'Rock City makes hairs on back of the neck stand up'

Life at the moment is good. Obviously, we have recently released our new album Weirdo so as you can imagine this is a very busy time for us. I am currently doing interviews all day every day but yes, life is good. We are all excited about the forthcoming tour where we will be going to some very cool places including Nottingham - right?

- Lauri Johannes Ylönen, singer, songwriter and frontman with Finnish band The Rasmus, talks to KEVIN COOPER

Are you happy with the new album?

I am very happy. In fact, I have to say that it is far better than I was expecting it to be. I was happy with the songs as they were written, which is for me the most important. We really did spend the time making sure that they were just right. Having said that, when it came to the production, we felt that in a couple of places the whole thing felt a bit flat, so we did them over and over until we were all satisfied with the end product. But most of all I was really happy with the chemistry within the band.

You mention the chemistry but it's not always been like that, has it?