Formed in 1991, heavy metal band Rust spearheaded Finland's hard rock scene, with their full-blooded rhythms, fierce guitar riffs, catchy choruses and booming vocals. The band's driving force, singer and bass player Mikko Herranen, a finalist in 'The Voice of Finland' TV talent show, is a gifted multi-instrumentalist from Otava who was learning piano at the age of three and went on to study at the Helsinki Pop & Jazz Conservatory, mastering different elements of composition and production, as well as vocal technique.
Herranen formed Rust in 2001 with guitarists Arto 'Zenko' Kuronen and Kimmo Nissinen along with drummer Rainer 'Raikku' Tuomikanto. They based their style on the alternative rock and metal popular in the 1990s, but what made them stand out was a strong sense of melody and outstanding musicianship. Their first official release was 'The Black EP' in 2003; their popularity accelerated when a local radio station heavily promoted the track 'Down'. Their progress continued when their first single 'Miss You' was featured in the hit movie 'Addiction 3', while they pulled off a surprise hit and endless airplay with a cover of Duran Duran's 'Ordinary World' as their second single.
In 2004 they achieved more success with their acclaimed debut album 'Softly', followed by 'Songs of Suffocation' in 2006 and 'Dark Deep Times' in 2010, with Herranen being the focal point as singer, songwriter and producer throughout their time together. Herranen then took the decision to launch his solo career and Rust played their farewell show in Helsinki in 2011.
