HIM (w/ Biters) @ Manchester Academy (Manchester, UK) on December 16, 2017 [Photos & Show Review]

After 26 years, 8 studio albums, thousands of live shows and countless heartagram tattoos, Finnish goth rockers HIM have decided to call time on their career. 2013 gave us Tears on Tape, the last release of new material from the band and, after getting together again to try out new ideas, Valo and Co. decided that they had said everything they needed to say and announced their farewell tour titled “Bang & Whimper 2017”.

The tour kicked off in June in Barcelona and has seen the band winding its way through sold-out venues in Europe, Russia, North and South America, Canada and the UK before returning to their native land for 5 shows, ending, quite fittingly, on New Year’s Eve at the Tavastia Club in Helsinki. Featuring a setlist comprised of songs from the entire HIM back-catalogue, these shows serve as a fitting tribute to one of the most beloved groups from the gothic rock genre.

Joining HIM on the UK run of shows as support were Atlanta-based rock n’ rollers Biters and kudos goes to these guys for a solid rendition of Tom Petty’s “American Girl”!