HIM are let down by another mediocre performance from vocalist Ville Valo
HIM are one those bands that just always seem to disappoint at Download Festival. Although it may have appeared that vocalist Ville Valo was encountering early microphone problems, they probably weren’t electrical issues. Somebody needs to tell him that it helps if you actually sing into the microphone properly.
All of the expected songs featured in their set, with songs like ‘Buried Alive by Love’ and ‘Join Me in Death’ performed with an uninspiring attitude. With the exception of Ville Valo, a singer who has a continuing habit of forgetting lyrics and giving sloppy performances, HIM’s musicians were actually half decent. Drummer Mika Karppinen always acts as a solid foundation, with guitarist Mikko Lindstrom performing his lead breaks with pleasing accuracy.
Valo made small remarks in between songs, but these were muffled and subsequently appeared as ‘in-jokes’ shared between band members. The audience did therefore not feel included at all, generating a very distanced relationship with the band.
HIM closed their set with a cover of Billy Idol’s ‘Rebel Yell’; for those with a weekend ticket, this was of little value, with the attendees having the opportunity to see the song being performed by its original artist the very next day.
The biggest cheer, sadly, came when Valo declared that he would see the audience in the mosh pit for Rage Against the Machine’s performance. Another chance given to HIM, with the hope that one day they will replenish our confidence in them. It was not to be, and that day is still to come.