Autumn is my favourite month, and I try my hardest not to wish time away and enjoy the last drops of summer. However it feels like Autumn is well and truly upon us at last. There's a still crispness to the air that wasn't there before, it's like I can smell the upcoming season from the trees. The leaves may not have yet turned, but the fruits and berries are getting fatter. I went foraging for apples down the lane and baked my finds into an apple crumble cake.
With a dusting of cinnamon sugar and a drizzle of salted caramel or blackcurrant curd.
Hearing of Chester Bennington's death last month hit me a lot harder than I thought it would. I used to a huge fan of Linkin Park growing up, I was even a paid member of their fan club LP Underground. I hadn't listened to any of their music in ages, but the evening I learnt Chester had died I went straight on YouTube to search for my old favourite tracks. It lead to a nostalgia session of my favourite bands from that time, and I rediscovered HIM.
HIM were my favourite band throughout most of my teenage years. I'd listened to them more recently than the others, but not for a good 5 or 6 years at least (I believe I stopped just after the release of Screamworks. Not because I disliked it, I just drifted away onto other things). Love Metal was their first album I owned (I still think The Funeral of Hearts is an absolutely beautiful track and is one of my favourites, I've been playing it on repeat) but their first album Greatest Lovesongs Vol. 666 was always my favourite. I've really been getting back into them these past few weeks, and it broke my heart finding out they're doing a farewell tour this year and calling it a day (although I completely understand and support their reasoning). It felt like fate I should rediscover this band that meant so much to me for so long just before they disband.
Naturally upon rediscovering a band I love, my first instinct as a vinyl collector is to check if their albums have been released on the format. I didn't hold out much hope, so was really pleased when I discovered they had!
It turns out they've released two separate box sets of their first 4 albums: Lashes To Ashes, Lust To Dust in 2014, and back in 2005 they'd released a box set version of And Love Said No. I've been on the hunt for either of these box sets for a couple of weeks, and as you can see I managed to get And Love Said No for an absolute steal. It's in pristine condition, the previous owner said they'd never played it and I believe them. I do like HIM's later albums, but the first 4 have always been my favourite. I can't describe how excited I am to have this in my collection. I know what the soundtrack to my autumn is going to be! I can't wait to curl up with my record player and endless cups of tea as the nights draw in.
Now I just need to try and get a ticket for one of their final shows, wish me luck!
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