By Melody L. Goh
FIVE years ago, a young Finnish band played to a packed house at a small club in Kuala Lumpur. People didn't really know who the band was, but its single In the Shadows really hit a chord with the crowd. Today, In the Shadows can still be heard regularly, and that says a lot about the popularity of the song. However, the band did not really enjoy the same popularity. The Rasmus, arguably one of "Finland's best rock exports" is back with a new album called Black Roses. The band enlisted the help of top producer and hitmaker Desmond Child for this one and the result is a mixed bag of alternative rock with a distinct European accent. Some songs are catchy, but they're not exactly in the same vein as In the Shadows. Highlights include Ten Black Roses, Dangerous Kind, Lost and Lonely, Run to You and Livin' in a World Without You.