Finnish love metallers HIM have entered the studio with producer Hiili Hiilesmaa (APOCALYPTICA, AMORPHIS, MOONSPELL) to begin recording their ninth full-length album, "Tears On Tape", for an early 2013 release. The CD will be mixed by Tim Palmer, who has previously worked with PEARL JAM, U2 and ROBERT PLANT, among many others.

HIM will end this year by bringing back the Helldone Festival at club Tavastia in Helsinki, where they will perform for four nights in a row. Supporting HIM on all Helldone 2012 dates are their longtime partners in crime, THE SKREPPERS. This outrageous band fronted by producer/friend Hiilesmaa has stuck stubbornly to its blurry vision, operating somewhere between the psychobilly badlands, and rock and roll outer space. All dressed up in black leather, shiny vinyl, and stiletto heels. THE SKREPPERS' fifth album, "Sherwood Gays", was released in May 2012.

Another constant Helldone 2012 feature — bar New Year's Eve — will be Helsinki Vampire Club by DJ Jyrki69. From goth to glam and beyond, DJ Jyrki69 spins the records and you around at his pop-up dark discotheque at Semifinal Club during the Helldone nights. This is the best place to dance to the beat of HANOI ROCKS and turn into a Helsinki Vampire!

Additional support bands are:

Friday, December 28 - FACE OF GOD, a high-energy Helsinki trio that has released an EP called "Fire" and played over 130 gigs in well under two years — all the way from the dingiest of cellars to the Helldone stage. Right now the band is heading into the studio to record their debut album, a double nonetheless, consisting of an electric ("Dead Ballads And Forgotten Love Songs") and an acoustic ("Illogical Psychology") half.

Saturday, December 29 - FINAL ASSAULT consider themselves "gentlemen on their journey through '80s thrash." Their 2010 debut album was hardcore punk as uncompromising as it comes, but already last year's sophomore work, "Dead By Dawn", showed clear signs of crossing over into metal. The band is already working on their third album, promising it to be nothing less than "an epic speed-thrash-metal record."

More support acts for Sunday, December 30 and Monday, December 31 will be announced shortly.

HIM will release a greatest-hits album, "XX - Two Decades Of Love Metal", on October 26. The set will include the band's new cover version of the song "Strange World", originally recorded in the 1990s by Kevin Grivois (a.k.a. Ké).

The "Strange World" video and digital single was originally due on September 21 but has had its release date pushed up due to an online leak. You can now purchase the track digitally via iTunes.