Review by Paul Monkhouse for MPM
It’s hard to believe that The Rasmus are now into their third decade of existence, the eternally youthful Finnish outfit still bringing their stylised and upbeat blend of Gothic rock and pop hooks to the masses.
Whilst the huge ‘Dead Letters’ album and global smash ‘In the Shadows’ in 2003 saw them break through into the big leagues, they’ve done things the hard way and backed the hard won victory of that fifth full length release with world tours and a string of compelling opuses since.
With eleventh album ‘Weirdo’ the band have managed to distil all that’s seen them taken to so many hearts and turned up the heat even further.
Virtually impossible to pigeonhole, the quartet bring a kaleidoscopic array of tones to this latest project and the results can easily switch from the stadium filling rockers to intimate moments that seem almost voyeuristic such is their ability to peer quietly into their souls.
Lyrically too the range is quite breathtaking, going from acerbic looks at relationships to a song that builds around references to the UK’s greatest guerilla street artist.
Kicking things off, ‘Creatures of Chaos’ is a real statement of intent, filled with heavy guitars and an anthemic chorus that swings from a slithering darkness. Equally impressive, recent single ‘Break These Chains’ features Blind Channels frontman Niko Vilhelm in something utterly compelling and unstoppable, whilst the driving ‘Rest in Pieces’ blends sweet vocals with snotty attitude to great effect.
Highlights are many and it’s a consistently good album throughout with zero filler tracks, the band cohesive and aging nicely like fine wine. Special mention must go to wide-screen epic ‘Weirdo’, the brilliant ‘Banksy’ and the huge ‘You Want It All’.
After the sound and fury, ‘I’m Coming For You’ is the calm that follows the storm, light, gorgeous and sparkling, providing the perfect end to the album. ‘In the Shadows’ may have set the world on fire but ‘Weirdo’ shows the flame burns brighter than ever.
With its uncompromising vision and unapologetic message, WEIRDO is poised to be THE RASMUS‘ most ambitious and impactful album yet.
Here’s the album’s track list:
1. Creatures of Chaos
2. Break These Chains
3. Rest in Pieces
4. Dead Ringer
5. Weirdo
6. Banksy
7. Love Is a Bitch
8. You Want It All
9. Bad Things
10. I’m Coming for You
THE RASMUS “WEIRDO TOUR” 2025 DATES:
9/12 Tampere, FI – Tavara-Asema
9/13 Turku, FI – Logomo
9/19 Kuopio, FI – Sawohouse Underground
9/20 Oulu, FI – Tullisali
9/26 Seinäjoki, FI – Rytmikorjaamo
9/27 Jyväskylä, FI – Lutakko
10/03 Lahti, FI – Möysän Musaklubi
10/04 Joensuu, FI – Kerubi
10/17 Helsinki, FI – Tavastia
10/18 Helsinki, FI – Tavastia
10/23 Limassol, CY – Monte Caputo
10/25 Athens, GR – Floyd
10/27 Dubai, UAE – The Agenda
10/29 Tashkent, UZ – Palace of Alisher Navoy
10/31 Astana, KZ – Grand Hall by Wyndham
11/1 Almaty, KZ – Bakshasaray
11/3 Tbilisi, GE – Elektroyard
11/4 Baku, Az – Heydar Aaliyev Palace
11/6 Istanbul, TR – IF Performance Hall
11/8 Belgrade, RS – MTS Dvorana
11/11 Hamburg, DE – Markthalle
11/12 Berlin, DE – Metropol
11/13 Warsaw, PL – Stodola
11/14 Brno, CZ – Sono Centrum
11/15 Budapest, HU – Barba Negra
11/16 Vienna, AT – Simm City
11/17 Munich, DE – Technikum
11/18 Milan, IT – Alcatraz
11/20 Zurich, CH – Komplex 457
11/21 Karlsruhe, DE – Substage
11/22 Saarbrucken, DE – Garage
11/23 Frankfurt, DE – Batschkapp
11/25 Cologne, DE – Live Music Hall
11/26 Utrecht, NL – Tivoli
11/27 Antwerp, BE – Trix
11/28 Paris, FR – La Cigale
11/30 Glasgow, GB – SWG3 Galvanizers
12/1 Manchester, GB – O2 Ritz
12/2 Cardiff, GB – Great Hall
12/4 London, GB – O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire
12/5 Southampton, GB – 1865
12/6 Nottingham, GB – Rock City
12/10 Guadalajara, MX – Auditorio Telmex
12/12 Monterrey, MX – Auditorio Banamex
12/13 Mexico City, MX – Velodromo Olimpico
Find THE RASMUS online at:
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