HIM is the best rock band around these last years. And this third album 'Deep Shadows And Brilliant Highlights', with the politically incorrect cover of lead singer Ville Valo holding a cigarette (and wearing makeup of course), keeps going in the exact same style as the two former albums.

In other words: no surprises but no disappointments either. Good rock music, well-arranged melodies, love'n'hate lyrics... business as usual!

The album starts greatly with a potential hit, 'Salt In Our Wounds' (typical HIM lyrics). Then proceeds with another catchy rock song, 'Heartache Every Moment'. It's unmistakably the HIM sound!

From track 3 on, it becomes more routine. Like 'we've heard this before', including the single 'Pretending' which is a good song but very ordinary. On track 6, the more silently rocking 'Close To The Flame', this routine becomes nearly a bit boring - but then the album goes uphill again.

'Beautiful' is another rather calm song, still in the usual HIM style but more thought through and polishedly arranged, and yet pretty straight forward.

'Don't Close Your Heart' is a very catchy song, also a potential hit since it sounds a lot like 'Pretending'...

...but the brilliant highlight on 'Deep Shadows And Brilliant Highlights' is the closing and pretty long 'Love You Like I Do', with its cool guitar sound, its amazing keyboards, its heavily slowish feel, its quiet rough sound!! Great!

So, all in all, another worthwhile HIM album, though continuing in the exact same style as before.

This is probably HIM's lightest album (which is saying something, all things considered). All the signature traights of HIM are present here from the mellowing baritone vocals to the soulful electronica style guitar work and piano interludes. There is more acoustic work on this album than on their other efforts, which in some senses compromises the quality slightly, but on the other hand shows the skill with which the band handles this particular type of music. I say it hinders the qualtiy only because after about 4 acoustic-y songs in a row, they kind of start to sound the same. Once again, some of the songs have those signature catchy tunes such as the first few tracks (salt in our wounds, heartache every moment, and lose you tonight). Good musical quality, but the album as a whole could use a bit more variety.

This is the version of DSBH to get.. The American release is s*** compared to this import!

"You Are The One" and "In Love And Lonely" are really great songs that aren't found on the other versions - plus the video of "Pretending" is included. Makes this edition grade A.

H.I.M. are quite a great band, with a unique sound and great music manship. It is unfortunate that a huge chunk of their fanbase just listens to it because their sell-out idol Bam Margera does, but that doesent mean you should overlook them. This is their second United States release ('Love Metal' also just came out this Tuesday and is amazing. I have had the import for quite some time now and it has been constantly in and out of my stereo). 'Deep Shadows & Brilliant Highlights' is not for you if you are just getting into H.I.M. I would start with their most popular, 'Razorblade Romance' (which is easily a five star album), and then thier most accessable, 'Love Metal. Most of the songs are great here, and Valo's voice will send shivers down your spine. His voice sounds even better here than it does on 'Love Metal' (though I heard he was sick when recording that album). So, what knocks this album down a bit? Well, it is admittedly a bit too dull at times for its own good, and its much slower and poppier than their other releases. Still, for any H.I.M. fan, this is a must own. H.I.M. has failed to dissappointment me yet. I cant wait for their next album (even if I have to import it to get it early).

I'm a fairly new HIM fan, and in the short 3 months I've even known about them they've in my mind went from being completely unknown (other than a few Viva La Bam episodes), to being my favorite band. This album is excellent, as are all of their albums, the songs are beautifully crafted, with deep, meaningful lyrics. Many people have the misconception that you'll only like HIM if you're goth, this is not true at all. I'm not goth and I think HIM is the best band in the world right now.

Best song: In Joy and Sorrow