Gothic look, Finnish pop rock

The Rasmus

Dead Letters

Interscope Records

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The Rasmus

Dead Letters

Interscope Records

Recommended if you like: Jimmy Eat World or Linkin Park

Who are The Rasmus? Just ask someone from Finland. The Finns seemed to have caught on to them in 1999 and 2000, when they awarded them four Finnish Grammys. Their breakthrough record has gone platinum and their new release, Dead Letters, is one of the first records they are trying to promote in the United States. Their incredibly infectious rock sounds are something that could easily have done the same in the United States.

In 1996, they released their first album, Peep, which quickly went gold. Since then, they have been taking the European music scene by storm, releasing another album, Playboys, in 1997, which also instantly went gold. They switched record labels and released Into in 2001, which was greeted with the same warm reception

Having played in front of crowds of 40,000 people with the bands Garbage, Roxette, HIM and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Rasmus are used to roaring crowds and have always been well-received. Now, with their release Dead Letters, they are ready to show the United States what they are all about.

The Rasmus have one of the catchiest rock sounds I have heard in a while — they are Linkin Park gone pop. They have the combination of techno backgrounds with heavy guitar — just with a lot less anger and angst. With their combinations of infectious choruses and sing-along lyrics, you will find yourself humming long after you hear the album.

Their first single, “In The Shadows,” is a good introduction to their sound. The vocals of lead singer Lauri Ylonen have a very boyish, youthful quality to them, and this track is where his vocals are best displayed.

Their most melodic track, “Funeral Song,” combines slow, rhythmic guitar and violins to create a gothic and epic feel to this sad ballad. Its only flaw is that it stops abruptly before you want the song to be over.

They also put an added bonus onto the album by adding their most popular song in Finland, from the album Into, called “F-F-F- Falling,” which is a combination of retro ’80s synthesized backgrounds and heavy guitar riffs. After listening to it, you can hear why it was No. 1 in the Finnish sales charts for three months.

The Rasmus album is a great collection of pop rock songs. But don’t let their Gothic look fool you — they are contagious rock songs with a slight touch of emo that I think the United States will accept with open arms.