THE RASMUS Gearing up for New Album Release by Tracy Heck and Cheryl Frishman

BY: Tracy Heck and Cheryl Frishman

Finnish rock band The Rasmus just wrapped up their first North American tour in 16 years.
The United States and Canadian dates included some dates opening up for label mates The
Funeral Portrait as Ylönen well as some club headlining dates along the way. The Rasmus are touring behind new singles “Break These Chains” and “Creatures of Chaos,” which will be on their upcoming eleventh studio album Weirdo, which will be released on September 12.
Vocalist Lauri spoke with Sound Fury Magazine before one of their headlining dates at The
Loving Touch in Ferndale, Michigan on May 9. Ylönen said that it’s ironic that the band was finally back in the U.S. after having lived in the States himself for the last 11 years, but has now returned to Finland to be closer to his eldest child and other family members. The band recently signed with U.S. record label Better Noise Music and have secured management in the States as well, which facilitated their chance to finally get back to playing here. Moving forward, they plan to come here more often and are currently eyeing coming back in the new year after a European tour and some Latin America and Mexico dates later this year. “It’s good to be back. On this tour, 50% of the shows are with The Funeral Portrait supporting them and then we have our own headlining shows like tonight in these tiny intimate venues. It’s been really great and we’re really having fun playing so close to the audience. There’s something raw and primal about it, it’s good,” stated Ylönen.

The Rasmus hooked up with The Funeral Portrait because of their label connection “I was
actually looking at the label roster and all the bands they have and their was just something about
their music and their appearance that kind of clicked with ours,” Ylönen shared.
Ylönen started the band back in 1994 with bassist Eero Heinonen when the guys were still in
their early teen years so it’s been what he calls a “lifetime.” Over the years, they’ve had a couple of member changes, “Our original drummer left and Aki Hakala has been the “new guy” for the last 20 years! Now we’ve had Emppu Suhonen on guitar for the last few years. I’m so happy about the chemistry that we have now in the band. It means everything to me because that’s how the best ideas are born,” Ylönen explained. He says that being able to get out on the tour and visit new places has served as a source of inspiration for him and his songwriting.

When asked what inspired the new album, he said, “I’ve been listening to a lot of harder music
myself. I’ve sort of rediscovered this harder metal music again that I listened to when I was
younger. When we put this band together we were into mini ramps and skating and we’d have
Slayer in the background playing. It was kind of hidden in there, but now it’s kind of like we’re
bringing back those harder elements to our music. It feels really nice.” In closing, Ylönen had this to say to The Rasmus; fans in the U.S.,”I'm sorry we haven’t comehere more often. We’re trying to make it up to you guys. I know a lot of you had been waiting, but so were we. We have plans to come here more often. That will make me super happy!”