Rolo Tomassi may have been a little quiet in the last year or so, but their return to Brighton proves they’ve been busy elsewhere being incredibly noisy. New album ‘ASTRAEA’ will have hit the shops by the time you read this, their third full length release and the first with a new line-up that includes Chris Cayford and Nathan Fairweather who both live in Brighton and also play in the bands No Coast and Brontide respectively.
Thus tonight is to some extent a hometown show for Rolo Tomassi, and having received a daytime airing on Radio 1 earlier in the day, it is obvious that things are going swimmingly for the brother and sister fronted five-piece.
It’s good to see a lot of younger faces in the crowd tonight, proving that their mathcore spazziness is still floating plenty of boats. The new songs sound powerful and exciting and the contrast between Eva Spence’s two vocal styles is incredible, switching between the beautifully captivating sung parts and some of the best screaming you’re ever likely to hear.
It’s impossible not to notice how almost all of the audience (both male and female) are completely engrossed in her stage presence, and whilst synth operator and second vocalist James would make a brilliant frontman himself, there is something mesmerising about the way she dances about the place before letting her vocal cords do the destruction.
It takes about three songs before there is much crowd movement, presumably a result of everyone being a little bit blown away after their explosive start but a set-list that included favourites such as ‘Kasia’ and ‘Oh, Hello Ghost’ as well as plenty of new ones ensured there was plenty of pit action.
Throughout the night they apologise for hiding and neglecting everyone recently and seem extremely happy to be out playing shows again which is a great sign. So don’t worry if you missed them this time round because you’re guaranteed to get another chance to see the most aggressive sounding band to ever sell hair clips and scatter cushions on their merch table.
Haunt, Monday 22nd October 2012
Words by Chris Biggs
