What makes Join Me in Death by HIM notable?

The single reached number one in Germany and Finland, bringing the Finnish band’s self-described love metal to a much wider European audience. It also appeared on the soundtrack to the European release of the film The Thirteenth Floor. Released in 1999, this single introduced HIM’s second album, Razorblade Romance, following their 1997 debut Greatest Lovesongs Vol. 666. Its mix and live tracks also connect the emerging breakthrough to songs from that earlier record.

How many songs are on Join Me in Death?

Join Me in Death has 4 tracks, running approximately 16 minutes.

Released 27 years ago this November

Join Me in Death

HIM · 1999

16 min · 4 tracks · alternative rock

Piano and heavy guitars frame Ville Valo’s baritone as gothic romance turns toward the dance floor.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Join Me — The piano-led opening gives way to heavy guitars while Valo’s low, intimate delivery keeps the death-bound romance close to the surface.
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Join Me (13th Floor mix) — This alternate mix offers another angle on the single’s crossover between gothic rock and film soundtrack drama.
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It's All Tears (unplugged radio live) — The stripped-back radio performance revisits a song from HIM’s debut, putting its melody and Valo’s voice in a more exposed setting.
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Rebel Yell (live) — HIM’s live take on Billy Idol’s song carries over a cover from their debut era, revealing how the band folded familiar rock material into its own repertoire.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

57 /100

Foothills

Higher than 6% of albums we've rated

The single combines gothic elements with rock but lacks depth in its overall structure and cohesion.

What we noticed

The title track features a prominent use of layered guitar harmonies that create a lush, atmospheric soundscape.
The live tracks showcase a rawer vocal delivery and stripped-down arrangements compared to the studio versions.

Composition 25% of the score: 6/10
Craft 20% of the score: 7/10
Durability 25% of the score: 5/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 6/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 4/10

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Breakthrough — This single solidified HIM's mainstream recognition following Razorblade Romance.
Themes: gothic romance· death as allure· Finnish melancholy
Career context: Released in 1999, this single introduced HIM’s second album, Razorblade Romance, following their 1997 debut Greatest Lovesongs Vol. 666. Its mix and live tracks also connect the emerging breakthrough to songs from that earlier record.
Stylistic neighbors: Type O Negative· The 69 Eyes· Lacuna Coil