Practice makes perfect

It seems odd to use the word “underrated” to describe a band with as much commercial acclaim as Finnish gloom-bringers HIM, but it’s really the best description. HIM fans are typically presumed to be either skateboarders or mall goths — neither group is known for its discerning musical tastes — so most serious music fans write them off as a novelty.

Since this is the case, the world at large is really missing out; Ville Valo’s songs are more poignant with each album, and “Screamworks,” the band’s seventh, is no exception. Everything that HIM has come to embody is present in spades.

That isn’t to say the band has become multidimensional. If you’re not looking for hook-filled gothic rock that finds the balance between retro-pop and modern doom metal, this record probably isn’t for you. But if that is what you’re after, it doesn’t get a lot better than this.