By Rebecca Clark
The Rasmus’ new album Weirdo dropped today (September 12th) and this might just be one of their best records yet. There are so many layers to this record, it blends a modern rock edge with flashes of 80s-inspired synths, creating a sound that feels both nostalgic and fresh. From the opening moments, the first three tracks set the tone with a powerful one-two-three punch: “Creatures of Chaos,” “Break These Chains,” and “Rest in Pieces” kick things off with urgency and energy, reminding listeners exactly why this band has had staying power for nearly three decades.
“Break These Chains,” featuring Niko Vilhelm of Blind Channel, leans heavily into that 80s synth vibe while packing some of the most emotionally raw lyrics on the record. It’s a song about breaking free from a toxic relationship, dripping with betrayal and heartache: “Secrets are the hiding place of lies, ticking like a timebomb till there’s nothing / We swore to death we’d always stay together / But maybe only tombstones last forever.” With its mix of anthemic power and vulnerable honesty, it captures how hard it is to sever ties with someone you feel soul-bound to.
The title track, “Weirdo,” is another highlight and one of the album’s most exciting collaborations, featuring Lee Jennings of The Funeral Portrait. After seeing the two bands share a stage on tour last spring, this pairing felt like it was meant to be, and the chemistry translates perfectly to the studio. Musically, their styles differ, but together they channel the same spirit.
“Weirdo” is a defiant anthem for embracing your individuality and rejecting conformity, with lines like “I could have been a preacher / But the problem is I don’t believe” cutting through with humor and edge. The chorus — “When the world is burning, where do you want me to go? I’m just a weirdo, I’ll never be a hero,” flips alienation into empowerment, making it one of the most relatable and uplifting tracks on the record.
“You Want It All” is a standout for longtime fans because it nods back to The Rasmus’ early sound, carrying echoes of their 2000s material while slotting seamlessly into the album’s broader evolution. The track begins with a slower, heavy weight that mirrors the grief in its lyrics, wrapping the listener in the ache of loss and betrayal. The verses are drenched in regret, “I tried to be everything you wanted, Now every inch of my heart is haunted,” before the song swells and Lauri shifts from sorrow into defiance. By the time the chorus hits, he’s reclaiming his strength, spitting out lines like “You want to own the rain / And tell it where to fall” with a sharpness that transforms grief into power. Musically and emotionally, it’s one of the most cathartic moments on the album: a song that starts broken but ends empowered.
“Love is a Bitch” opens with a playful whistle before diving into heavy riffs that fit its venomous bite. At its core, the song deals with betrayal and the numbness that follows, the act of pretending you’re fine while anger simmers just beneath the surface. Lyrics like “You stole my soul, sold it to the devil that’s how you roll” capture the bitterness of being used, while the hook, “Love is a drug and I need a fix / Love is a bitch like you” turns the heartbreak into a snarling, addictive anthem. It’s sarcastic, furious, and cathartic all at once.
“I Am Coming for You” shifts into a more bittersweet space with its poppy vibe and 80s-tinged keyboards. Beneath the brightness lies the story of love and sacrifice, the tug-of-war between chasing your dreams and missing the person you left behind. The line “My excuse was I was paying my dues / But it was you who was paying the price” carries the sting of guilt, but the repeated vow “I swear on my life it’s true, I’m coming for you” makes it a heartfelt promise. It’s both romantic and conflicted, capturing what it feels like to live between two worlds.
Taken as a whole, Weirdo is solid from start to finish, an album that fuses nostalgic echoes of The Rasmus’ early 2000s sound with modern rock production and flashes of 80s-inspired synth. Every track feels alive with creative, sharply written lyrics and the kind of emotional depth the band has always excelled at. It’s a record that proves The Rasmus are still evolving while staying true to their roots, and it leaves you immediately wanting more.
The collaborations elevate it even further, but the album’s true heartbeat lies in its message: never be afraid to be unapologetically yourself. Weirdo is an anthem for outsiders, misfits, and anyone who has ever felt like they don’t belong and it makes you proud to wear that label.
Stream and listen to WEIRDO and order HERE
Track listing for WEIRDO:
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