Rolex

Reviews

Grimly Forming / Rolex split LP

Killer split by two great L.A. bands. This is the first that I have heard from GRIMLY FORMING since the band’s ’22 release. They had this song on there called “Killing Spree” that was stupid good. Well, shit! Guess what? It’s on this pressing also! GRIMLY FORMING is in peak form on each of the ten tracks. The band loses zero velocity and is a relentless horror hammer of a band to listen to. Perfect. ROLEX was a band that I had not heard yet, but am going to learn to love a lot! They combine a ratio of CHEETAH CHROME MOTHERFUCKERS and SACCHARINE TRUST in a way that could easily be amongst the glorious SST roster of ’82. “Let’s Get Away With It” is probably one of my favorite songs of the fucking year!! Buy.

Rolex Hip Intellect EP

This release is ten furious cuts of ’80s futurist punk. While the band seems happy to harken back to the “glory days” of their hometown LA—mostly evident in their highly-mobile bass lines and howling vocals—they incorporate odd melodic and rhythmic turns that break with tradition and keep the ear abuzz in new ways on every track. The guitar stands out in particular, sounding like D. Boon doing divebombs; it’s some of my favorite axe work I’ve heard all year. The entire package fits perfectly with lyrical themes of apocalypse, climate crisis and everything else you’d want from California hardcore. This band is weirder and wilder than most—definitely deserving of your attention.