Ville Valo spreading his wings in Kentish Town

It may feel like an eternity since Finish goth rock icons HIM finally pulled the curtain down, but it has been a mere six years since that farewell tour wrapped up. In the intervening years, a few bands have tried and even come close to filling that gap with melodic and melodramatic pop Metal. However, tonight in London, the main man has finally made his highly anticipated return. Ville Valo (or VV as he likes to stylise it) is taking back the main stage with a brand new album titled Neon Noir and a very generous selection of HIM classics to boot.

Ville Valo

London O2 Forum, Kentish Town – 15 March 2023

Words: Kahmel Farahani

Photography: Aggie Anthimidou

Ville Valo - London O2 Forum, Kentish Town - 15 March 2023
Ville Valo – London O2 Forum, Kentish Town – 15 March 2023. Photo: Aggie Anthimidou/MetalTalk

Still cutting a stylish and lean figure at 46, Ville strolls on stage in his fitted jacket, suit and cap and is rapturously received by the fans packing the Kentish Town Forum tonight. While Ville himself keeps chat to a minimum and indeed only speaks when introducing his band, it’s easy to let the music do the talking tonight.

Ville Valo - London O2 Forum, Kentish Town - 15 March 2023
Ville Valo – London O2 Forum, Kentish Town – 15 March 2023. Photo: Aggie Anthimidou/MetalTalk

Splitting tonight’s set almost evenly between new material and HIM songs creates a seamless flow. Songs like the gothic melancholia of Loveletting and Neon Noir sit comfortably alongside verified anthems like Wings Of A Butterfly and Join me In Death.

Ville Valo - London O2 Forum, Kentish Town - 15 March 2023
Ville Valo – London O2 Forum, Kentish Town – 15 March 2023. Photo: Aggie Anthimidou/MetalTalk

If anything, the older songs are given that extra layer of smoothness, musically and vocally. The fans are keen to sing tonight, and that goes for both older material and new songs like Salute The Sanguine.

Hella Rock Festival

While the crowd is jam-packed with Valo’s famous Heartagram logo and HIM shirts and posters galore, it feels very much like a crowd hungry for new material and not just nostalgia.

Ville Valo - London O2 Forum, Kentish Town - 15 March 2023
Ville Valo – London O2 Forum, Kentish Town – 15 March 2023. Photo: Aggie Anthimidou/MetalTalk

Tonight’s encore starts with Soul On Fire and Salute The Sanguine before HIM classic Poison Girl is given over to the fans to sing for the first half. Ending with the ghostly, mid-tempo grind of Saturnine Saturnalia, the 90 minute set seems to have flown by all to quickly for the fans who don’t stop calling for more.

Ville Valo - London O2 Forum, Kentish Town - 15 March 2023
Ville Valo – London O2 Forum, Kentish Town – 15 March 2023. Photo: Aggie Anthimidou/MetalTalk

A fitting end to a gig from an artist who seems to be spreading his wings again – it’s a very welcome return.

Ville Valo – Setlist

Echolocate Your Love
Neon Noir
The Funeral of Hearts (HIM cover)
Right Here in My Arms (HIM cover)
Loveletting
Buried Alive by Love (HIM cover)
In Trenodia
Wings of a Butterfly (HIM cover)
Heartful of Ghosts
Join Me in Death (HIM cover)
The Foreverlost
The Kiss of Dawn (HIM cover)
Run Away From the Sun
When Love and Death Embrace (HIM cover)

Ville Valo - London O2 Forum, Kentish Town - 15 March 2023
Ville Valo – London O2 Forum, Kentish Town – 15 March 2023. Photo: Aggie Anthimidou/MetalTalk

Encore

Soul on Fire (HIM cover)
Salute the Sanguine
Poison Girl (HIM cover)
Saturnine Saturnalia

Ville Valo - London O2 Forum, Kentish Town - 15 March 2023
Ville Valo – London O2 Forum, Kentish Town – 15 March 2023. Photo: Aggie Anthimidou/MetalTalk

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