Astraea (album)
Astraea | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 5 November 2012[1] | |||
Recorded | Nottingham | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 38:15 | |||
Label | Destination Moon | |||
Producer | Jason Sanderson, Rolo Tomassi | |||
Rolo Tomassi chronology | ||||
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Singles from Astraea | ||||
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Astraea is the third studio album by British mathcore band Rolo Tomassi. It was released on 5 November 2012 in the United Kingdom through Destination Moon, the band's own record label. In interviews, the band described the composition of the album as being much more accessible and direct than their previous albums, while retaining the technical and experimental elements of their typical sound. The album was produced by Jason Sanderson, the producer of Rolo Tomassi's first album Hysterics. This is the band's first release with Chris Cayford and Nathan Fairweather in their line-up after the departure of Joseph Thorpe and Joe Nicholson.
The album was recorded in various locations across Nottingham, United Kingdom including James Spence's house and The Bodega club night venue. This was because the band's producer, Sanderson had come into contractual issues with the land owner of his recording studio. The album was critically acclaimed, praised for both its increased accessibility, sonic development and the increased use of Eva Spence's singing. However, the album performed poorly commercially, failing to chart or make significant sales in upon its release.
Background
Rolo Tomassi only completed one short tour of the United Kingdom in 2011. They spent all the year preparing for their new album and the creation of Destination Moon, the band's own record label. They released a
The title of the album has been cited as having several origins. Some have suggested it gets its name from the Greek goddess of justice
Writing and recording
Writing for the album started as early as July 2011. James Spence also had stated that in that period the band have at least two songs written with the lyrics being self-reflective, a common theme for the band's music.
Because all the members were working their band schedule round their jobs they had to practice in basic recording rooms and write and record their own ideas. From this the members listened to each other's ideas and gave their interpretations and evaluations. Synthesiser player James felt the band produced their best work with this method as they were constantly assessing themselves.[12]
In the writing of previous albums by Rolo Tomassi a majority of the music was written by James and Eva Spence wrote most of the lyrics. For Astraea, the band treated it as a collaboration between all five members; however James and Cayford were the "main brains".[13] In January 2012, in an interview with Kerrang!, Eva Spence confirmed that the band are self-producing their third full-length with Hysterics producer Jason Sanderson.[14] The choice of returning to Sanderson was because he has been a close friend of the band members for a long time.[4] Regarding the sound of the album, she stated that it will be "more direct and heavier", but also noted that the band "will never shy away from being experimental".[14] However, James Spence went on record saying that during the actual production of the album the band did not consider themselves as part of the overall production; rather just having a say in every aspect of the album progress.[12] In April 2012, the NME did a studio update with on the album with James Spence stating that the band's writing was "70% complete". He credited how the new members Chris and Nathan "breathed new life" into the band's writing as the original three members had become "too set in their ways".[15] The band members have commented that this has made the writing a lot more fun as the band no longer writes a song then learns it.[13] As the band wrote Astraea they decided to contrast with their typical style more with the clean and ethereal parts, which led to an increase of Eva's singing.[7]
They started recording Astraea in June
Musical style
It's a lot more direct, 'Cosmology' had to be listened to a few times to be digested, whereas this is hard hitting straight away and much more immediate. We've built on the more melodic bits and I wanted to give Eva more of a chance to bring in her clean vocals. I hope it's the kind of record that people who were already into our band still like, but also brings new people in who haven't got into us before.
James Spence in an interview in 2012.[3]
Much like the band's previous work Astraea is considered primarily as
The album opens out with 'Howl', a grinding, but graceful opener.
Lyrically, Eva Spence credited on how the Astraea was a lot more positive than their previous material due to having time off between tours and being able to relax in the writing process. "I feel happier than I have done in the past few years. I'm seeing things in a positive light and I hope the lyrics will be more uplifting"[14] In an interview with James Spence about the early writing process and how the lyrics have an essence of self-reflection as a common theme in the band's work, "it's not something people normally look at or focus on; self-reflection as a theme, but if you ignore what's happening to you and how it's making you think about things then I don't think that's good."[8]
Release and promotion
In early February 2012, Rolo Tomassi announced the release of a new single: '
The album's release date was delayed several times. Kerrang! magazine initially announced that Astraea was expected to be released in May.[14] But by April the album was then declared as being released in October.[30] On 16 August 2012, the band issued both the track listing for the album its title, Astraea and unveiled its British release date as 5 November.[1] Before the Astraea's release, they completed an October tour of Britain with support from Oathbreaker and Goodtime Boys and then went on to support the album in Europe in November 2012[1] which, as a tour was 24 shows in 26 days.[7] One music video and one single spawned out of the release of Astraea. The single was 'Ex Luna Scientia' which was released in September 2012.[2] The music video was for 'Howl' and was released in early March 2013.[33]
The aims of Astraea, in James Spence's mind, was to help reach parts of the world they've been unable to tour, like
The band completed a small British tour in January 2013,[10] but in May that year Rolo Tomassi completed another short British tour with Bastions, the band was noted for only costing five pound a ticket for all venues.[34] They picked Bastions as they were aware of them because of their mutual relationship with Holy Roar Records and how their bassist played in Crocus, a band which has played with Rolo Tomassi in the past.[11] Rolo Tomassi's decision of making the shows of the tour only cost five pound was questioned by interviewer Samantha Booth when writing for The National Student, James replied saying it was for the sake of encouraging people to come see them and because of the high prices of concert tickets.[16] The band has hinted that their touring schedule would go "further afield" than Europe.[11] In September Rolo Tomassi performed on three out of the four dates of the Japanese touring festival Reverberation Festival.[35] In September and October, starting just three days after their Japanese performances Rolo Tomassi completed 13 date tour of Australia with Australian bands Totally Unicorn and Stockades.[36] It is the first time the band has been in the country since 2010.[37]
Reception
Critical reception
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Drowned In Sound | (8/10)[26] |
The Fly | [25] |
Metal Hammer | (Favourable)[24] |
NME | (8/10)[5] |
The Quietus | (favourable)[6] |
Rock Sound | (7/10)[20] |
The album received critical acclaim from popular critics.
John Doran of online magazine The Quietus gave the album a glowing review expecting it to appear in his publicationsend of year lists, describing it in summary as a triumph: "Rolo Tomassi are miles ahead of the game not just because they are constantly trying to break new ground but also because they have entered a nuclear arms race of progressiveness with their own back catalogue."[6] Oliver Robertson when writing for Rock Sound magazine gave the album a 7 out of 10 and started his review by praising the band saying "deviating little from the blueprint while making some of the finest mathcore albums of the past few years". Considering the album as a sign of Rolo Tomassi maturing as a band.[20]
Accolades
The album earned numerous best-of lists in 2012. Appearing on Rock Sounds top 50 at 47,[38] The Quietus at number 62 out of 75,[39] Kerrang! scored the album at 35 out of 101[40] and Ourzone at number 22 out of 25[41]
Track listing
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Howl" | 4:39 |
2. | "Ex Luna Scientia" | 3:58 |
3. | "The Scales of Balance" | 3:34 |
4. | "Remancer" | 1:49 |
5. | "Empiresk" | 4:00 |
6. | "Prelude II (Echolalia)" | 1:03 |
7. | "Echopraxia" | 3:16 |
8. | "Gloam" | 3:32 |
9. | "Illunis" | 4:51 |
10. | "Illuminare" | 7:36 |
Personnel
Rolo Tomassi
- Eva Spence – lead vocals
- James Spence – synthesizers and co-lead vocals
- Edward Dutton – drum kit
- Chris Cayford – electric guitar
- Nathan Fairweather – electric bass guitar
Additional personnel
- Jason Sanderson – production
References
- ^ a b c "Rolo Tomassi detail release of 'Astraea'". Punktastic. 16 August 2012. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
- ^ a b Sam (26 September 2012). "Rolo Tomassi debut Ex Luna Scientia!". Kerrang!. (Bauer Media Group). Archived from the original on 20 October 2012. Retrieved 9 June 2013.
- ^ a b c d "Rolo Tomassi promise a 'hard-hitting' and 'more direct' third album". NME. 3 February 2012. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
- ^ a b c d e Robert Knapper (20 March 2012). "Issue 12 of Stencil Mag". Stencil Magazine, Inc. pp. 22–23. Retrieved 21 May 2013.
- ^ IPC Media). Retrieved 22 November 2012.
- ^ a b c d e John Doran (5 November 2012). "Reviews Rolo Tomassi Astraea". The Quietus. Retrieved 22 November 2012.
- ^ Clash Music. Retrieved 9 June 2013.
- ^ a b Nico Davidson (27 July 2011). "Interview: Rolo Tomassi Sonisphere 2011". Sound Sphere Magazine. Archived from the original on 29 November 2011. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
- ^ "Rolo Tomassi at Sonisphere: 'We'd love to make a record with M83 or Converge'". NME. 9 July 2011. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
- ^ a b c Steffan Chandler (25 January 2013). "Interview: Rolo Tomassi". The Boar. (University of Warwick). Retrieved 8 September 2013.
- ^ a b c Michael Rose (16 May 2013). "'We've had a pitchfork attack, a knife attack… and what else this week?' An interview with Rolo Tomassi". The Edge. (University of Southampton). Retrieved 8 September 2013.
- ^ a b c d e Chris Poots (26 October 2012). "Interview: Rolo Tomassi". Brighton Noise. Archived from the original on 28 April 2013. Retrieved 19 May 2013.
- ^ This Is Fake DIY. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
- ^ ISSN 0262-6624.
- ^ IPC Media. 24 April 2012. Retrieved 22 May 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f Samantha Booth (28 May 2013). "Interview: Rolo Tomassi". The National Student. (Big Choice Group). Archived from the original on 3 August 2013. Retrieved 4 June 2013.
- ^ Paul Klotschkow. "Rolo Tomassi – Nottingham Culture – LeftLion". LeftLion. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f g Noel Gardner (31 October 2012). "Three albums in, the Sheffield five-piece remain a remarkably singular band". BBC Music. (BBC). Retrieved 22 November 2012.
- ^ Arun Chamba. "Rolo Tomassi – Astraea". SQ Magazine. Archived from the original on 10 November 2012. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
- ^ a b c d Oliver Robertson. "Rolo Tomassi – Astraea We rate the newie from Rolo. Check out what we made of it inside!". Rock Sound. (Freeway Press). Retrieved 22 November 2012.
- ^ Obsessed With Film). Archived from the originalon 19 November 2012. Retrieved 22 November 2012.
- ^ a b Tom Aylott. "Rolo Tomassi – 'Astraea' | Punktastic". Punktastic. Retrieved 22 November 2012.
- D. C. Thomson & Co. Archived from the originalon 19 December 2013. Retrieved 19 May 2013.
- ^ Future Plc). 16 October 2012. Event occurs at 10m. Archived from the original on 23 July 2021. Retrieved 19 May 2013.
The return of Black Veil Brides (with a concept album, true iortory), While She Sleeps in London reviewed, Rage Against The Machine, Bullet For My Valentine, Bring Me The Horizon, Converge, Rolo Tomassi, Blood Command, Heights, Soundgarden and much, much more. GO!
Alt URL - ^ MAMA Group). 2 November 2012. Archived from the originalon 6 November 2012. Retrieved 22 November 2012.
- ^ Drowned In Sound. Archived from the originalon 2 November 2012. Retrieved 22 November 2012.
- ^ MAMA & Company). Archived from the originalon 19 December 2013. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
- This Is Fake DIY. 1 February 2012. Retrieved 1 February 2012.
- ^ "Architects and Rolo Tomassi announce UK headline tour". NME. 9 January 2012. Retrieved 24 April 2012.
- ^ a b Daniel Cliffe (22 April 2012). "Rolo Tomassi – Nottingham Culture". leftlion.co.uk. Retrieved 22 May 2012.
- ^ Colin Henderson (18 April 2012). "Architects / Rolo Tomassi / Stray from the Path". Hevypedal. Archived from the original on 27 June 2012. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
New songs Howl and Remancer go down a treat and fans are given an insight into how the new album will sound. If you thought the band couldn't get any more avant-garde then you're wrong
- ^ a b Tim Sewell (16 April 2012). "Live Review: Architects". The Courier Online. Newcastle University. Retrieved 17 July 2012.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Rolo Tomassi Announce UK Tour with Bastions and Release 'Howl' Video". Already Heard#. 8 March 2013. Archived from the original on 15 March 2014. Retrieved 9 June 2013.
- ^ "Rolo Tomassi Announce May Tour; Post New Video Online". Rock Sound. (Freeway Press). 8 March 2013. Archived from the original on 12 March 2013. Retrieved 4 June 2013.
- ^ 残響アーティスト集結「残響祭」9月に4都市展開 [The four cities expand reverberation artists gathered "reverberation Festival" in September]. Natalie (in Japanese). (Natasha, Inc.). 1 June 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
- themusic.com.au. (Street Press Australia Pty). 13 June 2013. Retrieved 15 June 2013.
- ^ "Rolo Tomassi announce Australian tour". Kill Your Stereo. 12 June 2013. Archived from the original on 14 December 2013. Retrieved 15 June 2013.
- ISSN 1465-0185.
Holding onto their tagged prog-core style, the sheffielders have managed to weave their eclectic influences into a more cohesive and flowing work here. It's everything we love then for, done better.
- ^ Luke Turner (30 December 2012). "Apollo's Bounteous Harvest: The Quietus Albums Of The Year 2012". The Quietus. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
- ISSN 0262-6624.
- ^ Richard Barnes (29 December 2012). "Albums of the Year 2012". Ourzone. Retrieved 26 February 2012.