Finland seems to have become a hotbed of Goth-rock action in recent years. You can’t move in any store without tripping over some pale bloke in black gawping at the new Stratovarius opus or whatever. So arrives Dark Light, Valo and the guys fifth album, following on from the popular Love Metal of 2003.

Atmospheric keyboard lifted from the Halloween movies opens the album, and we are already on familiar territory. Is it just me, or perhaps it’s my gender but I find Ville Valo a competent frontman but his voice is nothing special, bordering on the ordinary in fact. I’m fully aware of his attraction to the fairer sex but without appearing patronizing, AM I MISSING SOMETHING?

The songs are all mostly mid paced, nicely arranged traditional verse chorus with the piano up in the mix, the guitars lack crunch and it’s all very inoffensive and bland.

If you are familiar with HIM then this album does exactly what it says on the tin, but after half a dozen plays the hooks are there but they don’t linger. It feels like the album that HIM felt they should release, no boundaries pushed, no new themes, just juggle the recipe made from the same ingredients and then bake and serve.

As Goth/pop/rock goes this will satisfy the faithful but for new listeners it’s perhaps not the best introduction.

I can see why they are so popular but it all smacks of a band playing well within themselves, deciding to head down the pop road when rock stardom beckoned. There is never a substitute for good songs, Dark Light is Goth by numbers folks, but this will sell by the shed load to it’s target audience so what do I know.

Let us know your views on 'Dark Light'

Track List

Vampire Heart
Rip Out The Wings Of A Butterfly
Under The Rose
Killing Loneliness
Dark Light
Behind The Crimson Door
Face Of God
Drunk On Shadows
Play Dead
In The Night Side Of Eden