Fox Reviews Rock

Introduction

Finnish rockers The Rasmus are back! The band have just released their latest album, Weirdo, and that’s exactly what we’ll be diving into today with our full album review. Known for blending dark atmospheres with huge hooks and emotional honesty, The Rasmus once again step into the spotlight with a record that proudly wears its heart on its sleeve. If you love rock and alternative rock then this one is for you.

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Album Overview

Weirdo is an album about embracing who you are, celebrating your identity and dealing with rejection. The Rasmus lean into the idea of being outsiders and instead of hiding it are nailing it to the mast. It is a modern, polished rock record with a couple of surprising elements. Throughout you find hooks, massive choruses and collaborations that are sublime.

The band moves from relationship breakdowns into deep questions about one’s own identity. When the album is at its best – tracks like Weirdo, Break These Chains & Rest In Pieces balance emotional weight with anthems. It does stumble in places and at times it feels like they played a bit safe, and could have dug down even deeper.

Review

Creatures Of Chaos

We actually already reviewed this song as a single, and is the reason why I had so much hope for this album! You can read the review in full here. I have to say though this is such a great opener and I am glad they picked it for that role. It establishes the themes of defiance and feeling like an outside right off the bat.

Break These Chains

This song from the very first time I heard it captured that suffocating feeling that being trapped in a painful relationship can bring. As well as the feeling of euphoria when you finally break those bonds. The contrast between the two singers Lauri & Niko Vilhelm (Blind Channel) is great! It feels like a struggle between the voices for power, just like in a relationship.

What’s more is that it’s two Eurovision singers on one track! What more could you want?!

The verses of the track build the world around it, with the tension only simmering before the choruses provide that full release moment. It is worth mentioning the production too as its really well done. As are the hi-hats within the chorus that add a sense of urgency.

If I were to be overly picky it’s a subject matter that has been done many times before. This however doesn’t kill the track for me, if a theme is done well why not revisit it?

Rest In Pieces

While the chorus is catchy, and the riff before it feels massive… the chorus itself is actually rather simplistic. It feels like it was more for its impact than complexity for complexities sake.

The verses though are where this particular track shines. With lyrics that show the breakdown of a relationship perfectly. They are slow and not dramatic, the gradual sinking feeling where you know things are falling apart but you can’t stop it. It’s not only relatable but also gives that feeling of drowning and not being able to save yourself.

Dead Ringer

This is the first time the album leans heavily on electronic elements, which along with the rap style vocals, feels somewhat at odds with the rest of the piece. I prefer the melodic singing that is for sure. The chorus mind you, is on another level and is one of the best on the album, memorable and emotionally charged.

I do however also feel like the placement of it on the album breaks the flow. But that move from relationship struggles into identity makes sense. The core concept of the song (being replaced by someone exactly like you) does make sense in that it ties both concepts together.

I feel the part about Miss Universe Finland, is a bit cheesy rather than edgy though…

Weirdo

Goosebumps, every time! This track vocally is absolutely beautiful, in this case helped by Lee Jennings (The Funeral Portrait). That duet is gorgeous as is Lee’s verse. This collaboration feels natural and not forced in any way.

The song itself feels like a genuine celebration of being yourself, your true self even if the world wants you to be something else. Be that weirdo in the world full of clones. This track emphasises the albums message perfectly.

Banksy

Whoa that guitar to kick things off is fantastic, especially the way it clashes with the drums. That contrast results in loads of momentum and some much needed tempo changes in the album.

This flirts with punk like energy a nod to the rebellion the band has long championed. I actually love how raw this song is. That being said the extra momentum comes at the cost of emotions and complexity. This feels surface level compared to the other tracks on this album. Not to mention the nod to the mysterious graffiti artist is somewhat puzzling. Like why?

Love Is A Bitch

The kick drum is something that I feel like is underused as an anchor point in rock music. But in this case it is front and centre and drives the song forward. Also a highlight of this song are the backing vocals that add texture right before that middle finger of a chorus. I mean that in the best possible way.

I was actually surprised the band went this way with it feeling at times more like a Maroon 5 song. Pop like tendencies, slick and catchy! But if you listen carefully it contains venom in those lyrics. Its cynical, provocative and completely in your face and I love it.

You Want It All

There is much slower and deliberate build up here, supported by ambient effects. If we focus on the vocals they feel vulnerable and I suspect long-terms fans will love this song because of that.

I do feel however that this is the album’s safe song, in that it doesn’t push many boundaries but it is still well crafted. I did enjoy the unexpected tempo shift and chorus that came out of nowhere though.

Bad Things

This is some of the best instrumentation on the entire record. With the bass finally showing up to the part and the guitar and drum parts do the business too. Especially that guitar solo which is fantastic. I love how the band explore the themes of the extreme things people do for those that they love. In this case it is unrequited love and stalker like.

While I don’t think this is the strongest chorus, the vibe and atmosphere carry the song over the line where the hook doesn’t quite do that. This should have been the album closing song.

I’m Coming For You

As stated above Bad Things should have been the final song on the album. This doesn’t feel like a song The Rasmus typically put out, its scaled back and a bit unforgettable. It’s not bad, its non-offensive. And on an album about being yourself no matter what, that is kind of the issue.

Final Verdict

This album knows exactly what it wants to say and it says it proud and loud. There are moments of genuine beauty, strong collaborations and choruses that are built to last! The biggest strengths are its cohesion with the topics they chose. While the weaknesses are the occasional surface level/playing safe and that closing song. Still when Weirdo hits , it really hits hard. For an album about embracing individuality, it does it to perfection. This is the best album from The Rasmus in a VERY long-time.

86/100

If you enjoyed this album review, please take the time to leave us a comment and check out our other album reviews.

All rights to the songs used in this review are retained by The Rasmus. This site claims no rights over them. All images used were provided by Duff Press.