THE RASMUS

© Venia Shalin

It is often said that the best bands are the ones which keep surprising you time and time again, in the most thrilling of ways. This is something Finnish rockers The Rasmus have been doing since their major label debut and a creative responsibility they take great pride in. If you’ve listened to any of their albums, you’ll be able to hear a kaleidoscopic collage of heavy guitars against futuristic electronics, as well as pop hooks that can find their way into the heart of any kind of music fan. As a direct result, they’ve become one of Finland’s greatest musical exports, selling millions of records worldwide and winning award after award.

It all started in Helsinki 30 years ago, when four students at the same upper comprehensive, led by founding frontman and songwriter Lauri Ylönen, decided to embark on a journey to create music unlike anything the world had ever heard. Their debut 1st EP, released in 1995, was so well-received, the band ended up inking a major label deal only a handful of months later, paving the way for debut full-length Peep, and the incredibly fearless sonic exploration which ensued on follow-ups Playboys, Hell Of A Tester and Into – the latter of which coming under a new partnership with Scandinavian heavyweights Playground Music. By the time they got round to fifth album Dead Letters – they’d become a fully fledged global force, with lead single In The Shadows storming the charts around the world and picking up countless accolades in the process. It would see them break the record for royalties received abroad on a Finnish composition, overtaking the works of classical mastermind Jean Sibelius, and cementing their stature as one of the biggest-selling and universally admired Finnish acts of all-time. And that was just the first taste of the global stardom that was waiting around the corner for them.

Since then, the group have gone from strength to strength, with albums like Hide From The Sun, Black Roses, The Rasmus, Dark Matters and Rise showing how they’ve dared to dream and evolve in the most delightful of ways. Beyond the likes of Iron Maiden and My Chemical Romance, you’ll be hard pressed to find fans more loyal and dedicated to the cause – continually surprised and amazed by a band who always operate on their own creative terms. With the perfect blend of melody, edge and showmanship, it would be fair to say The Rasmus exist as a complete anomaly in a class of their own: they do what they want, when they want, in ways no one else ever could. And in their frontman and lead songwriter Lauri Ylönen, they have one of the most effervescent and fascinating minds working in music today, someone with a natural ability and enthusiasm to find the right hooks and melodies in just about any kind of musical situation, from mainstream pop and electronica to explosive rock and hard-hitting metal. He’s a master storyteller in every sense of the term. And while they may be musical chameleons when they want to be, there’s this underlying sense of identity present in all the group’s recordings, from the very beginning of their fruitful career to where they stand today. It’s always the unmistakable sound of The Rasmus, no matter the message behind the music or they choose to deliver it.

But this year, they’re upping the ante and releasing their most commanding music to date in the form of new single Rest In Pieces, set for release on October 25. It’s irresistibly heavy, dark and melodic – marking the start of the next chapter in their sonic evolution with a sense of fearless bravado and world-conquering intensity. If you’re looking for The Rasmus at their most full-bodied and metallic, well, this is it…

“I guess it’s kind of a new sound for us,” ponders founding frontman Lauri Ylönen. “We’ve done heavy things in the past, I remember the second album had songs with hard riffing. So it’s not completely new, but it’s definitely a fresh take on The Rasmus… especially compared to what we’ve done more recently.”

The roots of the song come from a place of betrayal and anger, which explains why the lyrics could be considered Ylönen’s most hard-hitting and direct to date. As he rightly points out, some of the best art comes from the challenges life can throw at us – provided the emotions are processed and channelled through more positive avenues. If art imitates life, it should be every bit as unpredictable…

“This all started very organically,” he continues. “The story behind the music is that I was betrayed by a friend. I was sad and pissed off at the same time. I wanted to channel my frustration into the music and create what I call a ‘fuck you song’ for revenge. That’s usually the best thing for any artist or creator to do in that situation. You take the emotion and turn it into something powerful. There’s an impulse that comes through and you find the strength to capture it in the form of music to make art. It might seem negative at first, but I wanted this song to also feel empowering to anyone who hears it. There’s that uplifting thing that we do. I would say Rest In Pieces is very positive in amongst all the intensity.”

The new track also marks a new partnership with American label Better Noise Music outside the Nordic and Baltic territories overseen by Playground Music. Currently representing heavyweights like Five Finger Death Punch and Asking Alexandria, having led successful campaigns with Mötley Crüe and Papa Roach in the past, it’s the perfect new home for their new music. The label also introduced the group (completed by bassist Eero Heinonen, drummer Aki Hakala and guitarist Emppu Suhonen) to acclaimed producer Joseph McQueen [As I Lay Dying, Bad Wolves] in order to help them explore and experiment in new creative directions. The initial tracking had been done with Alex Mattson in Helsinki, the mastermind behind Blind Channel’s 100 million-plus streams, and with McQueen on board, they had the recipe for something truly spectacular. “Joseph is known for producing really cool bands, mostly American ones,” smiles the frontman. “It was very inspiring to work with new blood, so to speak. Here was someone who lived and breathed this kind of music. It was a perfect match.”

The new music will be supported by a world tour, with The Rasmus bringing an unforgettable stage show to their devoted audiences around the world. “It’s been a while since we went on tour, so we’re really excited to be heading out all over the world in 2025,” continues Ylönen. “It’s shaping up to be a massive tour and there’s more dates to come. We can’t wait to hang out with our fans. It’s going to be fun to see them again, we’re like family.”

As for what to expect from album number eleven, all we can say is watch this space.

“Rest In Pieces is a promise of what’s to come, for sure!” adds the frontman. “It represents our new sound… it’s shaping up to be the heaviest and darkest album of our career to date!”