Rolo Tomassi – “Grievances” [Album Review]

Sheffield noisemongers Rolo Tomassi are one of those bands who, once you’ve seen them, you’ll never forget. If you’re not hooked from the minute you hear their dense, chaotic, Convergesque sound then you’ll most definitely be captivated by the performance of vocalist Eva Spence who may cut a diminutive figure but, come show time, unleashes all manner of hell on unsuspecting audiences. Grievances is Rolo Tomassi’s second album and, fittingly, is being issued through Ipecac Records, the label owned by Faith No More frontman Mike Patton.

In fact, while Converge may be a good starting point for the basics of Rolo Tomassi’s sound, latter day Faith No More is equally as suitable as a reference point. You see, when Grievances gets heavy, fuck, does it get heavy. Brutal, uncompromising, unhinged spurts of noise explode forward as tracks like opener “Estranged” and “Stage Knives” crash out of your speakers with Spence roaring over the top of it like a woman possessed.

However, what makes Grievances such a truly special record is when Rolo Tomassi demonstrate the other side to their persona. This may be displayed in the form of soothing melodies or in passages punctuated by haunting, clean vocals but, whatever form it comes in, it opens up material like the aforementioned “Stage Knives” into a whole new world.

When the heavier side of Grievances comes crashing back into view and you hear Spence unleashing more of her hellish vocals, you realise how magical this band truly are. Like Converge, like Dillinger Escape Plan, the core of Grievances might be an unholy din but, like Faith No More, Rolo Tomassi have found that, by experimenting with more soothing, haunting ideas then marrying the two together, the end result is unforgettable.

Track Listing:

01. Estranged
02. Raumdeuter
03. The Embers
04. Prelude III (Phantoms)
05. Opalescent
06. Unseen and Unknown
07. Stage Knives
08. Crystal Cascades
09. Chandelier Shiver
10. Funereal
11. All That Has Gone Before

Run Time: 32:42
Release Date: June 1, 2015

Check out the song “Opalescent” here.