The album Weirdo (2025) is The Rasmus’ 11th full-length outing, produced and co-written by Desmond Child and Marti Fredriksen. The band was formed in 1994 while the members were still in high school. Their debut, Peep, rapidly went gold in Finland, making them rock stars at the age of 16. The follow-up, Playboys, also went gold and earned the group an Emma, Finland’s version of a Grammy. Their third album, Hell of a Tester, included “Liquid,” a track voted Best Single of the Year by Finnish music critics. 2001’s Into went double platinum, with its debut single, “F-F-F-Falling,” topping the charts. An international audience started to build, and the band toured Europe. Their fifth album, Dead Letters (2003), became their breakthrough, due in large part to the single “In the Shadows.” 2005’s Hide from the Sun went platinum in Finland. Their fourth Finnish chart-topper, Black Roses, was released in 2008, also produced by Desmond Child. After the Best of The Rasmus: 2001–2009 compilation, they released their self-titled eighth album in 2012. The band returned in 2017 with Dark Matters. In January 2022, they announced the departure of founding guitarist Pauli Rantasalmi and introduced new guitarist Emilia ‘Emppu’ Suhonen. The album Rise was released the same year, including “Jezebel,” Finland’s entry in the Eurovision competition. The Rasmus are vocalist Lauri Ylönen, bassist Eero Heinonen, guitarist Emppu Suhonen, and drummer Aki Hakala.
Saint Agnes
Hailing from London, Saint Agnes seek to carve a rebellious path through the industrial wreckage of modern alternative metal with a signature sound inspired by the intensity of Nine Inch Nails, the genre-bending chaos of Poppy and the euphoric, cinematic story telling of Lorde; music for the club, the stage, the void inside, it is deliberate, elegant and seductive. Their new album Your God Fearing Days Are About To Begin, is out via Spinefarm Records on October 31st.
Saint Agnes is fronted by Kitty A. Austen, the band’s creative axis, whose voice, vision and volatility shape every inch of their evolving world. Leading from the front, she channels beauty and brutality in equal measure, spearheading the band’s reputation for intense and chaotic live shows, striking visuals, plus a sound that’s heavy, hypnotic and unrepentantly dark. Never playing by the rules, here is a group that feels connected to the now, whilst striving to create art with the depth to be timeless.
Saint Agnes have built a loyal following off the back of two EPs, two critically acclaimed studio albums, and over 12 million Spotify streams. With strong support from BBC Radio 1 and explosive mainstage sets at Download, 2000trees and Hellfest, as well as appearances at Rock for People, IOW Festival, Great Escape and Reeperbahn Festival, the band have proved their power live, including sold-out, riotous headline shows around the UK.
Death Valley Dreams
Formed amidst the stark landscapes of small town,Pennsylvania, Death Valley Dreams is an electrifying indie alternative/synth rock band that thrives on channeling the melancholically captivating aura of their surroundings. Despite hailing from what has been dubbed the “least happy place to live in the US,” the band overcomes this hurdle by weaving the essence of their environment into their music, creating a soundscape that resonates with raw, unfiltered emotional intensity; a sonic repertoire defined by a hypnotic blend of haunting melodies, introspective lyrics, textured guitars and synth- driven arrangements.
Their music not only provides an evocative soundtrack for those seeking solace from the weight of life’s trials but also stands as a testament to the transformative power of art born through adversity. With their music, Death Valley Dreams forms a bond with the listener, forcing one to embrace the darker shades of the human experience; reminding all that like a rose growing from a sidewalk crack, beauty can flourish and inspire in even the most desolate of places
