Razorblade Romance is the second studio album by Finnish rock band HIM, recorded with producer John Fryer. HIM initially began recording the album with producer Hiili Hiilesmaa, who had helmed the group's 1997 debut album, however these sessions proved unsuccessful, and HIM parted ways with Hiilesmaa, and recruited Fryer. The band, along with Fryer, relocated to Rockfield Studios in Wales to begin recording, and released the album on 24 January 2000. Musically, the album featured a sleeker production and a more melodic sound compared to their debut. The album's lead single "Join Me in Death" would prove to be HIM's breakthrough single, reaching number one in Finland and Germany. The song also featured on the soundtrack of the 1999 science fiction film The Thirteenth Floor.
Razorblade Romance received mostly positive reviews from critics, with particular praise being given to the songwriting, while the more polished production received some criticism. The album also charted in six countries, peaking at number one in Finland, Germany and Austria, later going double platinum, triple gold, and gold respectively. Razorblade Romance would also go on to chart in the United States in January 2004, making it the band's first album to chart in the US. HIM also won "Album of the Year" at the 2000 Emma Awards, as well as were awarded at the 2004 IFPI Platinum Europe Awards. Three further singles were released from the album, two of which reached number one in Finland. Razorblade Romance was followed by an intensive supporting tour, which nearly resulted in the band breaking up. The album was also HIM's first to feature drummer Mika "Gas Lipstick" Karppinen, and the only to feature keyboardist Jussi-Mikko "Juska" Salminen.
Production
thumb|left|240px|Razorblade Romance saw the addition of drummer [[Gas Lipstick, who would stay with the band until 2015]]
HIM began work on their second album at MD-Studios in Munkkiniemi, with producer Hiili Hiilesmaa, who had produced their debut album. These sessions proved to be unsuccessful however, with Hiilesmaa suffering from exhaustion and relationships within the band going sour. The band's record label BMG soon decided that HIM's next album should be recorded abroad with a name producer. When they returned, the band found the initial mixes to be horrible, which they later discovered to be the doing of Per Kviman, who had been instructing Fryer on how to mix the songs. He stated: "It was damn fun getting out of those familiar circles and just focus on the album, and not worry about anything else. It also felt great that the band was together all the time". After spending 15 000 euros trying to properly mix the album in London, Fryer and Valo flew to Finland where, with the help of Risto Hemmi from Finnvox, they were finally able to mix the record. Valo initially wanted the album to be called Goth 'n' Roll, but BMG refused, preferring the previously suggested title Razorblade Romance. The budget of the album eventually grew to nearly 150 000 euros. Valo described the song as an "apt intro for the record. Short, tight, and smacks you right in the face". According to Valo, "Join Me in Death" was also the first song to feature "that corniness and tongue-in-cheek nature, that was missing from the first album". Valo described "Right Here in My Arms" as a "Billy Idol ripoff" and "Resurrection" as what "Bon Jovi putting on goth masks" would sound like. Valo described "Razorblade Kiss" as HIM's "tribute to Kiss and rock 'n' roll" and "Bury Me Deep Inside Your Heart" as "Depeche Mode meets Roxette". According to Valo, the "heaven" in the lyrics symbolizes "something happy happening or some sort of fulfillment".
Release and promotion
thumb|upright=0.85|Cover art for Razorblade Romance under the moniker HER
HIM initially wanted to release Razorblade Romance in the fall of 1999 in Finland, in order to start a supporting tour, but BMG Germany refused, fearing the album would be bought there through importing. Thus it was decided that Razorblade Romance would be released simultaneously in Finland and internationally. "Join Me in Death" would eventually be certified platinum in Finland, and gold in Germany and Austria. BMG had been reluctant to release the song as a single, but eventually complied, after the song was chosen to appear on the soundtrack of the 1999 science fiction film The Thirteenth Floor. The version included in the film and released as a single was an early mix, not included on the finished album. HIM was later invited to perform on Germany's Top of the Pops to promote the song. The album would eventually go double platinum in Finland, triple gold in Germany, and gold in Austria.
After the album's release, HIM began the supporting tour for Razorblade Romance with a seventeen date Finnish leg, which was entirely sold-out. This was followed by a European tour, which lasted nine months and 88 shows. In May 2000, HIM also embarked on their first tour of England, which lasted six dates, starting at The Garage in London. The intense touring cycle and promotional work exhausted the band, to the point where Valo nearly fell off the balcony of a hotel, before being pulled back by friends, and Salminen ended up in the emergency room after a prank gone wrong. HIM nearly disbanded during this time, but things eventually settled down and the band continued touring. "Right Here in My Arms", "Gone with the Sin" and "Poison Girl" were released as the follow-up singles from the album, with the former two peaking at number one in Finland, and the latter at number three. The re-recorded "Your Sweet 666" and "Wicked Game" were also released as singles in the UK, with the latter receiving a new music video.
HIM were awarded "Band of the Year", and "Album of the Year" for Razorblade Romance, at the 2000 Emma Awards, as well as the "Viewers' Choice Award", and "Video of the Year" for "Join Me in Death", at the 2000 VIVA Comet Awards. Razorblade Romance would also be awarded at the 2004 IFPI Platinum Europe Awards. In 2001, HIM were involved in a dispute over the rights to their name in the United States, as the moniker "HIM" was already owned by a drummer from a Chicago jazz fusion band of the same name. This meant that HIM were renamed HER in the US, and released Razorblade Romance under that moniker.
Reception
Razorblade Romance received mostly positive reviews from critics. Borivoj Krgin of Blabbermouth.net gave the album ten out of ten, and called it "yet another amazingly crafted album from Europe's best-kept secret". Loudwire later ranked Razorblade Romance as HIM's best record and described it as "the definitive love metal album". KaaosZine felt similarly, ranking Razorblade Romance third in the band's discography, describing it as an album "full of vigorous pop songs, equipped catchy choruses".
In 2021, it was named one of the 20 best metal albums of 1999 by Metal Hammer magazine.
Track listing
Original release
All tracks written by Ville Valo, except where noted.
UK release
US release
Limited edition bonus disc
HER track listing
- Only at the HER release (or the limited edition)
Remastered edition bonus disc (2014)
Personnel
;HIM
- Ville Valo − vocals
- Mikko "Linde" Lindström − guitars
- Mikko "Mige" Paananen − bass
- Jussi-Mikko "Juska" Salminen − keyboards
- Mika "Gas Lipstick" Karppinen − drums
;Production
- John Fryer − production, engineering, mixing
- George Marino − mastering
- Jouko Lehtola − photography
- Tanja Savolainen − make-up
- Janne Uotila - artwork
Charts
Weekly charts
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
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! scope="col"| Chart (2000–2015)
! scope="col"| Peak<br />position
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{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
! scope="col"| Chart (2026)
! scope="col"| Peak<br />position
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! scope="row"| Greek Albums (IFPI)
| 79
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Year-end charts
{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! scope="col"| Chart (2000)
! scope="col"| Position
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! scope="row"| Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)
| 15
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! scope="row"| European Albums (Music & Media)
| 36
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! scope="row"| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
| 7
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! scope="row"| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)
| 41
|}