ROLLOR @rollor-blog - Tumblr Blog

O.N.A.N AT PORTCULLIS available at bandcamp:

https://rollor.bandcamp.com/

Isthmus of Panama - Review

Industrial rock is one of those genres that can intimidate listeners. The talisman artist of the genre, Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails, left such a mark that his work is the immediate touchstone for anyone trying to describe the music to the uninitiated. That said, labels don’t really matter very much, and no record deserves to be stamped ‘Incomprehensible’ before it’s had time to air.

I’ve been listening to Rollor’s latest release, Isthmus of Panama for about ten days — an experience I’ve been enjoying, even if it’s not one I can fully make sense of.

The duo behind Rollor produce deceptively complex, scuzzy guitar rock, with layers upon layers of scuzzy, grimy noise to wallow in. They’re like the musical equivalent of those punk-rock exploitation caricatures that are so popular among beared illustrators at the moment. Isthmus is one of those albums it’s easy to drift in and out of. It’s the sort of record that you can immerse yourself in at night, on your own, and not notice when one track has faded into another.

It stands as a definite progression from Rollor’s older work — especially on Beasts in Men Shapes — and this new release takes significant cues from post rock, rather than from hardcore punk. They’ve gone from crafting difficult, jagged rock songs to a heavier and rawer sound, without the softer edges gained from the organ on Beasts.

I’m not sure I’m finished untying the many coils of Isthmus; it is, after all, January and perhaps a little early to delve into a record that’s so tightly wound, so intentionally difficult. On the surface, Isthmus is as indepherable an album as I’m likely to recieve for the rest of the year — but I’m not going to give up on it yet.

Sam Bradley

That's enough dancing for now; it's time to rock. Rollor are back with the brilliantly titled Isthmus of Panama, a mostly instrumental album that is as ambitious as it is admirable. If your like noise there's something for everyone, with fast and furious tracks that clock in at 22 and 40 seconds respectively, titles such as 'Atrophied Brain Matter' and the excellent 'Worms on Used Hooks', and it's all finished off with the 21min 36secs 'Dread Pirate Robins'. Serious music that doesn't take itself too seriously, it demands multiple listens, and could just end up being one of the best albums released this year.

Scots Whay Hae

New album "Isthmus Of Panama", jelly red cassette in white case.

Available here at bandcamp

19th June 2014

12th June 2014

Nice 'N' Sleazy, Wednesday 9th October 2013

Vedic Sanskrit

Dauphin review of "Beasts In Men Shapes"

I’ve covered Rollor’s work in the past and now they have released an album. More below.

It’s, well – it’s interesting. It’s an 8-track LP called Beasts In Men Shapes and if you are unfamiliar with past releases then you will be quite flummoxed.

See, Rollor make this sound of post-rock grunge music that completely grabs your attention from the word go. This is pretty well exploited on songs like Vedic Sanskrit, which opens the album with an unconventional time signature and a great guitar riff. But the opener segues into F. Hammer (Unwritten), a growly mess of found sound and scratched fretboards.

We come back to reality with the Depository Manouvre, which is a pretty good rock song, but then we’re taken back to Wonderland or whatever this place is with a track of re-cut audio from what sounds like a Conservative Party conference from the 90’s, with additional guitar. This is looking like a pattern.

Minority of the Opulent, a largely instrumental but solid track, is followed by the predictably impenetrable Tollor, and Island/Jekyll, which sounds as if it’s been recorded backwards. The album finishes on War Is A Racket, a trademark song that bookends the record reassuringly.

The thing is, I’m pretty sure Rollor are making fun of me on some level with all this crazyness. It’s just I still like listening to it.

You can download the album for yourself, for free, and see if you agree with me.

Indie bands blog review of "Beasts In Men Shapes"

Posted by Tim on August 31, 2012 ·

Rollor reviewed back in April 2012 has released a new LP – Beasts In Men Shapes.

Rollor – LP review – Beasts In Men Shapes

On this release Rollor has pared back the time-frame for the tracks with none lasting more than nearly 10 minutes, even managing one at just over two minutes.

Vedik Sandskrit opens the album. Clear spaces emerge at the opening and the listener feels as though they are falling through a drain grate before hurtling in to a drainage system as distorted sounds of metal crash against the ears.

F. Hammer (Unwritten) a four minute crescendo of chaos find the duo (well we must never forget the drum machine with Rollor, so let’s make that a trio) searing welding arcs in to the room. The casual reconfiguration of constructs emit an eerie and unmissable sound which challenges all before it and is perhaps the signature sound to the LP title.

Continuing along the theme of metallic tinkering The Depository Manoeuvre transitions to a guitar led reverberation of distortion with an indistinguishable vocal seeking space in which to develop, but ever muffled under the thunder of transmorgified sounds emitting from the speakers.

Dumbfounded at Regular Intervals is perhaps the most direct of the tracks as the cynicism towards a Society riven with division is placed to the forefront of the material.

Continuing the theme Minority of the Opulent delivers a scene of industrial landscape lain to waste to be replaced by ivory towers of indifference.

Tollor provides a run out for Dr. Drumrollor the drum machine and contains the chaos of Wargasm #PAX 4 (an LP I still play at least once a month thirty years after its release) that attracts my ears to the output of the band and for me marks the highlight of Beasts in Mens Shapes.

Island / Jekyll is the track that runs at just over two minutes and what a powerhouse it is. From the open spaces of drains the ears are funnelled into an ever closing whirlpool of sound. Interestingly Rollor has achieved this not by changing the style of composition, but by speeding up the playback.

From the shortest track on Beasts in Mens Shapes the concluding composition War Is A Racket is the longest at 09:50, delivering a sonic blast to delight the ears.

My advice for the whole of the LP, turn the volume up and enjoy the visceral sounds that emerge.

Our debut album "Beasts In Men Shapes", jelly green cassette with grey case.

26/6/12 Indie bands blog wrote about Jekyll Island:

Rollor

Posted by Tim on April 22, 2012

Rollor

Detuned instruments clatter in to the room and an engaging mix of frantic energy is let loose. The Bass reminds me of Jean-Jacques Brunel of The Stranglers, with those strings as loose as they can unwind, whilst the frenetic lead guitar whirls away like a drill bit. There is no time to dwell on the individual notes as they rip through the ears and the brain is left in a maelstrom of sound, a bit like images through a lantern Slide. Snaps of sound are processed by the brain, but by then the band has moved on another hand-full of notes.

Rollor is able to maintain this frenetic pace for some considerable time, as exampled by the single Jekyll Island, which lasts for over eight minutes. There is nothing not to really enjoy about the material the band releases as it is all done with panache. This isn’t fast for the sake of it. Once the brain has had time to settle there is a clarity to the sound that projects images in the mind with a passion.

Jekyll Island

A One Directional Fast Sand (5/3/11)

Trying to churn out a new track. Sound and picture not great due to being recorded on a digital camera movie mode. 5th Novenber 2011.

Filmed by Fielding of Cry Parrot Promotions. 23rd April 2007.

Trending Blogs

Recently Viewed Blogs

ROLLOR