¤ There's lots of good and interesting info in this post, so read carefully. Also, this was taken from Blabbermouth.net.

¤ Until recently, Finnish Goth/metal quintet HIM has been one of the most aboveground underground bands in America. While three of its albums have been released here, the group has been perhaps best-known for its "heartagram" logo, appropriated by fan Bam Margera ("Jackass/Viva La Bam").

That's set to change with the Sept. 26 release of "Dark Light," the band's debut for Sire Records, and also its first to be released simultaneously worldwide.

Currently mixing songs at New York's Electric Lady studios with producer Tim Palmer (David Bowie, Ozzy Osbourne), frontman Ville Valo says the band was inspired by the works of film composer Angelo Badalamenti. "Our approach on 'Dark Light' was to work on key words to make the music more cinematic, epic, and close to the listeners," he tells Billboard.com.

"Dark Light" continues the lush, melodramatic mix of Goth, rock and pop that marked albums like 2003's "Love Metal." Songs like possible first single "Killing Loneliness" and "Under the Rose" expand on that signature sound, which Valo says has always been based on Scandinavian melancholy.

The title track is a power ballad, while "Behind the Crimson Door" is a driving song with the refrain "your love will be the death of me." Other song titles include "Face of God," "Wings of a Butterfly" and "Drunk on Shadows."

After the album is mixed, HIM head out on the road, playing festivals in Europe and Asia. A North American jaunt is being penciled in for October and November.

While joking that "the amount of work we have will double" now that the band is signed to a proper US label, Valo says HIM is ready to conquer the States. "We've rehearsed for this for 10 years!" he says.

¤ Now we have a confirmed release date: September 26th.

As well as some more song titles:
- Killing Loneliness (possible first single)
- Under the Rose
- Dark Light
- Behind the Crimson Door
- Face of God
- Wings of a Butterfly
- Drunk on Shadows

And we know that HIM will be back in the states in the fall.

¤ Here are two more bootlegs to add to the collection:

Halloween 2004 DVD (10.31.04)

Halloween 2004 CD (10.31.04)

Radio Bam (11.15)

I'll have some more to post later.

¤ For those wondering, there's still time to enter our contest. I've extended the contest deadline until June 17th. What's the prize you ask? Well, Jenna, let's see what's behind door #3!

A brand new sealed HER CD! It's the limited version released in late 2002 when HIM was going to be HER in the US of A. Remember, all you have to do to enter is to donate to the cause by supporting the Sac. Check the link for more details.

In addition, webmasters who donate can get their site linked for at least 100 hits. A good way to get yourself some traffic.

¤ According to Blabbermouth.net HIM have reportedly tapped Andy Wallace (KORN, LINKIN PARK, LIMP BIZKIT, SLAYER) to mix their brand-new album, tentatively due in the fall via Sire. The mixing sessions will take place in New York City beginning this week.

As previously reported, HIM recorded the follow-up to 2003's "Love Metal" at Los Angeles' Paramour studios According to singer Ville Valo, the upcoming CD, which is being produced by Tim Palmer (who worked on the band's last album), will feature "really fast songs but with a melodic punky MISFITS feel to them." (My guess is listen to "Please Don't Let it Go" from the Solitary Man single).

HIM's forthcoming album will be preceded by a single release in August. Ville Valo and his cohorts have also lined up a handful of European and Japanese festival appearances during the summer. (Credit: Holmes @ The 9th Circle)

¤ In the April 30th edition of Kerrang! magazine, you can check out a new article about HIM and see more pictures of Ville and his new Billy Joe Armstrong haircut. If you can't get it, you're in luck 'cause I have scans. (Credit: Micerinos @ H-I-M666 Club)

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¤ According to DarkSecretClub, HIM and HMC (Helsinki Music Company) has reached a deal to release the next HIM albums in Finland by Heartagram. Heartagram is the band's own company.
HMC owners are Niko Nordström (former General Manager of BMG Finland) and Asko Kallonen (former A/R of BMG Finland). Kallonen has worked with HIM since their first EP 666 Ways to Love: Prologue.

¤ Ville will probably support the Bloodhound Gang by doing backing vocals on 1 or 2 songs of their forthcoming album. No word yet on what tracks or anything else, but knowing Jimmy Pop, this should be interesting. (Credit: HIMforFans.de)

¤ The time has come for our second contest. This time the prize is even better: a sealed HER CD! Remember, all you have to do to enter is to donate to the cause by supporting the Sac. Check the link for more details.

¤ Don't forget to join the forum again. It's better (well, will be better) than it was before. Same goes with the newsletter, though I won't be sending one out for a while.

¤ I took a few days off from the site due to all the rework I had to do getting it back online, but I'll be getting off my ass and doing what needs to be done. Yes, I said that a few weeks ago, but the site was kicked offline before I could do anything, so piss off! :)

¤ Everything seems to be sorted out now. Here's the scoop on what's changed, what needs to be done and everything else.

The Forum is back up. Go and sign up again to start making it the great place it was. It has a few more features and looks a lot cleaner than the last one.

The Newsletter is back up as well. You'll have to sign up again, unfortunately. Note that I don't plan on sending one out soon, but you can get it out of the way now.

Link Exchange is ready to go as well. This is open to all websites, not just HIM related ones.

If there are any other problems that you see, let me know and I'll do what I can to fix it.

¤ As you may have noticed, there has been numerous problems with the site lately. If you were aggravated, just try to imagine how I've felt. The site may be a bit buggy until the DNS fully changes (probably within the next day).

Anyway, long story short, the now ex-host decided that our forum was too much for them to handle. Actually, it crashed an entire server. I found the quote from the support team kind of funny. "The problem on [the server] was with a YaBB.cgi file going haywire. It had to be disabled [when it crashed Saturday] and most likely the customer [that's me] is not going to be able to use it again. There were thousands of requests being made for this certain file."

Unfortunately, I was unable to back anything up before they decided to kill the site. So, when I get the new Forum running again, you'll have to re-sign up. Yes...the same goes for the Newsletter too. Hey, we went through a similar fiasco nearly a year ago, so it can't be all that bad.

The good news is that I'm with some good old boys from my home state of Texas, and I may be able to do the stuff I couldn't do with the old server. We'll see how it all works out, so in the meantime, please stay tuned.

¤ HIM-Music is holding a contest tomorrow, the 18th at 6pm...I'm guessing German time. What's the prize, you ask? Well, they're giving away exclusive (exklusif!) autographed promos of the "And Love Said No" single. HIM-Music will show the first special trailer for the Love Metal Archives DVD that is to be released...tomorrow. How ironic.

Anyway, there will be a question asked that you have to answer in order to get a chance at winning one of said prize. What it pertains to is beyond me, but best of luck to everyone.

¤ Unless you've been under a rock for the past few weeks, you already know about the Podcast thing at Heartagram.

You'll also know that the interviewer is repulsively bad. Just know somebody somewhere must owe somebody somewhere else a HUGE favor.

¤ Also, if you've been under the previously mentioned rock, you may not know that the making of "And Love Said No" is featured on the Viva La Bam season 2 & 3 DVD. At 8 minutes, it doesn't really compare to the other two "Making Of" releases, but it's still cool. Although I'll admit that the extensive Viva Don Vito segment has to be the coolest thing ever. Seriously...that's worth the price of the 3-disc set.

¤ Sac reader thecosmicpope666 has sent some wallpapers in. Check those out and many more here.

As far as other house notes go, I'm just now replying to e-mail for March. Sorry, I've been a lazy asshole. I will be getting off my ass today and responding. You'll also see some changes around the site as well, including an updated and very thorough Discography done by our very own DarkBlackSails.