Song of the Day - Shadows of the Damned

Today's song of the day comes from Finnish rock band The Rasmus. The Rasmus have been around for 20 years and have made 8 full albums - no mean feat. However, a lot of their music is - for me - not great and a little bizarre. They are a lot bigger than I originally thought, probably due to their presence within their native land.

However, all that average music is forgotten when you make one masterpiece; this is In The Shadows:

So What's So Good?

The opening of this song is so distinctive and different, with that high pitched guitar and the wailing vocals. That's not a bad thing - those vocals are what set the song apart and something that is catchy. It's different and it sounds really unusual and slightly haunting. The video helps with the haunting theme, but the song is eerie even without the visuals.

Musically, the song is a strong rock song. It's not something particularly 'out there' but it's a slightly atypical dark rock song, due to the slightly 'pop-py' feel to the song. It's unsurprising that it's a little unorthodox, as The Rasmus' music is generally slightly happier, both lyrically and musically. 

I personally feel that people make the best music when they sing about something negative (yes, that sounds a little creepy and emo, but roll with it). Look at bands like Nirvana, who were consistently unhappy. There's an entire genre dedicated to Blues, which of course is about being unhappy (generally). In The Shadows is no different - it's one of Rasmus' few downbeat songs. The singer, Lauri Yloenen, said that he was depressed when he wrote it, whereas most of the stuff he had a bit more of a positive outlook on life.

If you've never heard this song, then you should listen immediately. If you have, here's a reminder that it exists and it's awesome.