THE RASMUS RELEASES NEW ALBUM ‘WEIRDO,’ CELEBRATES DIFFERENTNESS

Brickinfo News Agency – Finnish rock band The Rasmus has released their 11th studio album, Weirdo, through Better Noise Music and Playground Music. The album’s arrival follows the release of several singles, including “Rest In Pieces” and the title track “Weirdo,” which features a collaboration with The Funeral Portrait singer Lee Jennings. The album’s themes focus on embracing individuality and being an outsider, a message the band has carried since their debut.

The album’s sound blends modern pop with rock guitar riffs. Frontman Lauri Ylönen noted that the message of Weirdo is consistent with the band’s first album from 1996: to “defend and praise the ones who are different from the masses.” Ylönen has previously stated that he has often felt like an outsider and has been called a “weirdo,” which he has since come to see as a source of strength. He explains, “All the people I find exciting and inspiring are somehow strange. We, the Weirdos, unite and feed off people’s judging attitudes.”

The album’s title track, “Weirdo,” was the first song written for the project. According to Ylönen, it established the concept for the entire album. Lee Jennings of The Funeral Portrait, who is featured on the track, described it as an “anthem for the outcasts.” Jennings added, “Working with such an iconic band has been awesome, and now we’re hitting the road together across Europe.”

The writing and production of the album involved a number of collaborators. Most of the songs were written by Ylönen with Desmond Child and Marti Fredriksen in Greece. The band then worked on demos in Finland before recording the final tracks in Nashville at Fredriksen’s Sienna Studios. Additional mixing and production work was handled by Chris Baseford, Claudius Mittendorfer, and Joseph McQueen.

In July, The Rasmus performed as the sole foreign artist at the Atlas Festival in Ukraine, a charity event that drew over 110,000 attendees. The festival had comprehensive security measures in place. The event raised over $2.5 million for Ukraine’s air defenses. Ylönen said of the experience, “Going back to Ukraine really hit us hard. The people there are just incredible. Their strength, their spirit, the way they come together…it’s powerful to see and even more powerful to feel.”

The band is set to continue their “Weirdo Tour” across Europe this fall, with additional dates for 2026 being announced. They recently concluded a North American tour with The Funeral Portrait.