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Rolo Tomassi

From Alfawiki
Rolo Tomassi
Company typeBand
IndustryMusic
Founded2005 in Sheffield, United Kingdom
Headquarters
Sheffield
,
United Kingdom
ProductsMusic albums, live performances

Rolo Tomassi is a mathcore group originating from Sheffield, United Kingdom, established in 2005. Their name derives from a quote in the movie L.A. Confidential. Renowned for their intense and disorderly sound combined with a dedicated DIY philosophy, they are presently signed to MNRK Heavy.

The band initially released two albums through Hassle Records: Hysterics in 2008 and Cosmology in 2010, which was produced by Diplo. In 2011, they created their own label, Destination Moon, under which they issued the compilation Eternal Youth and their third studio album, Astraea (2012), coinciding with the first change in their lineup. Their following releases include Grievances (2015) and Time Will Die and Love Will Bury It (2018), both on Holy Roar Records, culminating with their sixth album, Where Myth Becomes Memory (2022), released via MNRK Heavy.

Formation and the Mayday! label era (2005–2008)

Prior to forming Rolo Tomassi, Eva Korman (née Spence) performed as a keyboardist in a garage band but shifted to aggressive vocal duties when a singer was needed. She had been collaborating musically with her brother James Spence since their early adolescence. The band came together in February 2005 in Stocksbridge, embracing a hands-on DIY approach by crafting their initial releases themselves and organizing grassroots performances. Eva moved from keyboard playing to lead vocals due to challenges finding a dedicated singer.

Their earliest shows were held at local venues before small crowds. Their first recordings appeared on a three-track demo CD sold at gigs through James Spence’s independent label, Mayday!, which released eight records in total. Following a split EP with Mirror! Mirror! limited to 333 copies, Rolo Tomassi signed with Holy Roar Records and issued a self-titled EP featuring both re-recorded and new material.

One of their initial significant performances was supporting Bring Me the Horizon in February 2005 at Sheffield’s Classic Rock Bar.

Hysterics and Cosmology period (2008–2011)

In June 2008, Rolo Tomassi earned a slot at Download Festival. Their debut album, Hysterics, came out in September that year. To promote it, they toured as opening acts for Pulled Apart By Horses across the UK and supported Jane's Addiction during their US dates.

In 2009, the band introduced their "Subs Club" series—quarterly 7" vinyl singles featuring cover versions and remixes—including a split release with Throats. Early that year, they toured alongside Fucked Up and The Bronx on the Shred Yr Face 2 tour. They also appeared at South by Southwest, where American producer Thomas Pentz (Diplo) took notice of them, publicly commending their work before offering to produce their sophomore album. To accommodate Diplo’s availability, the band accelerated writing sessions for the new record.

Recording for their second album took place in October 2009 at a discreet yet well-equipped Los Angeles studio. Like its predecessor Hysterics, the visual artwork was created by Simon Moody. The recording process concluded on October 31, leading to the May 2010 release of Cosmology. The band regarded this album as an advancement over their debut, addressing earlier limitations. Diplo contributed production enhancements without co-writing tracks and influenced Eva Spence’s vocal style by encouraging techniques inspired by female artists he had previously worked with such as M.I.A. and Santigold. Frequently, songs were demoed with Eva independently interpreting vocal parts.

During 2010, Rolo Tomassi performed on the Ronnie James Dio Stage at Download Festival and appeared at the NME/Radio 1 tent during the Reading and Leeds events in August. James Spence referred to Download as their largest performance up to that point. In June of that year, they hinted at releasing a collection compiling early recordings. On August 7, they played at the Hevy Music Festival near Folkestone. Between October and November, they supported The Dillinger Escape Plan on a UK tour. A December London show planned for documentary filming and live recording was canceled due to Eva Spence’s illness; this UK tour was rescheduled for May.

Launching their own imprint Destination Moon Records, Rolo Tomassi issued Eternal Youth, an anthology featuring rare tracks including acoustic versions, remixes, and a cover of Throats material. This release was accompanied by a brief UK tour in May 2011—their sole touring activity that year. On July 8, they headlined the Red Bull Bedroom Jam Stage at Sonisphere. The band expressed interest in collaborating with producers Anthony Gonzalez (M83) or Kurt Ballou (Converge) for their upcoming third album but noted songwriting was still in early stages with only two tracks completed focusing on themes of introspection.

Astraea (2012–2013)

In an interview with Kerrang!, Eva Korman revealed that the band took on production duties for their third album themselves, collaborating again with Jason Sanderson, who had previously produced Hysterics. This record was characterized as "heavier and more straightforward" while still incorporating experimental aspects. Initially, a release was planned for May. In February 2012, Rolo Tomassi made the single "Old Mystics" available for free streaming, with a release date set for 26 March; it was later clarified that this track would stand alone as a single. The lineup saw the addition of two new members: Chris Cayford (vocals), formerly of No Coast, and Nathan Fairweather (bass), who came from Brontide. They replaced Joseph Thorpe and Joe Nicholson, who left due to personal conflicts and educational commitments.

The group supported Architects on a 14-date tour across the UK and announced plans to enter the studio in June, aiming for an album release in October. Following this, they embarked on an 11-date UK headline tour in late October, supported by Oathbreaker and Goodtime Boys. On 16 August 2012, the album’s title, Astraea, along with a release date of 5 November, was officially announced.

In May 2013, Rolo Tomassi toured the UK alongside Bastions, offering tickets priced at £5. On 31 August, they headlined the first-ever Bridgwater music festival named Morbid Mash Up. September saw them perform at three shows during Japan's Reverberation Festival. Immediately afterwards, they completed a 13-date tour in Australia with Totally Unicorn, Safe Hands, and Stockades—marking their first Australian performances since 2010.

Grievances and Time Will Die And Love Will Bury It (2014–2019)

Rolo Tomassi took a break from releasing new material in 2014 but announced a UK tour featuring Brontide as well as a split EP with Stockades. Their fourth studio album, Grievances, was released on 1 June 2015 through Holy Roar Records, with distribution in the United States handled by Ipecac Recordings. That same June, their rendition of Deftones' "Digital Bath" was included on Kerrang!'s compilation titled Ultimate Rock Heroes.

The band’s touring schedule in 2017 was limited to select UK festival appearances while they teased upcoming work via the website lovewillburyit.com. On 5 November, they debuted the single "Rituals" on BBC Radio 1, accompanied by a music video. Prior to this release, on 4 November, they headlined a London concert at the Borderline, where they premiered both "Rituals" and "The Hollow Hour". In December, Rolo Tomassi served as support for The Number Twelve Looks Like You during their US anniversary tour.

Their fifth album, titled Time Will Die And Love Will Bury It, was released on 2 March 2018 through Holy Roar Records. The recording sessions took place at The Ranch studio in Southampton with producer Lewis Johns. The album was followed by tours across the UK and Europe. Receiving widespread critical praise, it achieved a score of 92 out of 100 on Metacritic, making it the second highest-rated album released in 2018.

During the summer of 2018, Rolo Tomassi performed at various European festivals and completed a six-date UK tour alongside Blood Command and Cassus. Later that year, they also toured the United States once more in support of The Number Twelve Looks Like You.

Eva Spence provided guest vocals on The Number Twelve Looks Like You’s comeback album from 2019, Wild Gods, where she is credited under her birth name Eva Korman in the physical edition.

Where Myth Becomes Memory (2020–present)

On 8 September 2020, the group severed ties with Holy Roar Records in the wake of sexual misconduct allegations directed at the label's proprietor, Alex Fitzpatrick.

The recording sessions for their album Where Myth Becomes Memory mainly occurred at The Ranch studio in Southampton, with the exception of vocalist Korman, who laid down his parts in Bergen County, New Jersey. On 17 August 2021, Rolo Tomassi unveiled the single "Cloaked" and revealed their new partnership with MNRK Heavy. This release was succeeded by the November 2021 single "Drip," which coincided with the announcement of the album’s title. A third track, "Closer," was issued in January 2022. The full album was officially released on 4 February 2022.

Musical style

Rolo Tomassi’s sound resists straightforward genre labeling due to their deliberate avoidance of stylistic confinement. Frequently likened to "a polished chrome King Crimson for the 21st Century," they are predominantly identified within the mathcore genre, noted for intricate arrangements featuring uncommon time signatures such as 9/8 and 13/8 alongside polyrhythmic percussion. Their musical palette incorporates elements from grindcore, progressive, alternative rock, experimental rock, post-metal, post-hardcore, progressive hardcore, progressive rock, and screamo. Despite occasional use of 8-bit synthesizers, the band distances themselves from the Nintendocore classification.

The ensemble employs dual vocalists to create a layered auditory experience. Eva Spence’s soprano vocal range transitions seamlessly from gentle melodic passages to powerful screams, drawing parallels to artists like Alison Goldfrapp and Elizabeth Fraser.

Early releases including Hysterics and Cosmology merged jazz-inflected breakdowns with explosive mathcore and ethereal experimental textures. Their compilation Eternal Youth provides a retrospective overview of their artistic development since 2005.

Their third studio effort, Astraea, incorporated influences from pop, ambient music, shoegaze, and space rock—earning the playful descriptor "cosmic-core." The album’s title pays homage to the Greek deity Astraea and reflects the Spence siblings' fascination with mythology. Tracks such as "Old Mystics" and "The Scales of Balance" evoke themes associated with Astraea’s mythical "Golden Age."

The following three albums form a conceptual trilogy. After the comparatively lighter mood of Astraea, their fourth album Grievances adopts a more somber tone enriched by piano and violin arrangements; guitarist Chris Crayford described it as "moody and full of pain." The fifth release Time Will Die and Love Will Bury It maintains this darker atmosphere but introduces a more ethereal quality. Crayford characterizes Where Myth Becomes Memory as "direct, focused, and considered."

Influences

Rolo Tomassi draws creative inspiration from diverse genres including screamo, classical, jazz, and progressive rock. Their key influences include Blood Brothers, Brian Eno, Cardiacs, jazz legend John Coltrane, Converge, Goldfrapp, the Dillinger Escape Plan, King Crimson, the Locust, and the Mars Volta. Among these, Dillinger Escape Plan stands out as a significant influence; Edward Dutton noted that this band is frequently cited by members as an important reference point. Their compositional approach is also shaped by The Mars Volta’s fragmented song structures.

Ryan Bird of Rock Sound emphasized At the Drive-In’s album Relationship of Command as a formative influence that broadened mainstream acceptance for confrontational independent rock acts and paved the way for bands like Rolo Tomassi. James Spence expressed his admiration for At the Drive-In’s experimental sonic textures and intricate lyrics, which have informed Rolo Tomassi’s own artistic direction. Additionally, touring alongside groups such as Gojira and Loathe has further impacted their heavier musical elements.

Live performances

The group has garnered acclaim for their dynamic stage presence, with members characterized as "wild hardcore acrobats." James Spence remarked that even those unfamiliar with their sound tend to appreciate their concerts, underscoring the band's commitment to creating an enjoyable experience for the audience. Hannah Ewens of Noisey emphasized lead vocalist Eva Korman's commanding presence on stage, noting her movements as simultaneously fierce and graceful.

As their skills advanced, the band began delivering tracks from their debut album Hysterics at accelerated speeds around the time their second album was released. After changes in the lineup, Spence utilized guitar tabs and his expertise to instruct newcomers Chris Cayford and Nathan Fairweather on earlier compositions. Drummer Tom Pitts reflected that the band's initial live performances were more "punk-inspired" with unconventional rhythms, while recent shows prioritize accuracy, incorporating a click track to maintain timing during drumming.

Current members

  • Eva Korman – lead vocals (2005–present)
  • James Spence – keyboards, piano, synthesizers, backing and lead vocals (2005–present)
  • Chris Cayford – guitar (2012–present)
  • Nathan Fairweather – bass guitar (2012–present)
  • Al Pott – drums (2018–present)

Former members

  • Joseph Thorpe – bass guitar (2005–2011)
  • Joe Nicholson – guitar (2005–2011)
  • Edward Dutton – drums (2005–2013)
  • Tom Pitts – drums, backing vocals (2014–2018)

Studio albums

External links

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