 PHOTO CREDIT: Juha Mustonen Finnish Love Metal pioneer Ville Valo (VV) of HIM will release his debut solo album, Neon Noir, on January 13 via Heartagram Records, distributed by UMG/ Spinefarm. Pre-order it here. "Neon Noir is a sonic step-by-step guide on how to survive, and perhaps even enjoy, the realm of VV with its abundance of things that go bump in the night," says Valo. "It's a teary mascara marathon between Robert Smith and Ozzy, with a dash of hope."
In the annals of 21st century alternative rock history, there are few artists who cast a longer or more peculiar shadow than Finnish Love Metal pioneer Ville Valo. After all, his band HIM was easily among the most iconic and idiosyncratic groups of the millennium. Zealously revered, gleefully reviled but impossible to ignore, their music left an indelible mark on a worldwide legion of fans. The scarlet letters stood for "His Infernal Majesty." Their founder stood for something delightedly out of step with the status quo. "We only hoped to temporarily redirect hard rock's blood flow from the nether regions towards the heart," reminisces Valo, the singer, songwriter, and primus motor of HIM. Judging by the monolithic presence of the Heartagram in any account of music this side of the millennium, it's apparent that he succeeded. Inspired by everyone from Poe to Bukowski and tinged by a penchant for perfumed Sabbathian gloom, Valo's creative lovechild would produce eight era-defining studio releases and over 10 million record sales, not forgetting a Grammy nomination, countless magazine covers, critical acclaim, and the veneration of a generation. Thus, it came as no surprise that the news of a farewell tour in 2017 was greeted with shock and disbelief among devotees and endless speculation as to what or who was to take up the velvet mantle. “As fun as the funeral rites for HIM were, it took me more than a few moons to lick my wounds in the shadow of the Heartagram and come up with an excuse to strum and hum again. Eventually, I decided put a leash on my beloved black dog and we started howling together instead of barking at each other. That's how VV was born."
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 PHOTO CREDIT: Joonas Brandt Finnish love metal pioneer Ville Valo (VV) has released "Echolocate Your Love," the second single from his forthcoming debut solo album Neon Noir. The album arrives in early 2023. The elegiac goth-optimism of "Echolocate Your Love" gives a fuller picture of the wrought elegance to come. Watch the video here. "It's a sonic step-by-step guide on how to survive, and perhaps even enjoy, the realm of VV with its abundance of things that go bump in the night," says Valo. "It's a teary mascara marathon between Robert Smith and Ozzy, with a dash of hope." You can watch the previously-released video for "Loveletting" here. Further details about Neon Noir will be released in due course. In the meantime, VV's headline tour, taking place next year across Europe, the UK and North America – has already sold-out across a number of cities. Get your tickets here to avoid disappointment. NORTH AMERICAN 2023 TOURDATES:
*SOLD OUT https://www.facebook.com/theheartagram  Finnish love metal pioneer, Ville Valo, will release new single, "Loveletting," on April 8 under the VV banner. "Loveletting" is taken from VV's forthcoming debut album Neon Noir. He explains, "As fun as the funeral rites for HIM were, it took me more than a few moons to lick my wounds in the shadow of the Heartagram and come up with an excuse to strum and hum again. Eventually, I decided to put a leash on my beloved black dog and we started howling together instead of barking at each other. That's how 'Loveletting' was born." "Loveletting" will be made available across all digital platforms from midnight (local time) tonight. An official video clip will follow tomorrow 11am ET here. VV's debut album Neon Noir is scheduled for release in early 2023; belonging to the same forlorn world of woe and whimsy once conceived and governed by Valo in HIM, VV arrives with additional nuanced notes of a fine aged Cabernet. Valo adds, "Artistically speaking, the main difference between HIM and VV is the extra line in the Heartagram, but what an exquisite line it is! It's the Mamas and the Papas dressed up as Metallica on their way to a Halloween bash at the Studio 54, and now who wouldn't want to witness that?"  Further details around Neon Noir will be released in due course. In the meantime, fans are invited to any number of VV's headline tour dates taking place next year across Europe, the UK, and North America. Naturally starting in Helsinki, Finland, the 2023 extensive run reaches the UK in March, before heading to America come April. U.S. tickets will be available for purchase from Friday, April 15 at 10am local time. NORTH AMERICAN 2023 TOUR DATES:
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