=Emma Gaala |quote= Enter 'HIM' in the field 'Suodata nimellä:'|access-date=21 April 2019}} On 9 February 2006, HIM began a joint seven-date tour with The Rasmus and Negative across Central Europe, after which HIM continued through Southern Europe, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.{{cite web|title = HIM, The Rasmus ja Negative yhteiskiertueelle |url =http://www.is.fi/viihde/art-2000000071973.html|publisher=Ilta-Sanomat |date=20 October 2005 |access-date=9 July 2017}} Also in February 2006, "Killing Loneliness" was released as a single, charting in five countries, peaking at number two in Finland. Two music videos were produced for the song, the latter of which featured a guest appearance by tattoo artist Kat Von D.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQ9JdDAbKH0 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/CQ9JdDAbKH0 |archive-date=21 December 2021 |url-status=live|title =HIM – "Killing Loneliness" (Music Video, feat. Kat Von D)|publisher=YouTube |date= |access-date=9 June 2016}}{{cbignore}}{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2YBw96PsjY |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/t2YBw96PsjY |archive-date=21 December 2021 |url-status=live|title =HIM – "Killing Loneliness" (Music Video)|publisher=YouTube |date= |access-date=9 June 2016}}{{cbignore}} From May to June 2006, HIM toured the US with Aiden acting as support.{{cite news|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/h-i-m-to-tour-u-s-with-aiden/|title =H.I.M. To Tour U.S. With AIDEN |work=Blabbermouth.net |date=12 March 2006 |access-date=29 January 2017}} In August 2006, HIM were nominated by Kerrang! for "Best Band on the Planet".{{cite web|title = HIM ehdolla planeetan parhaaksi bändiksi|url =https://www.is.fi/viihde/art-2000000275998.html|publisher=Ilta-Sanomat |date=14 August 2006 |access-date=26 July 2016}} In September 2006, HIM cancelled a forthcoming North American tour, in order to begin work on a new album.{{cite web|title = HIM perui kiertueensa |url =http://www.is.fi/viihde/art-2000000166326.html|publisher=Ilta-Sanomat |date=28 September 2006 |access-date=9 July 2017}} "Under the Rose" was also released as the final promotional single from Dark Light in 2006. In October 2007, Ville Valo was awarded at the BMI Pop Award for "Wings of a Butterfly".{{cite web|title = Ville Valolle palkinto Wings of a Butterfly -kappaleesta|url =https://www.is.fi/viihde/art-2000000203614.html|publisher=Ilta-Sanomat |date=17 October 2007 |access-date=16 June 2016}}
Reception
{{Music ratings
| MC = 52/100{{cite web|work=Metacritic|title=Critic Reviews for Dark Light|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/dark-light/him|access-date=15 June 2016}}
| rev1 = Rumba
| rev1Score = {{Rating|5|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.rumba.fi/artikkelit/nostalgiamatka-rumban-arkistoista/|title =HIM-nostalgiamatka Rumban arkistoista |publisher=Rumba |date= |access-date=17 January 2017}}
| rev2 = Rock Hard
| rev2Score = 8.5/10{{cite web|url=https://www.rockhard.de/megazine/reviewarchiv/review-anzeigen.html?tx_rxsearch_pi1%5Breview%5D=18398 |title =Dark Light Review |publisher=Rock Hard |date= |access-date=6 July 2017}}
| rev3 = Imperiumi.net
| rev3Score = 8+/10{{cite web|url=http://www.imperiumi.net/index.php?act=albums&id=4113|title =Dark Light Review |publisher=Imperiumi.net |date= |access-date=6 July 2017}}
| rev4 = musicOMH
| rev4Score = Positive{{cite web|url=https://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/him-dark-light|title =Dark Light Review |publisher=musicOMH |date= 25 September 2005|access-date=9 July 2017}}
| rev5 = Soundi
| rev5Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|url=http://www.soundi.fi/levyarviot/him-dark-light/|title =Dark Light Review |publisher=Soundi |date= May 2007|access-date=6 July 2017}}
| rev6 = Helsingin Sanomat
| rev6Score = Positive{{cite news|url=http://www.hs.fi/kulttuuri/levyarvostelu/art-2000002582496.html|title =Dark Light Review |newspaper=Helsingin Sanomat |access-date=18 July 2017}}
| rev7 = Allmusic
| rev7Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/dark-light-mw0000655920|title =Dark Light Review |website=AllMusic |access-date=6 July 2017}}
| rev8 = Drowned in Sound
| rev8Score = 5/10{{cite web|url=http://drownedinsound.com/releases/6842/reviews/494687|title=Dark Light Review|publisher=Drowned in Sound|date=|access-date=9 July 2017|archive-date=29 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171029013259/http://drownedinsound.com/releases/6842/reviews/494687|url-status=dead}}
}}
Dark Light received mostly mixed to positive reviews from critics, with an average score of 52 out of 100 on Metacritic, based on 10 reviews. The New York Times described the material as "sturdier than ever", while Q called the album a "collection of irresistible pop-rock anthems". Chris Ingold of musicOMH touted Dark Light as HIM's "most accessible album to date", containing "the powerful sense of identity and cohesion that has allowed the band to shamelessly rip-off all manner of classic rock moments yet always sound like themselves." Rumba's Tapio Ahola gave the album five out of five stars, praising it as fulfilling the potential of the band, as well as featuring material "with more depth" than some of the group's other work. Conny Schiffbauer of Rock Hard, who gave the album eight-point-five out of ten, called Dark Light a "successful album", giving praise to both the vocals and instrumentation, and likening the album to The Cult, Black Sabbath and U2. Turkka Holmqvist of Imperiumi.net gave the album eight-plus out of ten, and called it "fresh" and a "positive surprise". He did, however, comment on only half the album being up to par, but concluded that the album "takes the band back to the times when they were good on their own terms". Vesa Sirén of Soundi described Valo's melodies as sounding even more like traditional Finnish schlager than before, and commended the arrangements as "precise" and "nuanced". Sirén also felt that the second half of the album did not live up to the first, but still awarded Dark Light four stars out of five.
Tero Valkonen of Helsingin Sanomat was positive in his review, singling out "Wings of a Butterfly" and "In the Nightside of Eden" as particular highlights, but did still criticize the album for following the same formula as the band's previous efforts. AllMusic awarded the album three-and-a-half stars out of five, and described it as "glossy and user-friendly". Raziq Rauf of Drowned in Sound gave the album five out of ten, and called the album "unremarkable" yet "solid". He praised Valo's performance, but criticized the material backing him as "dull" and "turgid backwash". NME also described Dark Light as "wimpy", giving the album 40 out of 100. Spin gave the album 25 out 100, and stated that Dark Light "gives new meaning to the phrase virgin sacrifice", while Stylus Magazine felt that "there's nothing to get excited or exhilarated over" on the album, also giving the album 25 out of 100.
In 2016, the readers of Metal Hammer magazine voted Dark Light the second best metal album of the 21st century, second only to Babymetal's self-titled debut.{{cite magazine|url=http://teamrock.com/feature/2016-07-27/metal-hammer-readers-vote-babymetal-the-best-album-of-the-21st-century|title =Metal Hammer readers vote Babymetal as the best album of the 21st century |magazine= Metal Hammer |access-date=22 July 2017}} In 2017, Valo revisited Dark Light and described it as a "pretty experimental record" for the band, stating: "Finnish melancholia was brought to the middle of the sunny city of angels, and we forcefully tried wed them. A good combination of the two."{{cite news|title = Jäähyväiset HIMille – Ville Valo kertoo, miksi Suomen suurin rockyhtye lopettaa ja mitä siitä seuraa|url =http://www.hs.fi/kulttuuri/art-2000005275642.html|newspaper=Helsingin Sanomat |date=2 July 2017 |access-date=6 July 2017}} Loudwire later ranked Dark Light fourth in the band's discography, giving praise to the production and songwriting, while stating that "ultimately the 'dark' part of the title falls short of expectations."{{cite magazine|title = HIM Albums Ranked|url =http://loudwire.com/him-albums-ranked/|magazine=Loudwire |access-date=31 August 2017}} Kaaoszine ranked Dark Light as the second-best HIM album, stating: "Some albums are like a gateway to a dreamworld bigger than life. Dark Light is one of those records."{{cite web|title = Tuotanto ruodinnassa: HIM|url =http://kaaoszine.fi/tuotanto-ruodinnassa-him/|publisher=Kaaoszine |date= 27 December 2017|access-date=29 December 2017}}
Track listing
All tracks written by Ville Valo, except where noted.
{{track listing
|total_length = 45:44
| title1 = Vampire Heart
| length1 = 4:46
| title2 = Rip Out the Wings of a Butterfly
| length2 = 3:30
| title3 = Under the Rose
| length3 = 4:50
| title4 = Killing Loneliness
| length4 = 4:29
| title5 = Dark Light
| length5 = 4:31
| title6 = Behind the Crimson Door
| length6 = 4:37
| title7 = The Face of God
| length7 = 4:36
| title8 = Drunk on Shadows
| length8 = 3:49
| title9 = Play Dead
| length9 = 4:36
| title10 = In the Nightside of Eden
| length10 = 5:40
}}
{{track listing
| total_length = 50:01
| headline = Limited Edition bonus track
| title11 = The Cage
| length11 = 4:17
}}
{{track listing
| total_length = 48:58
| headline = Japanese/iTunes/Spotify bonus track
| title11 = Poison Heart
| length11 = 3:41
| writer11 = Dee Dee Ramone, Daniel Rey
}}
{{track listing
| total_length = 54:33
| headline = Heartagram Internet Edition bonus tracks
| title11 = Venus (In Our Blood)
| length11 = 4:32
| title12 = The Cage
| length12 = 4:17
}}
{{track listing
| total_length = 58:14
| headline = Gatefold vinyl bonus tracks
| title11 = Venus (In Our Blood)
| length11 = 4:32
| title12 = The Cage
| length12 = 4:17
| title13 = Poison Heart
| length13 = 3:41
| writer13 = Dee Dee Ramone, Daniel Rey
}}
Personnel
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
;HIM
- Ville Valo − lead vocals, art direction
- Mikko "Linde" Lindström − guitar
- Mikko "Mige" Paananen − bass
- Janne "Burton" Puurtinen − keyboards
- Mika "Gas Lipstick" Karppinen − drums
{{col-2}}
;Production
- Tim Palmer − production, mixing
- Mark O'Donoughue − engineering
- Dave Starr - recording assistant
- Steef Van De Gevel − mixing assistant
- Stephen Marcussen − mastering
- Cindi Peters - production coordination
- Muichael Goldstone - A&R
- Matt Taylor − artwork, art direction
- Sonny Gerasimowicz − artwork
- Ellen Wakayama - art direction
- Ralf Strathmann - photography
{{col-end}}
Charts
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|title=Dark Light|artist=HIM|relyear=2005|type=album|region=Finland|award=Platinum|certyear=2005|access-date=25 July 2017|salesamount=38,720|domestic=true|refname=FINcerts}}
{{Certification Table Entry|title=Dark Light|artist=HIM|relyear=2005|region=Germany|type=album|award=Gold|certyear=2005|access-date=25 July 2017}}
{{Certification Table Entry|title=Dark Light|artist=HIM|relyear=2005|region=Greece|type=album|award=Gold|certyear=2006|id=20060220102951|access-date=20 November 2020}}
{{Certification Table Entry|title=Dark Light|artist=HIM|relyear=2005|region=United Kingdom|type=album|award=Gold|certyear=2005|access-date=25 July 2017|id=8793-2400-2}}
{{Certification Table Entry|title=Dark Light|artist=H.I.M.|relyear=2005|region=United States|type=album|award=Gold|certyear=2006|access-date=25 July 2017}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}}
References
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External links
- {{Official website|http://www.heartagram.com/}}
{{HIM}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Dark Light (Him Album)}}
Category:HIM (Finnish band) albums