This is what appears to be the new generation of hardcore kids, making more than just the same old average noise. This is so much more than a side parting and tight jeans, drop D guitars and a whole load of screaming. This music is a new wave of intelligence.
Enter Rolo Tomassi. Five young kids from Sheffield, born towards the end of a thriving local hardcore scene. But how can you compete when bands like Bring Me The Horizon! live down the road and are making so much progress…? You set off on your own path, to find your own setting and then you stand up and make yourself heard. And that’s what Rolo Tomassi have done. Enter noise-core, jazz-core, whatever you want to call it. 25 second assaults, 10 minute sick and twisted trilogies, self destruction, carnage, power, and energy, and over the top of it, a tiny girl, who must be barely 16 howls and screams her throat to blood and shreds over moving and powerful, yet meaningless lyrics. It’s like a shark attack experience, where you’ll find your self mentally swimming in the calm melody before your hurled through a short, sharp blast of speed and aggression, suddenly you can catch your breathe in some sort of oxygen pocket until you’re finally ripped up again by the bands variety, unpredictability and ingenious self expression. “Breathing Through A City Is So Much Harder Than Just Breathing” is your first insight to what this band can do, before two more tracks, allow you to absorb what is happening. Guitars are layered anywhere and everywhere, synths strike in and out through the torture and the drums and bass are holding together whatever sort of structure your own imagination creates. Have it sick and twisted… have it simple, your choice.
After 13 minutes, you’re out, and breathing again. Let your heart beat settle and gather together your thoughts of what just happened. Then and only then should you consider hitting the play button one more time….
Pete Punktastic
www.rolotomassi.tk