Editing Razorblade Romance (section)

==Music and lyrics==
{{Listen
|filename = HIM - Join Me (sample).ogg
|title = "Join Me in Death" (1999)
|description = "[[Join Me in Death]]" was HIM's breakthrough single, reaching number one in Finland and Germany, eventually going platinum in their home country, and gold in Germany and Austria.
}}
The overall sound of ''Razorblade Romance'' features less focus on guitar than the band's debut, in favor a sleeker and more melodic sound, influenced by the music of the 1980s.<ref name="BMReview"/><ref name="Soundi"/><ref name="Allmusic"/> "I Love You (Prelude to Tragedy)" was first considered for ''Greatest Lovesongs Vol. 666'', and was thus demoed several times.<ref name="SynninViemää138">Juho K. Juntunen (2002). ''HIM – Synnin viemää'' p.138. WSOY</ref> Valo described the song as an "apt intro for the record. Short, tight, and smacks you right in the face".<ref name="SynninViemää138"/> "Poison Girl" was written about a specific girl in Valo's life and about "how you can destroy something so beautiful".<ref name="SynninViemää138"/> "[[Join Me in Death]]" was the first single chosen from the album, and was written around the time of ''Greatest Lovesongs Vol. 666''{{'}}s release.<ref name="SynninViemää132"/> Valo continued to work on the song for approximately two years, and took influence from '80s music and the album ''[[Isola (album)|Isola]]'' by [[Kent (band)|Kent]].<ref name="SynninViemää132"/> Lyrically, the song was inspired by ''[[Romeo and Juliet]]'', as well as [[Blue Öyster Cult]]'s "[[(Don't Fear) The Reaper]]", and talks about "how far are you willing to go for somebody you care for".<ref name="SynninViemää132"/><ref name="Wiki">{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6b8hOK890b8 |title=HIM – Wikipedia: Fact or Fiction? |publisher=[[YouTube]] |access-date=9 June 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160512032757/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6b8hOK890b8 |archive-date=12 May 2016 }}</ref> According to Valo, "Join Me in Death" was also the first song to feature "that corniness and tongue-in-cheek nature, that was missing from the first album".<ref name="SynninViemää132"/> The UK division of BMG initially refused to release the album, as they felt that "Join Me in Death" was too much of a "[[Schlager music|schlager]]", fearing it would ruin the rest of the album.<ref name="SynninViemää132"/>

"Right Here in My Arms" and "Resurrection" were written around the same time Valo was working on "Join Me in Death", thus both retain the same '80s influence.<ref name="SynninViemää138"/><ref name="SynninViemää139">Juho K. Juntunen (2002). ''HIM – Synnin viemää'' p.139. WSOY</ref> Valo described "Right Here in My Arms" as a "[[Billy Idol]] ripoff" and "Resurrection" as what "[[Bon Jovi]] putting on goth masks" would sound like.<ref name="SynninViemää138"/><ref name="SynninViemää139"/> "Gone with the Sin" was singled out by Valo as one of his favorites from the album, calling it "a simple love song, but where the cliches have been turned on their heads".<ref name="SynninViemää139"/> Lyrically, the song was inspired by a relationship of Valo's, in which "both participants weren't doing that well".<ref name="Q&A">{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wp2bd1Rys4M |title=Ville Valo PV Fan Q&A Part 2 |publisher=[[YouTube]] |access-date=10 June 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131011004608/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wp2bd1Rys4M |archive-date=11 October 2013 }}</ref> Valo described "Razorblade Kiss" as HIM's "tribute to [[Kiss (band)|Kiss]] and rock 'n' roll" and "Bury Me Deep Inside Your Heart" as "[[Depeche Mode]] meets [[Roxette]]".<ref name="SynninViemää139"/> The bass line of "Heaven Tonight" makes use of a [[wah-wah pedal]], which was operated by Valo, while Mige played the part.<ref name="SynninViemää126">Juho K. Juntunen (2002). ''HIM – Synnin viemää'' p.126. WSOY</ref> According to Valo, the "heaven" in the lyrics symbolizes "something happy happening or some sort of fulfillment".<ref name="SynninViemää139"/> "Death Is in Love with Us" was described by Valo as a "goth anthem" and was considered for the opening of the album.<ref name="SynninViemää139"/> "One Last Time" was written with the idea of having a happier end to the record, and was described by Valo as the "apology" at the end of the "romance" that begins with "I Love You (Prelude to Tragedy)", and serves as the final plea to "try one last time".<ref name="SynninViemää139"/> While recording vocals for the song, Valo was surrounded by the rest of the band (sans drummer [[Gas Lipstick|Mika "Gas Lipstick" Karppinen]]) sitting naked in a lotus position.<ref name="SynninViemää127"/> The band also forced keyboardist Juska Salminen to record the song naked, which took two hours of convincing.<ref name="SynninViemää127"/> For the international editions of the album, HIM also re-recorded the tracks "Your Sweet 666" and "[[Wicked Game]]" from their debut album, as well as "Stigmata Diaboli" from the EP ''[[666 Ways to Love: Prologue]]'', which was retitled "Sigillum Diaboli".<ref name="SynninViemää80">Juho K. Juntunen (2002). ''HIM – Synnin viemää'' p.80. WSOY</ref>