An interesting review, enjoy:
Summary: This is only the Beginning contains some of the finest pieces of metal ever recorded. It suggests two fantastic composers, and one great poet. His Infernal Majesty proves to be a interesting band.
1 of 11 thought this review was well written
This is Only the Beginning contains the first recordings of the Finnish band His Infernal Majesty that are possible to obtain. Recorded in 1995, this is the second set of demo tapes made by the band. Prior to these, a seven-track demo tape - Witches and Other Night Fears, was recorded. But, unfortunately - the only copy of this demo is supposedly in the hands of the band, now known as HIM's frontman, Ville Hermanni Valo.
On these demo tapes, we encounter a very ambitious and arrogant duo. Ville Hermanni Valo is the man producing the dark brooding voice. A voice that is surely unique, as well as very hard to describe. It's like listening to the first-world's popular media manufacturation of an angel, only this is a dark angel... in service of Satan, or something. His voice is very clean and dinky, and extremely dark. His vocal technique leaves us with our walls painted with gore and intestinals. Yes, his voice might just literaly blow your mind. To go with his angelic singing, there's direful screams, frightful growls and amazing falsettos, like the ones only Jeff Buckley could pull off, up untill now.
But Mr. Valo does not only blow your mind with his voice. He also plays the bass guitar, which has very deviating chores throughout these tapes. Some places, most illustrious on "Wicked Game", it just keeps the rhythm going and enhances the fabulous guitar riffs; whilst it on other occasions creates an entirely new aspect of the song, apart from the guitar.
In addition to this, he also handles the drums. And I can guarantee you that we will never ever see a HIM album containing such classy and flamboyant drumming as these demo tapes do. Ville shows to be much more capable than any of the drummers evident in the band from Juhana Tuomas Rantala and onwards to present day. The drumming really emphasize the antagonism in the lyrics, as well as it assist the guitars in creating a fierce. madden melody.
Mikko Viljami Lindström plays the guitars on these tapes. And he does so with improbable skill. Though it isn't obvious why this guy gets compared to Jimi Hendrix by rock fans, it certainly is obvious that he is a brilliant composer and guitarist. The patterns and chord progressions found on these demo tapes are nothing short of breath-takingly awesome. The sudden changes in tempo, sound and pressure found on "The Heartless", "The Phantom Gate", and basically all the other songs as well, are marvellous - and helps to make this a really extraordinarily listen. The breakdowns and explosions are both composed and played with such immense skill, that it leaves you wondering if this is in fact even human.
The tracks are very variated, and allows for the duo to experiment a lot with the violent and grindingly metal sound appearing on these tapes. From the upbeat, hard hitting punk metal tune "Stigmata Diaboli", in which Ville shows to be a great growler, to the melodic and fair guitar picking found inbetween the ponderous riffs on "The Phantom Gate" and "Serpent Ride". The drumming is spectacular. Especially in the fast parts on "Serpent Ride" and "Stigmata Diaboli". The song "Serpent Ride" hold the perhaps best lyrics written by Valo, ever. And definitely one of the best lyrics ever, by any writer. It also holds an incredibly well constructed melody, to keep the astonishing, stolid vocal performance company. It's all very consistent and special. I would go as far as calling it one of the best tracks in metal history.
Along with five His Infernal Majesty originals, we find the infamous cover of "Wicked Game" by Chris Isaak. This cover is terrific. It actually manages that which few cover songs do... it beats the hell out of the original song. Witness Chris Isaak's dreary, uninspired vocals fade from your memory, and Ville Hermanni Valo's passionate, irate interpretation fill it. The guitar, bass and drums are extremely simplistic and minimalistic, but nevertheless very much effective, and filled with attitude.
Altogether - these six tracks make up two demo tapes that sound like nothing else you've ever heard. Undoubtly six magnificent songs.
The lyrics are at times regretful, at times angry, at times loving, and at times sad. To put it short: it's very variated. Valo manages to paint a spectrum of every single human emotion. On the track "Borellus", Valo performs his interpretation of The Case Of Charles Dexter Ward by Howard Phillips Lovecraft. Valo sings about ressurecting the dead with their very own ashes, with plenty of passion and sentiment. On the track "The Phantom Gate", Valo portrays love like nobody else ever has done. He masterfully portrays love with all it's upsides and downsides, with clever metaphores and nifty images. "Stigmata Diaboli" deals with another topic - Christianity. In this song - Valo almost slaughters Christianity, and its overstep morale and "love". "Serpent Ride" is one of the most beautiful pieces of poetry throughout history. Valo shows to be a true, genius poet. The lyrics really contribute to these tapes, in no way but a positive one.
This is only the Beginning contains some of the finest pieces of metal ever recorded. It suggests two fantastic composers, and one great poet, that we can expect to hear more from over the years. These are one of the most heavyset recordings in heavy metal history. True classics, all six of them. His Infernal Majesty proves to be the best heavy metal band on the planet in 1995.
Subject: This is only the Beginning(Demo,1995) 
Wed 19 Sep 2007 - 19:42
he's been making music all his life
