HIM was a Finnish gothic rock band from Helsinki, known for blending melodic, melancholic sounds with heavier rock influences and coining the term "love metal" to describe their unique style. Formed in 1991 by Ville Valo and Mikko Mige Paananen under the name His Infernal Majesty, the band reformed in 1995 and solidified its lineup before releasing its debut album, Greatest Lovesongs Vol 666, in 1997. HIM achieved international success with the 2000 release of Razorblade Romance, featuring the hit single Join Me in Death, and continued to build a global following with albums like Deep Shadows and Brilliant Highlights, Love Metal, and Dark Light. In 2005, they became the first Finnish band to earn a gold record in the United States. Their music and heartagram logo gained a strong cult following worldwide. Despite lineup changes and a hiatus, HIM remained active until announcing their farewell tour in 2017, concluding with a final show on New Year's Eve that year. Over their career, HIM sold over ten million records and received numerous awards, becoming one of Finland's most successful bands.