Helldone: some pics & reviews

[papuna]

Tavastia / Helsinki. Photo: Roni Rekomaa. Copyright: Lehtikuva / http://www.mtv.fi/viihde/musiikki.shtml/ville-valo-johdatti-fanit-uuteen-vuoteen-helsingissa---kuvat/2014/01/1848127

So, Helldone is over once again! There were four gigs on this mini-tour (in Oulu, Seinäjoki, Tampere and Helsinki). I haven't found any proper reviews of Oulu and Seinäjoki, but here are few of Tampere and Helsinki.

Helsingin uutiset: HIM sparkled in Tampere
- very positive, the band is in great shape
- hits from the start till the end
- only little new material
- songs from different albums fit well together and managed to sound fresh
- band had fun on stage and that passed on the audience too

Aamulehti: After years of waiting HIM arrived to Tampere - how was it?
- overall positive but has some nitpicking too
- "lots of pretty ladies in the audience but also men, which is a good sign" (wtf that's supposed to mean?)
- not the best gig ever, but the band's playing was energetic and sounds were heavy
- problems with mixing. At first Ville's voice and Burton's keyboards were a bit muffled, though the situation got slightly better when the gig progressed. The mixing was a particular problem in songs like It's All Tears where the magic comes from Ville using both ends of his vocal range
- Gas was of course true to his name, but Migé was even better :D
- Linde knows his lower frequencies
- Ville was very professional but tight-lipped, even reserved
- only little new songs, nothing from Screamworks
- mentions some songs that worked really well, for example Wicked Game, which "defined love metal when HIM started out and is still played impressively with Sabbath-like bridge"

I myself only went to Tampere, because I'm lazy and poor and didn't get a ticket for Helsinki. And of course I happened to have an awful migraine and spent the whole night shaking and trying not to faint or vomit. And due this I had to watch the gig literally from the row 666. But I still enjoyed it! :D One of the best HIM shows that I have seen. True, there might have been some mixing issues, but aren't there almost in all rock gigs. It wasn't severe so I wasn't really bothered. And it's also true that Ville didn't speak much but I didn't think he was reserved. He did have a wide grin and he complimented the audience on several occasions. And as much as I love Ville talking, I still have to say that it's better the less he rambles between the songs.

And I have to mention that I loved Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät. I know they were maybe a bit confusing for non-Finnish speakers but I'm still happy HIM had them as a supporting act.

The set list for Tampere:

Buried Alive By Love

Wings of a Butterfly

Right Here In My Arms

Kiss Of Dawn

All Lips Go Blue

Join Me In Death

Your Sweet 666

Passion´s Killing Floor

In Joy And Sorrow

Into The Night

It´s All Tears

Soul On Fire

Wicked Game

Tears On Tape

Poison Girl

For You

Funeral Of Hearts

Death Is In Love With Us (Encore)

When Love And Death Embrace (Encore)



Pakkahuone / Tampere. Photo: Kari Martiala / http://www.helsinginuutiset.fi/artikkeli/272403-him-sakenoi-tampereella-%E2%80%93-tanaan-vuorossa-tavastia

Helsingin Sanomat: HIM celebrated New Year traditionally in Tavastia
- the band played with routine, little surprises
- where as last year Ville had problems, now he was in a great shape
- playing older songs was nice
- overall positive but the gig maybe lacked some show elements



Tavastia / Helsinki. Photo: Roni Rekomaa. Copyright: Lehtikuva / http://www.mtv.fi/viihde/musiikki.shtml/ville-valo-johdatti-fanit-uuteen-vuoteen-helsingissa---kuvat/2014/01/1848127



Rytmikorjaamo / Seinäjoki. Photo: Jari-Pekka Laitio-Ramone / http://www.pohjalainen.fi/uutiset/maakunta/him-esiintyi-rytmikorjaamolla-katso-kuvat-1.1527430