Alright you beautiful creatures of the nightā¦ gather round, light a candle, stick on your saddest playlist, and prepare yourselvesā¦ because this oneās got serious heartagram energy š
The ever-enigmatic Ville Valo has just casually dropped a line thatās sent shockwaves through the goth metal underground:
āThereās beauty in the fact we didnāt strangle each other at the end.ā
Mateā¦ WHAT?!
And it gets betterā¦
Heās also admitted heād love to reunite with HIM one day.
Yes. You read that right.
No, this is not a drill.
Yes, we are absolutely spiralling š¤š
šø FROM LOVE METAL LEGENDS TO āMAYBE ONE DAYā
Letās rewind a bit, shall we?
HIM werenāt just a band. They were a full-blown mood. A late-night, rain-soaked, eyeliner-running, heartbreak-fuelled movement. From Join Me In Death to Wicked Game, they basically gave an entire generation permission to feel thingsā¦ loudly.
Fronted by the velvet-voiced chaos wizard himself, Ville Valo, the band carved out their own lane with ālove metalā ā a sound that mixed crushing riffs with pure, gothic romance.
And thenā¦ in 2017ā¦ it ended.
Final show. Curtains down. Heartagrams lowered to half-mast š
š¤ āWE DIDNāT STRANGLE EACH OTHERā ā THE MOST WHOLESOME BREAKUP EVER?
Now hereās where it gets juicy.
Instead of the usual rock band ending ā you know, smashed guitars, legal battles, someone storming off mid-tour ā HIM apparently wrapped things up like actual adults.
Wild concept, that.
Valo explained that by the end, the band were still mates, but creatively drifting. Rather than dragging things out into something bitter, they chose to call it on their own terms.
And honestly? Thatās rare as hell in rock ānā roll.
It also means one VERY important thingā¦
š The door was never slammed shut.
š It was justā¦ left slightly ajar.
And now? That door is creaking open again š
š„ SOā¦ IS A HIM REUNION ACTUALLY HAPPENING?
Right, steady on now, buttā¦
Before you start booking flights, designing reunion tour tattoos, or crying into your pint at 2am ā this is NOT a confirmed reunion.
Itās a āyeah, Iād love toāā¦ not a ātickets on sale Friday.ā
But in rock terms?
Thatās huge.
Because when artists are still on good terms, still reminiscing fondly, and still open to the ideaā¦
š Thatās how reunions start.
š¤ WHATāS VILLE BEEN UP TO?
Since HIM rode off into the gothic sunset, Ville Valo hasnāt exactly been sat around brooding in a castle (wellā¦ probably a bit).
Heās been smashing it with his solo project VV, dropping Neon Noir and touring like a man possessed. The vibe? Still dark, still romantic, still dripping in that signature melancholy swagger.
So yeahā¦ the voice is still there.
The vibe is still there.
The magic? Still very much alive š¤
šÆļø IMAGINE THE SCENES THOUGHā¦
Go onā¦ picture itā¦
- A packed-out arena
- Black-clad fans shoulder to shoulder
- That iconic heartagram glowing behind the stage
- The opening notes of Join Me In Death hittingā¦
And suddenlyā¦
š EVERYONE is singing
š EVERYONE is emotional
š EVERYONE is absolutely losing their minds
Beer flying šŗ
Tears flowing š
Eyeline smudged beyond recognition
Proper scenes, mun.
š¤ RIFF REPORT VERDICT
Lookā¦ nothingās confirmed.
But this?
This is the kind of comment that plants a seed.
And if that seed growsā¦
We could be looking at one of the most emotional, dramatic, black-clad reunions rock has seen in years.
So for now, we waitā¦
We hopeā¦
And we keep the eyeliner stocked just in case šš¤
š¤ FINAL THOUGHT
If HIM ever step back onto a stage togetherā¦
You already know.
Weāll be there.
Front row.
Screaming every word like itās 2003 again.
YESS MUN. š¤š„
Michael is the founder, editor, and chief riff wrangler behind The Riff Report, an independent Welsh rock and metal publication built by fans, for fans. With a lifelong passion for loud guitars, unforgettable live shows, and the incredible community that surrounds rock and metal, he created The Riff Report to celebrate everything that makes the scene specialāfrom legendary headline acts and grassroots venues to rising bands that deserve to be heard.
A familiar face at festivals across the UK, Michael spends much of the year covering events including Download Festival, Bloodstock Open Air, Steelhouse Festival, Firevolt, Plumpton Revival, and many more. Whether heās battling the Welsh weather on a mountainside, surviving a weekend in a muddy campsite, or squeezed against the front barrier with thousands of fellow fans, heās always searching for the next great story to share.
As editor of The Riff Report, Michael writes festival guides, breaking news, album reviews, gig reviews, interviews, opinion pieces, nostalgia features, and behind-the-scenes stories from across the rock and metal world. His writing combines honest opinions, humour, and a genuine love for live music, bringing readers closer to the bands, festivals, venues, and people that keep the scene alive.
Michael is particularly passionate about supporting independent artists, local venues, charities, and the wider UK rock and metal community. He believes every band deserves a chance to be discovered and every festival has a story worth telling. Through The Riff Report, he aims to shine a spotlight on both the biggest names in rock and the future stars waiting to break through.
When heās not writing or interviewing artists, youāll probably find him exploring festival campsites, photographing live shows, chatting with fellow fans over a pint, or planning the next road trip in search of more riffs, bigger crowds, and unforgettable moments.
Above all, Michael believes rock and metal are about more than musicātheyāre about community, friendship, and creating memories that last a lifetime. Thatās exactly what The Riff Report exists to celebrate.
Proudly Welsh. Proudly Loud. Always chasing the next great riff. š¤
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