began demoing material for third album

In late 2000, HIM began demoing material for its third album with producer T. T. Oksala. Satisfied with the results, the band initially wanted to release these demos as its next album. However, BMG resisted and brought producer Kevin Shirley on board to work on the record. Around this time, keyboardist Juska Salminen was also fired from the group after missing several rehearsals. Salminen would later attribute his departure to burnout . He was replaced by Janne “Burton” Puurtinen . The recording process for HIM’s third album lasted approximately eleven months, which greatly affected the material. Valo later explained: “When we started recording the third album, we were into stoner rock and Black Sabbath […] At the end we were into Neil Young and it shows on the record.” According to Valo, outside influences within the music industry also contributed to the extended recording process. HIM’s third album Deep Shadows and Brilliant Highlights was eventually released on 24 August 2001. The record peaked at number one in Finland and Austria, and at number two in Germany and Switzerland. The album would eventually go platinum in Finland and gold in Austria. Three singles were released, all of which reached the top five in Finland. Deep Shadows and Brilliant Highlights received mixed reviews, with AllMusic calling it “way too clean” and “utterly boring”. This was echoed by Soundi , who called the album “ideal music for girls, who don’t dig the music, but Ville Valo’s looks and his lyrics’ decadent imagery.” Blabbermouth.net, meanwhile, was more positive, stating that “in purely artistic and commercial terms […] HIM have made the logical follow-up album to one of last year’s highlights, and they continue to cement their reputation as one of the most unique and consistent rock acts around.” HIM was once again named Export of the Year at the 2001 Emma Gala. The band also received the Viewers’ Choice Award at the VIVA Comet Awards.