As the inventor of love metal and thus as a pioneer, the Finnish singer Ville Valo pin the Order of Merit to your chest several times. With his former comrades-in-arms under cover H.I.M. the Finnish squad was able to make girls’ hearts beat faster. Personally, I have never been averse to the Finn and his previous projects, but my wife’s fable has tempted me to delve deeper into the matter VILLE VALO to listen. with „Neon Black“ The Gothic-heavy Finn serves us a new sound work. If you look back over the last few years he has been consistently active in Finland, in contrast to this he has made himself scarce in the rest of Europe.
Variation between gothic and alternative rock
Anyone who knows and appreciates their first fields of activity will undoubtedly find the good one Ville hardly said goodbye to it. Why reinvent a concept that has been so successful? Time will tell whether it will be possible in this case to continue the old glorious deeds. In contrast to this, the rock/metal community can look forward to a good round of love metal. For my taste, the variation between gothic and alternative rock elements was magnificently provided with many groove facets, which give the material a slightly more powerful sound.
A treat for every love metal friend
The slight parallels to the last one H.I.M. Album „Tears On Tape“ are unmistakable. It’s only now that I’m realizing, and this after all these years, that the good one Mr. Valo singing to the glorious deeds of a certain Morten Harket (A-Ha) staples. The Finn does this better because he conveys the vocal concept and the songs far away from the pop area in a more rock/metal-heavy way. This prevents a sound that is too mainstream and allows the Finnish artist’s solo work to be enjoyed superbly.
Trademarks of the past were taken up well and refreshingly
All the trademarks of the past were taken up in a good and refreshing way and thrown into the fray. This will make dark girl hearts and male Gothic Rock hearts beat a lot faster. In my opinion you don’t do anything wrong on this album and serve what you do best, a fresh round between Love Metal and Gothic Rock in many sound facets.
Picking out individual tracks is difficult because the album should be enjoyed in its entirety in one go. Melancholic excesses and light alternative broadsides included, because this is what makes the sound penned by VILLE VALO the end.
Conclusion: VILLE VALO bring along „Neon Black“ a brilliant return to the Olympus of love metal.