Rolo Tomassi
Encyclopedia
Rolo Tomassi are a British mathcore
band from Sheffield
, England. Their name is taken from the fictional character in the film L.A. Confidential
. On 22 September 2008, the band released their debut album, Hysterics
, through Hassle Records.
CD which they could sell at the shows they were performing at. The demo CD-R was released under James Spence's (keyboardist/vocalist) independent label which he named "Mayday!". There are 8 releases under this label. After a split EP with Mirror! Mirror! (limited to 333 copies and released through Speedowax) the band signed to Holy Roar Records
and released a self-titled EP featuring re-recorded songs from previous demos and EPs along with new songs.
. The band was featured in the February 2009 edition of Rock Sound
, with singer Eva Spence appearing on the cover along with The Bronx
and Fucked Up
as part of the magazine's Shred Yr Face 2 tour. The band played the SXSW festival in Austin, Texas in March 2009. On 29 June James Spence revealed that recording of the follow-up album to Hysterics
would commence during the summer of 2009. The band also performed at Underage Festival and Sonisphere during August 2009. On 14 August 2009 it was announced that Rolo Tomassi will be playing the Australian music festival Soundwave in 2010 alongside bands Faith No More, Meshuggah, Alexisonfire and Jane's Addiction. They also played sideshows in Melbourne and Sydney as a support act to Jane's Addiction.
Towards the end of October 2009, the band flew to LA to record their second album. Artwork for their second album is, like Hysterics, designed by Simon Moody. Recording finished on 31 October and the album is due for release in March 2010. In early February 2010, it was announced their second album would be titled Cosmology
and was due for release on 19 April 2010. In interviews, the band revealed they were working with American DJ/producer Diplo. The album has since been pushed back to 24 May. On release, Cosmology
debuted at number 183 on the UK album chart.
The band played on the Ronnie James Dio Stage at Download Festival and played on the NME/Radio 1 tent at Reading and Leeds
in August 2010. In the band's blog in June 2010 it was written that there may eventually be a Discography styled release in the future which will allows people to hear all of the bands material released before the Rolo Tomassi EP
. On 7 August 2010 they played at the Hevy Music Festival
near Folkestone
, England. Throughout October and November 2010 Rolo Tomassi supported The Dillinger Escape Plan
on their UK tour. On 19 December 2010, they were to play a free gig at London's Bloomsbury Ballroom, the tickets were won through Rolo Tomassi's website. This was to be filmed to be released as part of a documentry for the band due in 2011. However, the show was cancelled due to the ill health of Eva Spence and so a new UK Tour had been announced for May.
On 18 april 2011, Rolo Tomassi released "Eternal Youth
" which is an anthology of rare and non-album material including acoustic versions, remixes of their own work by various artists and a cover of Throats
. This release was accompanied by a short list of tour dates across the UK in may 2011, these dates were confirmed to be the only tour date Rolo Tomassi would do in 2011. On 8 July 2011, Rolo Tomassi headlined the Red Bull Bedroom Jam Stage at Sonisphere. Rolo Tomassi has expressed interest in working with Anthony Gonzalez
or Kurt Ballou
respectively of M83
and Converge
as producers for the third album. As of July James Spence has stated that the third album has not progressed far enough for them to search for producers. James Spence also has stated that they, as of July have atleast two songs created, with a lyrical concept that sufaces as focuses on self reflection.
, jazzcore and experimental rock
. They have been identified as "falling somewhere between grindcore
, progressive
and alternative rock
". Their mathcore influence is noted in their huge influence from The Dillinger Escape Plan
. Their jazzcore style is shown in their use of jazz breakdowns and swapping chaotically between explosive mathcore, calm atmospheric experimental music
and acid-jazz. Their music is also noted for sharing traits with nintendocore
for the use of 8-bit synthesizers and in terms of chaos and sound. The compilation album Eternal Youth
by the band gave insight into their musical development since their inception in 2005 with their demos onto their latest b-side releases with Hassle records.
The band have also named several other diverse influences, such as Mew
, M83
, Meshuggah
, Botch
, Converge
, At the Drive-In
, Thursday
, Goblin
, Yo La Tengo
and The Dillinger Escape Plan
.
Mathcore
Mathcore is a rhythmically complex and dissonant fusion style of hardcore punk and Metal. It has its roots in bands such as Converge, Botch, and The Dillinger Escape Plan. The term mathcore is suggested by analogy with math rock. Both math rock and mathcore make use of unusual time signatures...
band from Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
, England. Their name is taken from the fictional character in the film L.A. Confidential
L.A. Confidential (film)
L.A. Confidential is a 1997 American film based on James Ellroy's 1990 novel of the same title, the third book in his L.A. Quartet. Both the book and the film tell the story of a group of LAPD officers in the 1950s, and the intersection of police corruption and Hollywood celebrity...
. On 22 September 2008, the band released their debut album, Hysterics
Hysterics (album)
Hysterics is the debut album by Rolo Tomassi recorded in spring 2008 and released on 22 September 2008. The album is Rolo Tomassi's first release on Hassle Records and features all new tracks. The album received an exclusive first review from Thrash Hits , who awarded the album a maximum score...
, through Hassle Records.
Early years and the Mayday! label (2005-2008)
The band formed in 2005. Not long after forming, the band had written some songs and immediately began to perform at local venues/pubs to small crowds. At this time, the band released some of their first material on to a 3 Track Demo3 Track Demo
The 3 Track Demo or the "First Demo" by Rolo Tomassi is a handmade demo CD-R recorded and released at the beginning of 2005 and was the first release on the band's own label; "Mayday". The entire CD-R was recorded inside Edward Dutton's shed....
CD which they could sell at the shows they were performing at. The demo CD-R was released under James Spence's (keyboardist/vocalist) independent label which he named "Mayday!". There are 8 releases under this label. After a split EP with Mirror! Mirror! (limited to 333 copies and released through Speedowax) the band signed to Holy Roar Records
Holy Roar Records
Holy Roar Records is an independent record label run by Alex Fitzpatrick and Ellen Godwin. The label began in January 2006 when they moved to London from Birmingham and put out their first release in June 2006, the Phoenix Bodies album 'Raise the Bullshit flag'. Since then Holy Roar Records has...
and released a self-titled EP featuring re-recorded songs from previous demos and EPs along with new songs.
Hysterics and Cosmology (2008 - Present)
In June 2008, Rolo Tomassi were given a spot at Download FestivalDownload Festival
The Download Festival is a three day rock music festival held annually at Donington Park, England . It usually takes place in June...
. The band was featured in the February 2009 edition of Rock Sound
Rock Sound
Rock Sound is a British magazine which champions rock music. The magazine aims at being more "underground" and less commercial, whilst also giving coverage to more well known acts.-History:...
, with singer Eva Spence appearing on the cover along with The Bronx
The Bronx (band)
The Bronx is an American hardcore punk band from Los Angeles formed in 2002. The band's current lineup consists of vocalist Matt Caughthran, guitarists Joby J. Ford and Ken Horne, bass guitarist Brad Magers, and drummer Jorma Vik...
and Fucked Up
Fucked Up
Fucked Up is a hardcore punk band from Toronto, Canada. The band won the 2009 Polaris Music Prize for the album The Chemistry of Common Life.-History:The band formed and played their first shows in early 2001...
as part of the magazine's Shred Yr Face 2 tour. The band played the SXSW festival in Austin, Texas in March 2009. On 29 June James Spence revealed that recording of the follow-up album to Hysterics
Hysterics (album)
Hysterics is the debut album by Rolo Tomassi recorded in spring 2008 and released on 22 September 2008. The album is Rolo Tomassi's first release on Hassle Records and features all new tracks. The album received an exclusive first review from Thrash Hits , who awarded the album a maximum score...
would commence during the summer of 2009. The band also performed at Underage Festival and Sonisphere during August 2009. On 14 August 2009 it was announced that Rolo Tomassi will be playing the Australian music festival Soundwave in 2010 alongside bands Faith No More, Meshuggah, Alexisonfire and Jane's Addiction. They also played sideshows in Melbourne and Sydney as a support act to Jane's Addiction.
Towards the end of October 2009, the band flew to LA to record their second album. Artwork for their second album is, like Hysterics, designed by Simon Moody. Recording finished on 31 October and the album is due for release in March 2010. In early February 2010, it was announced their second album would be titled Cosmology
Cosmology (album)
Cosmology is the second album by Rolo Tomassi, released on 24 May 2010. The album was supposed to be released on 19 April, but was pushed back by Hassle to 24 May 2010. The band had begun recording demos for the record within the first week of October 2009 and wasted no time in getting to record...
and was due for release on 19 April 2010. In interviews, the band revealed they were working with American DJ/producer Diplo. The album has since been pushed back to 24 May. On release, Cosmology
Cosmology (album)
Cosmology is the second album by Rolo Tomassi, released on 24 May 2010. The album was supposed to be released on 19 April, but was pushed back by Hassle to 24 May 2010. The band had begun recording demos for the record within the first week of October 2009 and wasted no time in getting to record...
debuted at number 183 on the UK album chart.
The band played on the Ronnie James Dio Stage at Download Festival and played on the NME/Radio 1 tent at Reading and Leeds
Reading and Leeds Festivals
The Reading and Leeds Festivals are a pair of annual music festivals that take place in Reading and Leeds in England. The events take place simultaneously on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the August bank holiday weekend, sharing the same bill. The Reading Festival is held at Little John's Farm...
in August 2010. In the band's blog in June 2010 it was written that there may eventually be a Discography styled release in the future which will allows people to hear all of the bands material released before the Rolo Tomassi EP
Rolo Tomassi EP
Rolo Tomassi EP is an Extended Play released by Rolo Tomassi in late 2006. The original five track EP was released by Holy Roar Records and featured some tracks which had appeared on previous demos and EPs. The Extended Play has since been re-released twice, both on Holy Roar Records...
. On 7 August 2010 they played at the Hevy Music Festival
Hevy Music Festival
Hevy Music Festival is a rock festival that takes place annually near Folkestone in the UK. It was originally held on 1 August 2009 on Folkestone seafront as a one-day festival with Feeder, Gary Numan and Ash as headliners. In 2010 it moved to Port Lympne Wild Animal Park and grew to a weekend...
near Folkestone
Folkestone
Folkestone is the principal town in the Shepway District of Kent, England. Its original site was in a valley in the sea cliffs and it developed through fishing and its closeness to the Continent as a landing place and trading port. The coming of the railways, the building of a ferry port, and its...
, England. Throughout October and November 2010 Rolo Tomassi supported The Dillinger Escape Plan
The Dillinger Escape Plan
The Dillinger Escape Plan is an American mathcore band from Morris Plains, New Jersey. The group originated in 1997 after the disbanding of Arcane, a hardcore punk trio consisting of Ben Weinman, Dimitri Minakakis, and Chris Pennie. The band's current line-up consists of guitarist Ben Weinman,...
on their UK tour. On 19 December 2010, they were to play a free gig at London's Bloomsbury Ballroom, the tickets were won through Rolo Tomassi's website. This was to be filmed to be released as part of a documentry for the band due in 2011. However, the show was cancelled due to the ill health of Eva Spence and so a new UK Tour had been announced for May.
On 18 april 2011, Rolo Tomassi released "Eternal Youth
Eternal Youth (Rolo Tomassi album)
Eternal Youth is the first compilation album by British mathcore band Rolo Tomassi. The first of these two CDs showcases their material from split extended plays and EP's, while the second disc is composed of early demos, remixes and acoustic tracks. The album was release on Destanation Moon...
" which is an anthology of rare and non-album material including acoustic versions, remixes of their own work by various artists and a cover of Throats
Throats
Throats were a band that formed in Spalding, England, in 2007. Starting out, their music was very raw, fast and straightforward Hardcore. Over the years their musical ideas developed and they began to incorporate elements of doom, crust, d-beat and sludge metal which resulted in a very dissonant...
. This release was accompanied by a short list of tour dates across the UK in may 2011, these dates were confirmed to be the only tour date Rolo Tomassi would do in 2011. On 8 July 2011, Rolo Tomassi headlined the Red Bull Bedroom Jam Stage at Sonisphere. Rolo Tomassi has expressed interest in working with Anthony Gonzalez
Anthony Gonzalez
Anthony E. Gonzalez is an American football wide receiver for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Colts in the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at Ohio State.-Early years:Gonzalez attended St...
or Kurt Ballou
Kurt Ballou
Kurt Ballou is the guitarist from Massachusetts-based band Converge. Aside from his role in Converge, he is a prolific producer, engineering and producing out of his own Godcity studio.- GodCity studio :...
respectively of M83
M83 (band)
M83 is a musical act by French musician Anthony Gonzalez. It is named after a spiral galaxy, Messier 83. The band was founded in 2001 by Gonzalez and former member Nicolas Fromageau in Antibes, France...
and Converge
Converge
Converge is a word denoting the coming together of at least two things. It may also refer to:* Converge , a metal/hardcore punk band from Massachusetts* Converge PL, a programming language...
as producers for the third album. As of July James Spence has stated that the third album has not progressed far enough for them to search for producers. James Spence also has stated that they, as of July have atleast two songs created, with a lyrical concept that sufaces as focuses on self reflection.
Musical style
Their music has been difficult to classify simply because of the band's resistance to being identified with one single genre. They typically have been acknowledged as being mathcoreMathcore
Mathcore is a rhythmically complex and dissonant fusion style of hardcore punk and Metal. It has its roots in bands such as Converge, Botch, and The Dillinger Escape Plan. The term mathcore is suggested by analogy with math rock. Both math rock and mathcore make use of unusual time signatures...
, jazzcore and experimental rock
Experimental rock
Experimental rock or avant-garde rock is a type of music based on rock which experiments with the basic elements of the genre, or which pushes the boundaries of common composition and performance technique....
. They have been identified as "falling somewhere between grindcore
Grindcore
Grindcore is an extreme genre of music that started in the early- to mid-1980s. It draws inspiration from some of the most abrasive music genres – including death metal, industrial music, noise and the more extreme varieties of hardcore punk....
, progressive
Progressive
Progressive is an adjectival form of progress and may refer to:-Politics:* Progressivism, a political ideology* Progressive Era, a period of reform in the United States Progressive is an adjectival form of progress and may refer to:-Politics:* Progressivism, a political ideology* Progressive Era, a...
and alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
". Their mathcore influence is noted in their huge influence from The Dillinger Escape Plan
The Dillinger Escape Plan
The Dillinger Escape Plan is an American mathcore band from Morris Plains, New Jersey. The group originated in 1997 after the disbanding of Arcane, a hardcore punk trio consisting of Ben Weinman, Dimitri Minakakis, and Chris Pennie. The band's current line-up consists of guitarist Ben Weinman,...
. Their jazzcore style is shown in their use of jazz breakdowns and swapping chaotically between explosive mathcore, calm atmospheric experimental music
Experimental music
Experimental music refers, in the English-language literature, to a compositional tradition which arose in the mid-20th century, applied particularly in North America to music composed in such a way that its outcome is unforeseeable. Its most famous and influential exponent was John Cage...
and acid-jazz. Their music is also noted for sharing traits with nintendocore
Nintendocore
Nintendocore is a music genre that fuses aggressive styles of modern rock with chiptune and video game music...
for the use of 8-bit synthesizers and in terms of chaos and sound. The compilation album Eternal Youth
Eternal Youth (Rolo Tomassi album)
Eternal Youth is the first compilation album by British mathcore band Rolo Tomassi. The first of these two CDs showcases their material from split extended plays and EP's, while the second disc is composed of early demos, remixes and acoustic tracks. The album was release on Destanation Moon...
by the band gave insight into their musical development since their inception in 2005 with their demos onto their latest b-side releases with Hassle records.
The band have also named several other diverse influences, such as Mew
Mew (band)
Mew is a Danish alternative music band consisting of Jonas Bjerre, Bo Madsen, and Silas Utke Graae Jørgensen. Bassist Johan Wohlert was also a founding member of the band, but left in 2006...
, M83
M83
M83 or M-83 may refer to:* Messier 83, a spiral galaxy in the constellation Hydra* M83 , an electronic or shoegazing music group named after the galaxy** M83 , the debut album of the M83 music group...
, Meshuggah
Meshuggah
Meshuggah is an extreme metal band from Umeå, Sweden, formed in 1987. Meshuggah's line-up has primarily consisted of founding members vocalist Jens Kidman and lead guitarist Fredrik Thordendal, drummer Tomas Haake, who joined in 1990, and rhythm guitarist Mårten Hagström, who joined in 1992...
, Botch
Botch (band)
Botch was a four-piece mathcore band from Tacoma, Washington, United States, that formed in 1993 and disbanded in 2002.-History:The band released two full-length albums and a handful of smaller releases including several singles and an EP. Its members went on an indefinite hiatus to form Roy,...
, Converge
Converge (band)
Converge is an American band from Salem, Massachusetts. Playing a blend of hardcore punk and metal since 1990, Converge has helped to define many of the elements of the metalcore genre.-Description:...
, At the Drive-In
At the Drive-In
At the Drive-In was an American rock band from El Paso, Texas, considered part of the post-hardcore genre and active from 1993 to 2001. They were known for their extremely energetic stage shows which hearkened back to the 1980s hardcore scene...
, Thursday
Thursday (band)
Thursday were an American rock band from New Brunswick, New Jersey. Formed in 1997, the group has released six full-length albums, their most recent being No Devolución, which was released in April 2011 on Epitaph Records...
, Goblin
Goblin (band)
Goblin are an Italian progressive rock band known for their soundtracks for Dario Argento films ....
, Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo, sometimes abbreviated as YLT, is an American alternative rock band formed in Hoboken, New Jersey in 1984. Since 1992, the lineup has consisted of Ira Kaplan , Georgia Hubley , and James McNew .Despite achieving limited mainstream success, Yo La Tengo has been called "the quintessential...
and The Dillinger Escape Plan
The Dillinger Escape Plan
The Dillinger Escape Plan is an American mathcore band from Morris Plains, New Jersey. The group originated in 1997 after the disbanding of Arcane, a hardcore punk trio consisting of Ben Weinman, Dimitri Minakakis, and Chris Pennie. The band's current line-up consists of guitarist Ben Weinman,...
.
Members
- Edward Dutton - Drums (2005–present)
- Joe Nicholson - Lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
(2005–present) - Eva Spence - Lead vocals (2005–present)
- James Spence - SynthesizerSynthesizerA synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
, Vocals (2005–present) - Joseph Thorpe - Bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(2005–present)
Studio albums
| Year | Album details |
|---|---|
| 2008 | Hysterics Hysterics (album) Hysterics is the debut album by Rolo Tomassi recorded in spring 2008 and released on 22 September 2008. The album is Rolo Tomassi's first release on Hassle Records and features all new tracks. The album received an exclusive first review from Thrash Hits , who awarded the album a maximum score...
|
| 2010 | Cosmology Cosmology (album) Cosmology is the second album by Rolo Tomassi, released on 24 May 2010. The album was supposed to be released on 19 April, but was pushed back by Hassle to 24 May 2010. The band had begun recording demos for the record within the first week of October 2009 and wasted no time in getting to record... |
Singles
| Year | Title | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | "I Love Turbulence" | Hysterics Hysterics (album) Hysterics is the debut album by Rolo Tomassi recorded in spring 2008 and released on 22 September 2008. The album is Rolo Tomassi's first release on Hassle Records and features all new tracks. The album received an exclusive first review from Thrash Hits , who awarded the album a maximum score... |
| 2010 | "Party Wounds Party Wounds "Party Wounds" is a single released on 7" vinyl by Rolo Tomassi via their "2010 subs club". The track is taken from the band's second album 'Cosmology'. The vinyl itself is clear blue and concealed inside a plastic sleeve with a purple label attached. They later pressed an alternative purple 7" of... " |
Cosmology Cosmology (album) Cosmology is the second album by Rolo Tomassi, released on 24 May 2010. The album was supposed to be released on 19 April, but was pushed back by Hassle to 24 May 2010. The band had begun recording demos for the record within the first week of October 2009 and wasted no time in getting to record... |