Formed in 2005, they set their local scene alight by playing a synth-driven technical mix of styles and genres difficult to define in a single word. The band's name was taken from the movie L.A. Confidential. They are known for their strong DIY ethic and chaotic live performances.
The band is currently signed to MNRK Heavy. They released two albums on Hassle Records: Hysterics (2008) and the Diplo-produced Cosmology (2010). After creating their own record label called Destination Moon in 2011, they released Eternal Youth, a compilation album of B-sides, remixes, and rarities from throughout their career, and their third album, 21012’s Astraea, with the first line-up change in their career. They then released two albums on Holy Roar records: Grievances (2015) and Time Will Die and Love Will Bury It (2018).
Their music has been difficult to classify simply because of the band's resistance to being identified with one single genre. Described as "like a polished chrome King Crimson for the 21st Century" they have typically been acknowledged as being mathcore, a tag which summarises the theoretical complexity of their music, such as odd time signatures like 9/8 and 13/8 and polyrhythmic drumming. They have been identified as "falling somewhere between grindcore, progressive and alternative rock and have been categorised as experimental rock, post-metal, post-hardcore, progressive hardcore, progressive rock and screamo. The band utilises two vocalists in their music, a quality which "immediately creates a rich and textured sonic world". Eva Spence's vocal style was acknowledged by Michael Wilson of the BBC as bi-polar; swapping between "fragile lullabies to blood-curdling scowls". Her singing voice is in a soprano vocal range and has been compared to the stylings of Alison Goldfrapp of Goldfrapp and Elizabeth Fraser of the Cocteau Twins.
Their earlier work—such as Hysterics, Cosmology and their demos and extended plays—was known for its use of jazz breakdowns and swapping chaotically between explosive mathcore, calm atmospheric experimental music and acid jazz. Their music is also noted for sharing traits with Nintendocore in terms of chaos and sound for the use of 8-bit synthesizers. The compilation album Eternal Youth gave insight into their musical development from their 2005 demos to their latest b-side releases with Hassle records.
The band’s sound developed further into pop, ambient, shoegaze and space rock elements for their third album Astraea, and has been jokingly dubbed as cosmic-core. For one of the b-sides from the album—“Mezmerizer”—NME journalist Hamish MacBain classed it as a "space rock ballad". For the album, the band decided to base its name on the goddess of the same name, a reference to the Spence siblings’ admiration for Greek mythology and a desire to pick a title which made the album "sound big and like this proper body of work". The non-album single "Old Mystics" and the song from the album "The Scales of Balance" both make reference to the "Golden Age" declared by Astraea.
In contrast to the lighter tone developed on Astraea, their fourth album—Grievances—is frenetic and dark in its composition, utilising pianos and violins for a darker character.
Their fifth album, Time Will Die and Love Will Bury It— as described by James Spence—“continues in the vein of Grievances' darkness, but shouldn't be used to judge what all our new material sounds like."
The band's sixth album, Where Myth Becomes Memory, was released on 04 February 2022. Lyrically, it deals with "how the passage of time, miles on the road, bittersweet nostalgia and the inherent unreliability of human memory shape and reshape our experience of the art we make and the lives we live." Sonically, the music continues to "magnify the dynamic interplay between light and shade", moving from chaos to tranquility at the drop of a hat.
Current members:
Eva Korman – vocals (2005–present)
James Spence – vocals, synthesizer (2005–present)
Chris Cayford – guitar (2012–present)
Nathan Fairweather – bass guitar (2012–present)
Al Pott – drums (2018–present)
Balancing the Dark
Rolo Tomassi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cease, every moment grey
I concur
Retracting these splinters
Take, navigate
Disarm, in cycles crawl on
I concur
Retracting these splinters
Etched always
Lasting, reacting
In movements so permanent
I concur
Retracting these splinters
Etched always
Lasting, undying
A score unmarked
There is no way to compose the unchartered and unknown
The concept of a world without, the severity of it all
To comprehend the fragility
Lost in the harshness of endless
Cursed by what will embody
Lost in the harshness of endless
The cruelty of that which is cherished
The lyrics of "Balancing the Dark" by Rolo Tomassi are complex and open to interpretation. The first verse introduces themes of destruction and reconstruction. The command to "strike" and "illustrate" may indicate a desire to create, but the next line suggests a feeling of stagnation and discomfort with the present state of things. The word "grey" evokes a sense of dullness and lack of color or vibrancy. The following lines, "I concur / Retracting these splinters," may indicate a desire to withdraw or retract from the pain and discomfort that exist in the present moment.
In the second verse, there is a sense of movement and exploration. The singer urges us to "take" and "navigate," perhaps indicating a desire to find a new path or direction. The mention of cycling could suggest a repetitive or circular journey. The lines "In movements so permanent / I concur / Retracting these splinters" suggest a desire to make lasting change, but also a fear of the pain that may be involved. The final lines of the song hint at the complexity and difficulty of living in a world that can be both beautiful and cruel. The singer acknowledges that there is no way to fully comprehend the fragility of life, but also recognizes the importance of cherishing what we have.
Overall, "Balancing the Dark" is a thought-provoking song that touches on themes of destruction, reconstruction, pain, and beauty. The lyrics are poetic and abstract, leaving ample room for interpretation.
Line by Line Meaning
Strike, illustrate
Bring attention to and emphasize the importance of something through vivid depiction.
Cease, every moment grey
End the cycle of monotonous and bleak experiences.
I concur
I agree with the sentiment expressed.
Retracting these splinters
Removing the painful and lingering reminders of past hurt.
Take, navigate
Proceed and find direction.
Disarm, in cycles crawl on
Remove the potential for harm and continue to move forward despite obstacles.
Etched always
Memorialized forever.
Lasting, reacting
Enduring and responding to external stimuli.
In movements so permanent
In actions that cannot be reversed.
Lasting, undying
Perpetual and eternal.
A score unmarked
An unknown and uncharted area of life.
There is no way to compose the unchartered and unknown
It is impossible to prepare for what is unforeseeable and unparalleled.
The concept of a world without, the severity of it all
The gravity of a reality absent of something cherished.
To comprehend the fragility
To understand the delicate nature and susceptibility of a certain state or object.
Lost in the harshness of endless
Trapped in a relentless and unforgiving environment.
Cursed by what will embody
Afflicted by what will represent or encompass a particular experience.
The cruelty of that which is cherished
The pain and torment when something beloved causes suffering.
Lyrics © SENTRIC MUSIC
Written by: James Spence, Eva Spence, Nathan Fairweather, Chris Cayford, Tom Pitts
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind