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Black Roses

After months of delay, the long-awaited Black Roses is finally here. Released in Scandinavia, Estonia and Denmark on the 24th September, it is due for international release on the 29th. A lot of work has gone into this album, explaining the delays, to make sure it was just perfect. And it must be said that the high expectations have definitely been met; they don't say 'lucky number seven' for nothing.

The Black Rose featured in the music video for 'Livin' In A World Without You' was originally designed by the band's front man, Lauri Ylönen, and re-designed the 3D by Mikko Eronen. In a recent interview, posted on the Black Roses community (official fan site), Ylönen says that the rose is supposed to be like a compass, the fifth point pointing to the unknown. The song itself, 'Livin' In A World Without You', is about escaping from a relationship, where the person was just being used to get what the other desired, as portrayed in the video.

'Ten Black Roses', a beautiful song, was one of the first to be performed live from the album at the NRJ Park in Berlin, on July 5th, along with 'Livin' In A World Without You'. The album quality of 'Ten Black Roses' is more detailed than the live version found on YouTube, as it has no doubt been perfected in the studio.

The lack of heavy guitar work, like that on the band's previous album, is made up for by mesmerising melodies and sentimental lyrics. The band portray a new genre in this album, "Death Pop". However 'The Fight' stands out from the other songs on the albums, beginning much more heavily, with a 'First Day Of My Life' (Dead Letters - 2003)-like opening, leading into a 'Sail Away' (Hide From The Sun - 2005)sounding chorus.

The tear-jerker 'Justify' is set to be the second single released from Black Roses. There is no news as of yet about a video but hopefully there should be soon. 'Live Forever', another tear-jerker, seems to tell the story of love that has died, with painful memories still remaining; a piano intro and ending giving it that melancholic tone. As second to last track, it mirrors songs 'Last Waltz' (Into - 2000) and 'Funeral Song' (Dead Letters).

The tracks on the album were chosen out of 30 possible, others which may feature as B-sides on upcoming singles. With a lighter sound and deeper lyrics, this album can be describes as nothing less than a masterpiece, as if a harsh sound is made up for in the lyrics, in a 'sticks and stones' sense. The band is said to start their world tour in 2009, which will no doubt be a spectacular show for gig-goers, if 'Live Letters' (DVD) and videos on YouTube of live performances are anything to go by. The genres The Rasmus experiment with can all be heard on Black Roses and all mesh perfectly.

It seems as though the waiting has paid off and fans, old and more recent, should most certainly not be disappointed. Truly amazing work.