THE RASMUS – REST IN PIECES

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.

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. “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 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. “He’s 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!”