Alright you beautiful creatures of the night… gather round, light a candle, stick on your saddest playlist, and prepare yourselves… because this one’s got serious heartagram energy 😈
The ever-enigmatic Ville Valo has just casually dropped a line that’s sent shockwaves through the goth metal underground:
“There’s beauty in the fact we didn’t strangle each other at the end.”
Mate… WHAT?!
And it gets better…
He’s also admitted he’d love to reunite with HIM one day.
Yes. You read that right.
No, this is not a drill.
Yes, we are absolutely spiralling 🖤💀
🎸 FROM LOVE METAL LEGENDS TO “MAYBE ONE DAY”
Let’s rewind a bit, shall we?
HIM weren’t 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 things… loudly.
Fronted by the velvet-voiced chaos wizard himself, Ville Valo, the band carved out their own lane with “love metal” – a sound that mixed crushing riffs with pure, gothic romance.
And then… in 2017… it ended.
Final show. Curtains down. Heartagrams lowered to half-mast 💔
🖤 “WE DIDN’T STRANGLE EACH OTHER” – THE MOST WHOLESOME BREAKUP EVER?
Now here’s where it gets juicy.
Instead of the usual rock band ending – you know, smashed guitars, legal battles, someone storming off mid-tour – 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? That’s rare as hell in rock ‘n’ roll.
It also means one VERY important thing…
👉 The door was never slammed shut.
👉 It was just… left slightly ajar.
And now? That door is creaking open again 👀
🔥 SO… IS A HIM REUNION ACTUALLY HAPPENING?
Right, steady on now, butt…
Before you start booking flights, designing reunion tour tattoos, or crying into your pint at 2am – this is NOT a confirmed reunion.
It’s a “yeah, I’d love to”… not a “tickets on sale Friday.”
But in rock terms?
That’s huge.
Because when artists are still on good terms, still reminiscing fondly, and still open to the idea…
👉 That’s how reunions start.
🎤 WHAT’S VILLE BEEN UP TO?
Since HIM rode off into the gothic sunset, Ville Valo hasn’t exactly been sat around brooding in a castle (well… probably a bit).
He’s 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 yeah… the voice is still there.
The vibe is still there.
The magic? Still very much alive 🖤
🕯️ IMAGINE THE SCENES THOUGH…
Go on… picture it…
- 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 hitting…
And suddenly…
👉 EVERYONE is singing
👉 EVERYONE is emotional
👉 EVERYONE is absolutely losing their minds
Beer flying 🍺
Tears flowing 😭
Eyeline smudged beyond recognition
Proper scenes, mun.
🤘 RIFF REPORT VERDICT
Look… nothing’s confirmed.
But this?
This is the kind of comment that plants a seed.
And if that seed grows…
We could be looking at one of the most emotional, dramatic, black-clad reunions rock has seen in years.
So for now, we wait…
We hope…
And we keep the eyeliner stocked just in case 😈🖤
🖤 FINAL THOUGHT
If HIM ever step back onto a stage together…
You already know.
We’ll be there.
Front row.
Screaming every word like it’s 2003 again.
YESS MUN. 🤘🔥
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 special—from 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 he’s 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, he’s 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 he’s not writing or interviewing artists, you’ll 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 music—they’re about community, friendship, and creating memories that last a lifetime. That’s exactly what The Riff Report exists to celebrate.
Proudly Welsh. Proudly Loud. Always chasing the next great riff. 🤘
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