HIM sometimes stylized as H. The first single " Join Me in Death " also charted at number one in Finland and Germany, eventually going platinum and gold , respectively. Both cracked the top ten in several countries and allowed the band to tour in the United Kingdom and the United States for the first time.
In , HIM released Dark Light , which became the group's most commercially successful album to date. Nevertheless, the album gave the band its highest chart position in the US at number twelve. Following several months of uncertainty, the band regrouped and released the album Tears on Tape in On 5 March , HIM announced that the band would be disbanding following a farewell tour in HIM is one of the most commercially successful Finnish bands of all time , with sales of over ten million records.
HIM has also received numerous accolades, including eight Emma Awards. The band is known for its distinct sound, which combines more melodic and melancholic elements with heavier influences. This made it difficult for audiences to categorize HIM's music, which led to the band coining the term "love metal". HIM is also known for its logo, the heartagram, which has made numerous appearances in other media. Valo played six-string bass, which substituted for guitar, while Mige also played bass.
The band broke up shortly thereafter, when Mige began his national military service. Together they recorded a four-track demo, which featured Valo on drums and vocals, and Linde on guitar and bass. Valo originally intended to remain as the bassist for the group, but took up the role of lead vocalist out of necessity, after they were unable to find another singer.
The band's next show was also at the Teatro, this time performing Type O Negative covers, for which they recruited keyboardist Janne "Burton" Puurtinen. His Infernal Majesty continued to record several more demos, sending them to Nuclear Blast , Roadrunner and Spinefarm Records , among others, all of whom passed on the band. HIM began recording its full-length debut album in with Hiili Hiilesmaa once again producing.
