It seems that over the past year, Rolo Tomassi have become a fashionable name to drop, with even the likes of the NME and Vice showing them no end of love. Not that the Sheffield quintet don’t deserve such love, mind; but you have to wonder how many hangers-on will embrace such a twisted, schizophrenic beast of an album as ‘Hysterics‘.
They will if they know what’s good for them, though, because it’s an awesome debut. One that swings from melancholic calm to sheer sonic warfare, and from beauty to savagery – often within the same song. This lot specialise unholy hybrid of twinkling electronics, metallic bludgeon, and all-out hardcore fury, and they spit it out in the form of surprisingly addictive nuggets like ‘Abraxas‘ and ‘Everything Went Grey‘. Hats off to vocalist Eva Spence for her cold croon and spine-chilling roars. That’s versatility.
It’s progressive in the best sense of the word, and – as you’d imagine from a band who count Gallows, 65daysofstatic and Horse The Band amongst their former tour mates – it makes for uneasy (but ultimately rewarding) listening. Check out the track ‘Fofteen‘ on the link above and decide for yourself.
They’ve just been confirmed for the second leg of the ‘Shred Yr Face‘ tour, alongside The Bronx and Fucked Up. Come join the fun at the following shows:
Feb 26th – Leeds Cockpit
Feb 27th – Glasgow Garage
Feb 28th – Manchester Club Academy
Mar 2nd – Cardiff Clwb Ifor Bach
Mar 3rd – Nottingham Rescue Rooms
Mar 4th – London Electric Ballroom
Mar 5th – Brighton Concorde 2
Mar 6th – Birmingham Academy
Alex Gosman