ROLEX - R-O-L-E-X Tapes

I've been wanting to share Rolex for such a long time. Like, a really, really long time.

I think I first caught this band's demo around the time they released their "R" cassette, so that was around late 2017-ish. I don't think I was even posting around that time, so I didn't have the opportunity to write about LA's Rolex on my channel. And, well, every proceeding release would quickly see an upload onto this site shortly after posting, so once again I was kinda... stuck. Stuck with the inability to gush about this band like I've been sorely wanting to. At least, that WAS the case until "some guy" approached me with this brilliant idea: now that Rolex has finished releasing a series of tapes that spell out their full band name, why not just post them all at once? Y'know, tapes "R" through "X", in their entirety, in chronological order? I gotta say, for just "some guy": not a bad idea.

So to reiterate, this isn't a "proper" album release from Rolex -- I guess you can just consider a "fan-made bootleg compilation". It's a collection of five tapes that the band has slowly been churning out since late 2017, with the most recent tape -- comprehensibly being titled the "X Tape" -- being released just last month. They sorta function in that "cassingle" format, containing just two new tracks per tape, released in a strict, rigid, firm timetable of... well, whenever the hell they wanted, I guess. Evidently this video has been a long time coming. It's definitely been worth the wait. Definitely. I mean, just look at the background of these things. The images they use are all things that start with the tape's corresponding letter. Like, for example, the "R" tape features pictures of Ross... and Bob Ross... and... Ross-Ross. Y'know, from Friends. It's cute.

But no, yeah, Rolex is just incredible and way more people need to listen to this band. It's a frenzied whirlwind of spastic chord progressions and dissonant melodies, sounding as if someone mulched the hyper-kinetic propulsion of a hardcore band with an artful, dynamic swagger that brings forth a slight jazzy aftertaste from the occasional funk-driven hook. Combine these noxious bursts of inventive guitar-work, emphatic bass oscillations and tight, syncopated drumbeats with a vocal lead that sounds like they're mere minutes from coughing up their larynx whole, and you've got an endlessly compelling freak-spectacle that's sure to send hearts into violent palpitations. Rolex is so good. They also released a demo tape in mid-2017, though I personally think that tape operates better in its own isolated ecosystem. I highly recommend you check it out here: https://rolex.bandcamp.com/album/role...

TRACK LIST:
R Tape:
Hate the Beach - 0:00
You Are My Sunshine - 1:44
Hip Intellect - 2:16

O Tape:
Brazen Deceit - 2:58
Galvanized Heart - 4:19

L Tape:
Turn Your Money Green - 5:03
Stripes - 6:29

E Tape:
Welcome To My Joy - 7:58
Wild Illusions - 9:48

X Tape:
Entasis - 12:06
Frida - 13:32

DOWNLOAD: https://rolex.bandcamp.com/music