Rolo Tomassi is an experimental English mathcore act formed by siblings Eva and James Spence who broke into the world of extreme music in 2005. They have been perfecting a style that manages to be even more forward-thinking than their predecessors like Botch or The Dillinger Escape Plan, and alhough they had a rocky start with their debut LP Hysterics, they have continually improved ever since. 2015’s Grievances has been recognized as one of mathcore’s finest moments, after which the group seemed to take a bit of a step back from the spotlight until 2017, when they announced Time Will Die and Love Will Bury It for early 2018.
The LP starts easy on the ears with the four-minute ambient introduction, “Towards Dawn,” before the beautiful synthpop single, “Aftermath.” These two tracks show how versatile Rolo Tomassi is. While they have experimented with softer tracks, this is the first time the track feels totally fleshed out and reminiscent of groups like CHVRCHES and Purity Ring, but with the dreamier atmosphere of shoegaze bands like Slowdive. James Spence’s somber synth pushes this track forward as Eva lyrically burns bridges. It’s absolutely gorgeous from start to finish, and such a powerful way for Rolo Tomassi to start their LP. That said, they do not want you to forget what they are: a mathcore. After a very eerie intro that builds off the outro of “Aftermath,” “Rituals” is relentlessly heavy. Evans voice full of ache and raw energy, is unforgiving in both tone and lyrics; she even says so at one point. Her voice is full of ache and raw energy, even down to the brief clean vocal part. Three tracks in, and I can tell we are in for a roller coaster.
The cymbals lead into the post rock intro of “The Hollow Hour,” which capture the moods of both “Aftermath” and “Rituals” in the context progressive metal and post-rock. A mechanical-sounding synth provides some accents before the song breaks into complete anger and stays that way until a cleanly sung part, returning to the post-rock atmosphere of the intro. There is an insane breakdown toward the end as “It’s so tragic” repeats, and the song goes out with one of the most sublime post-rock outros I’ve heard in a long time. “Balancing the Dark” carries on the strong strong progressive flavors, although it’s definitely one of the LP’s heavier moment, with absolutely no clean vocals and lyrics like “Cursed by what will embody/Lost in the harshness of endless.” It's a very intense listen, dragging the album from melancholic contentment to the darkest pits of our conscious in a matter of songs. This track leads into the chaotic “Alma Mater,” which lets you know from the get-go with its galloping, mathy guitarwork that this is the song you are going to be throwing down to. About halfway through, Rolo Tomassi’s new post-rock persona rears its head before ducking out for another of those bone-crunching breakdowns.
If I ever forget what I love about Rolo Tomassi, “A Flood Light” will be there to remind me. It strikes that same balance of beautiful atmosphere and sheer heaviness that they’ve perfected, then tips the scale for an ambient interlude that can only be described as bliss after the dark, brooding aura of the rest of the song. It isn’t necessarily a happy feeling, but a content one, much like the tone found on “Aftermath.” There’s a good mix of clean and harsh vocals complementing the climatic instrumental that only gets better the moment you think it’s peaked. The track concludes and links perfectly into “Whispers Among Us,” which mixes some growls among the screams as it beats the listener over the head. The beautiful thing about this is that it’s never the same sort of heaviness or the same sort of beautiful atmosphere. Sometimes the heaviness will come from a very mathy, chaotic sound, while other times it is bruting, slow, and heavy, much like this song. The beauty can be from ambience, post-rock, synthpop, or in this case, a very post-metal feel, similar to the newer Rosetta material.
“Contretemps” comes in subtly, with a synth playing a few sparse notes, before they crank up the noise. Rolo Tomassi have made it clear that they want a specific atmosphere throughout these tracks, and this is probably where it’s strongest. Contretemps means “an unfortunate occurrence,” this track’s lyrical content deals with just that: accepting an unfortunate event as it happens in life. Just when I thought this LP couldn’t get more beautiful, this track comes on, with Eva bidding farewell as she begins to truly move on in their life. After all the rage on display through this LP overshadowing moments of peace, it seems that this track finally sees Eva, or the character she’s playing, understanding herself. The crescendos are absolutely heart-stopping, and Eva’s voice displays so much pain after all she’s been through. This all leads to the end of the track, which can only be described in one word: solace. After all the pain comes comfort in the final track, “Risen.” Time Will Die… could not have concluded better than with this work of art. Paralleling “Towards Dawn,” the addition of vocals and extra noise is a perfect cap to the record’s 53-minute journey.
Time Will Die and Love Will Bury It. There is so much said in that title alone. This is music about pain, betrayal, moving forward, and recognizing the better things ahead. Pain and suffering is part of time, and eventually, we will find someone or something that makes it all worth it. With talent, emotion, and ever-evolving musicianship, Rolo Tomassi have made the best LP of their thirteen years together. No matter how hard the times may be, the album says, it’s all worthwhile. There’s always a rainbow after the rain. Dawn always breaks the night. Time will die, and love will bury it.
VERDICT: The Dillinger Escape Plan left a vacant throne, and Rolo Tomassi are here to claim it.
- Alex Brown
The LP starts easy on the ears with the four-minute ambient introduction, “Towards Dawn,” before the beautiful synthpop single, “Aftermath.” These two tracks show how versatile Rolo Tomassi is. While they have experimented with softer tracks, this is the first time the track feels totally fleshed out and reminiscent of groups like CHVRCHES and Purity Ring, but with the dreamier atmosphere of shoegaze bands like Slowdive. James Spence’s somber synth pushes this track forward as Eva lyrically burns bridges. It’s absolutely gorgeous from start to finish, and such a powerful way for Rolo Tomassi to start their LP. That said, they do not want you to forget what they are: a mathcore. After a very eerie intro that builds off the outro of “Aftermath,” “Rituals” is relentlessly heavy. Evans voice full of ache and raw energy, is unforgiving in both tone and lyrics; she even says so at one point. Her voice is full of ache and raw energy, even down to the brief clean vocal part. Three tracks in, and I can tell we are in for a roller coaster.
The cymbals lead into the post rock intro of “The Hollow Hour,” which capture the moods of both “Aftermath” and “Rituals” in the context progressive metal and post-rock. A mechanical-sounding synth provides some accents before the song breaks into complete anger and stays that way until a cleanly sung part, returning to the post-rock atmosphere of the intro. There is an insane breakdown toward the end as “It’s so tragic” repeats, and the song goes out with one of the most sublime post-rock outros I’ve heard in a long time. “Balancing the Dark” carries on the strong strong progressive flavors, although it’s definitely one of the LP’s heavier moment, with absolutely no clean vocals and lyrics like “Cursed by what will embody/Lost in the harshness of endless.” It's a very intense listen, dragging the album from melancholic contentment to the darkest pits of our conscious in a matter of songs. This track leads into the chaotic “Alma Mater,” which lets you know from the get-go with its galloping, mathy guitarwork that this is the song you are going to be throwing down to. About halfway through, Rolo Tomassi’s new post-rock persona rears its head before ducking out for another of those bone-crunching breakdowns.
If I ever forget what I love about Rolo Tomassi, “A Flood Light” will be there to remind me. It strikes that same balance of beautiful atmosphere and sheer heaviness that they’ve perfected, then tips the scale for an ambient interlude that can only be described as bliss after the dark, brooding aura of the rest of the song. It isn’t necessarily a happy feeling, but a content one, much like the tone found on “Aftermath.” There’s a good mix of clean and harsh vocals complementing the climatic instrumental that only gets better the moment you think it’s peaked. The track concludes and links perfectly into “Whispers Among Us,” which mixes some growls among the screams as it beats the listener over the head. The beautiful thing about this is that it’s never the same sort of heaviness or the same sort of beautiful atmosphere. Sometimes the heaviness will come from a very mathy, chaotic sound, while other times it is bruting, slow, and heavy, much like this song. The beauty can be from ambience, post-rock, synthpop, or in this case, a very post-metal feel, similar to the newer Rosetta material.
“Contretemps” comes in subtly, with a synth playing a few sparse notes, before they crank up the noise. Rolo Tomassi have made it clear that they want a specific atmosphere throughout these tracks, and this is probably where it’s strongest. Contretemps means “an unfortunate occurrence,” this track’s lyrical content deals with just that: accepting an unfortunate event as it happens in life. Just when I thought this LP couldn’t get more beautiful, this track comes on, with Eva bidding farewell as she begins to truly move on in their life. After all the rage on display through this LP overshadowing moments of peace, it seems that this track finally sees Eva, or the character she’s playing, understanding herself. The crescendos are absolutely heart-stopping, and Eva’s voice displays so much pain after all she’s been through. This all leads to the end of the track, which can only be described in one word: solace. After all the pain comes comfort in the final track, “Risen.” Time Will Die… could not have concluded better than with this work of art. Paralleling “Towards Dawn,” the addition of vocals and extra noise is a perfect cap to the record’s 53-minute journey.
Time Will Die and Love Will Bury It. There is so much said in that title alone. This is music about pain, betrayal, moving forward, and recognizing the better things ahead. Pain and suffering is part of time, and eventually, we will find someone or something that makes it all worth it. With talent, emotion, and ever-evolving musicianship, Rolo Tomassi have made the best LP of their thirteen years together. No matter how hard the times may be, the album says, it’s all worthwhile. There’s always a rainbow after the rain. Dawn always breaks the night. Time will die, and love will bury it.
VERDICT: The Dillinger Escape Plan left a vacant throne, and Rolo Tomassi are here to claim it.
- Alex Brown
Archival details
- Original URL
- https://metallifestyle.weebly.com/metal-lifestyle/review-rolo-tomassi-time-will-die-and-love-will-bury-it
- Recovery source
- live-weebly
- Recovery date
- 2026-07-22
- Stewardship polish
- 2026-07-22
- Preservation status
- restored
- Missing assets
- None recorded
Preserved by Bloodsoaked Media · The Archives