REVIEW: The Rasmus - Weirdo

Finnish fave THE RASMUS has been breaking music charts for years now, and it's no secret that they keep a tight grip on first place in the charts in their homeland. With eleven albums now under their belt, the rock powerhouse is once again set to go on a tour around the US, the UK and Europe, celebrating the release of Weirdo. Returning with ten songs that are filled with riffs, Weirdo accumulates everything that is so special about THE RASMUS and gives it a new look. With LAURI YLÖNEN’s signature vocals, EERO HEINONEN’s bass, AKI HAKALA’s drums and EMILIA “EMPPU” SUHONEN’s guitar, the band achieved a soundscape of sonics that work together to create an incredible experience.

With the first three songs of the album, Creature Of Chaos, Break These Chains (feat. NIKO VILHELM of BLIND CHANNEL) and Rest In Pieces, the band's already brought a variety of different sounds with them, such as the intricate riffs in Creature Of Chaos or the electronic synthesis in Break These Chains, which is melodically reminiscent of original LINKIN PARK songs. Thanks to this feature, plus the appearance of NIKO VILHELM, this track is one of the stand-outs on Weirdo. The third of those mentioned, Rest In Pieces, comes back to the band’s roots and serves their iconic rock riffs, pounding drums and raspy vocals.

Dead Ringer, Weirdo (feat. LEE JENKINS of THE FUNERAL PORTRAIT) and Banksy, the three following songs, are no less generous with their portion of excitement. While Dead Ringer is pretty much a typical THE RASMUS song, it does contain a surprising rap bridge, that fits into the song flawlessly and gives it a new dimension. On the other hand, Weirdo, the title track, is very emotional, with big riffs and an intricate yet short guitar solo. The chorus “I’m just a weirdo, I’ll never be a hero” is easy to remember, catchy, and fits in perfectly with the band’s narrative, making it another of the most memorable songs across the record. Banksy is distinct from the rest - not only due to its swift and energetic melody, but primarily due to the vocals, as the primary vocalist on the song is not YLÖNEN but EMPPU. As she takes over, it elevates the song and the overall listening experience with that freshness of something unheard so far.

The last four songs of the album, Love Is A Bitch, You Want It All, Bad Things and I’m Coming For You can be split up into two songs that fit regular THE RASMUS melodies, Love Is A Bitch and Bad Things, and the sad songs that no one really saw coming in You Want It All and I’m Coming For You. The aforementioned songs do not really come with any new or mind-bending melodies or lyrics, and although they are lovely to listen to, they're a pair on the album that could be easily missed. The latter pair, however, bring in a lot of melancholy and emotional riffs - You Want It All is a particular stand-out that gets stuck in the head very easily, with YLÖNEN’s iconic vocals that were made for this kind of music. Apart from the traditional use of instruments, the band resorted to synths once again, and it was a spectacular choice that really complements the overall sound.

The last song on the album, I’m Coming For You, gives the listener a farewell as it closes the packed release, and it's no coincidence that the melody is slower in comparison with other tracks on Weirdo. With EMPPU’s simple guitar work, HAKALA’s drumming and HEINONEN’s bass, followed by the sound of church organ, the song’s soundscape drifts from the crowd, yet fits in with the overall tone of the release immaculately.

Weirdo is the sound of realising your weirdness is your strength, while letting some of the sickest riffs going act as the soundtrack of your life. It's an encouraging and powerful testament that being different is what makes one unique, and it opens a whole new perspective onto what is truly considered weird and what is not. Although some of the songs were a bit weak compared to their usual, the message carried through all ten was strong and THE RASMUS has once again proved that they do not need to fit into convention to keep being one of the most influential rock bands around.

 Score: 8/10

Weirdo was released on September 12th 2025 via Better Noise Music and Playground Music.

Words: Katerina Stepanikova

Photos: The Rasmus