Rollerball - "SuperStructure"

[FGM]

Band: Rollerball
Album: SuperStructure
Label: Rhythm Ace
Release Date: Out Now
Track Listing:
1. Loungeroom Lifer
2. Head Song
3. Lifetime
4. Daisy Chain
5. Highly Likely
6. Superstructure
7. Looking For The Moon
8. Colder (Satos Dominos)
9. Commodity
10. Trip Party
11. Next To You

Also includes ‘Lifetime’ video

A few seconds of analogue crackle introduces Rollerball’s debut long-player. The crackle diminishes and immediately gives way to the crack of the mammoth power-chord roar that is Rollerball. ‘Loungeroom Lifer’ is driven by straight-forward boogie grooves and the jazzy drumming style of Cracker Roach. Up the tempo and overdrive the amps is the call for ‘Head Song’. With the energy moving up a notch on this track, Dave Talon’s guitar blasts out rowdy, aggressive grooves that provide the perfect foundation for Tenpin Boland’s raucous vocals.

Melodic tracks like ‘Lifetime’ and ‘Looking For The Moon’ which sees the addition of the organ and acoustic textures, standout with an unprecedented level of space and restraint. This allows Tenpin to really stretch out those shredded vocal chords and explore his full vocal range.

The title track ‘Superstructure’ is a re-worked example of a hard rockin’ live favourite. With Talon’s guitar seemingly tuned down a notch, the riffs of ‘Colder (Satos Dominos)’ are huge and bludgeoning. Solid drumming and the harmonies of a wobbly organ fuse to create a sound that explores a variety of sonic frequencies that build in intensity, from single note guitar lines to huge power chords that display deliberate power and conviction.

‘Commodity’ is another old live standard that sees the boys wind out the throttle and let rip! This is an exuberant balls-out rocker that builds on Junior MacLennan’s repetitive bass line before developing into a stomping rocker that displays the blistering lead guitar vocabulary of Dave Talon. ‘Trip Party’ manages to successfully recapture the oh-so-groovy element that was ever-present on Rollerball’s two previous e.p releases and features some talented percussion work by Cracker Raoch. ‘Next To You’ again showcases ferocious, screaming guitar solos and howled vocals ending in a cacophony of fuzzed out feedback. It has been a long time coming, but Rollerball’s debut long-player SuperStructure sees them refine their formula to develop a species of lo-fi rock, that embraces a lethal combination of loud, raunchy Oz-rock prowess and hard-rock grooves to create an infectious sound that is definitely not to be overlooked.

www.rhythmacerecords.com

Brad Larter

[maxi-power]

Awesome reveiw FGM, cannot wait until i see em' at the Tote with cockfight shootout and then the almighty Warrnambool on saturday. Which i'm sure you'll hear about. ;D ;D

[Yeah-FuckYeah]

OK, review from a fan time....

First a little background. Rollerball are the band that inroduced me to Kyuss and the whole stoner rock scene. So I have a soft spot for them, and I'd nearly go so far as to say they are my favourite band. The original hook for me was hearing Evie on JJJ. I was a huge fan of the original, and pretty much the whole 70's thing. Unfortunealy, since I missed pretty much the whole decade. However, the next best thing, I grew up on Led Zepp, Hendrix and the Doors (thanx mum!). Ofcourse this lead to me picking up and getting into Lost In Space and Let Your Hair Hang Down. Johnathan E and Lost in Space were the other catchy hooks and quickly became favourites. I didn't fall in love with all the other tracks immediately. Over time I grew to love all the tracks on the two EPs. For whatever reason, I never seemed to grow sick off those two EPs (long since burned onto a single disc). They seem to have a depth where you notice new things every time you listen for a long time. My faves became Classical Stimuli, Lowly Sumblime, Dragon and Lake of Life.

Saw the 'ball live for the first time last year at the Rosey is Surfers. Twas great. Then again this year at BDO. Twas great. Missed out on the free stubbie holders (anyone want to give me one ). Was totally amazed at how many chicks were rocking out in the crowd. Also missed out on the gig with Fu Manchu.

The debut album was long awaited. I remember thinking it would be out in Sept 2001. The extra year plus it took was a hard wait.

I picked up a copy of Superstructure at the gig in Surfers the day before its release. The gig was good, but the crowd was pretty tame. Would have loved the chance to get to know the new album before seeing the gig. I reckon its always better when you know the songs.

I was quite disappointed with Superstructure at first. The sound was fairly different to Lost In Space, and there were no real hooks like Evie or Johnathan E. There was a lot less fuzz, and the vocals a lot clearer. Sounds like the guys have been listening to too much ac/dc.

It took a few spins to get into the groove. The solo vocals in Colder (Satos Dominos) were the first hook for me. "Cause I'm hearing nothing but I'm always under you". Real power, love the distortion. I wish that sound went on longer. Hell any song with the lyrics "groovy loo" in it is alright by me. Have no idea what it means.

The bluesy Highly Likely is catchy. Head Song gets stuck in my head "chemicals ripping thru me!". Dasiy Chain and Next To You grew on me and I was starting to get a feel for how strong this album is.

The only real weak point for me is Looking For the Moon. Its starts well, but the chorus sounds too much like Matchbox20 for me. The bit that goes "Just trying to get back baby..." Ick! Now, I haven't really listened to Matchbox 20, so I may be way off, but I'm tainted.

The other very small weak point for me is the some of the repetative vocals. Nothing too bad, "I'm going up a gear", but I would have liked to see some more complex songs on there. With the vocals alot clearer (I still have no idea about half the lyrics in Lowly Sublime), they are a lot easier to pick up. This is good for the sing along factor, but I think half of the reason I could listen to the EPs for so many times is that I could (try to atleast) pick up more of the lyrics each time.

Appart from that I have been listening to Superstructure a lot and am not looking like getting sick of it (the iPod as been copping a work out). I feel this maybe another album with staying power. Next To You is now my favourite, the ending is awesome. Love that whole distortion feedback sound. Having said that I wouldn't be surprised if my fave changed after a few more spins. There is certainly enough depth there.

Unfortunately, because the album has no real catchy "fisrt time listen" hook, I don't think it will do well commercially. I hope I am wrong.

The Lifetime clip is good. Holdens in the background. Makes me think "go you little aussie!". I reckon they should have done the shoot from a different angle as it makes Matt's teeth look real bad. Jeez I dunno, maybe thay wanted that look.

So if you're an Aussie with a heartbeat and a pair of balls (ok, metaphorically if your a girl), you need to get this. This album definately gets a "yeah! fuck yeah!!!".

[Yeah-FuckYeah]

Forgot to mention that my diskman fucked the first track on the CD by scratching the shit out of the outer part of the disk (I'm guessing I didn't put it in properly and it b0rked trying to read the data track that has the Lifetime film clip on it).

So I would be very appreciative if someone could give me a 192kHz mp3 rip of the first track. Just think of it as payment for me writing that big arse review "aha! Ulteria motive!" I hear you say.

I probably could buy one of those CD scratch repair kits but a) I'm a cheap bastard, and b) once a cd makes it to my iPod the disk doesn't see much use.

[Writhe]

ok i have to reply to this... I've been into kyuss since i saw them in 92 or 93 (which completely changed what music i was into). I saw Rollerball playing at skinnys music store on our local brisbane tv station. Thought they sounded pretty "stoner" so a week later when i saw their cd in a record store in surfers i picked it up. Within about 2 listens i realised this was a brilliant cd.

I think i saw them at least once a month for the 2 years they were constantly gigging. When the second ep came out i was disapointed. The sound had changed and it didnt seem much of a realise.

I could tell things were changing although some of the new songs they were playing live kicked some arse. Possibly the low point for me was the overseas release of the 2 ep's (with new tracks) and also the first few gigs with the new bassist.

But since then the caravan of courage gig at the zoo in brisbane was fantastic and i love the album. Even though it is a fair bit diffent to lost in space.

In short go have a listen.

[maxi-power]

Well what can i say all three bands blew the hole out of Warrnambool. RollerBall took the cake though they play in front of about 250-300 hundered people and they where the stand out of the night. I dig the vocals of matt boland and no dis respect to guvnor but the new bass player is fucking awesome great style also talon goes off on gutiar also a cool bloke. Cracker i love his style as he plays the drums he has no facial expression at all, i think he does not even try to play the drums he is that awesome also best set i've seen from the GoS they went sick aswell jumpin of the stage and shit smashin the mic stand ;D and now i will wait for my pay-out ;D that i usally get when i write one of these things ;D ;D ;D

[Lax Charisma]

So what did you think of Intercooler Maxi?
I'm really digging them at the moment. They were great at the Champion up this way...

[maxi-power]

Well i was lucky enough to get a lift with them to Warrnambool and Geelong so i seen em' three times and everytime i thought they where better than the last i really dig their style of music and i thought the drummer was great good style the way he plays (you know has his drum stool right down so the kit looks bigger than him) I also rally digged the singer and his vocals aswell his also has a great style in the way he plays and will definetly look forward to seein em' again in Feb ;D ;D ;D

[Lax Charisma]

Yeah perfect blend of Pop/Rock the tunes stick in your head for days. I like it a lot ;D

[FGM]

Intercooler didn't really make a huge impression on me until the second time I saw them play live. I walked away thinking the same thing that you just said Spectator. These guys have really got the melodic pop rock thing sorted!

They have so many diverse elements and no doubt influences that go together to make their sound. Each time I have seen them they have pulled off such a professional set and yes their songs are terribly catchy.

[maxi-power]

Ohh i forgot to say Intercooler are playing at the Big Day Out in Brisbane, for any of you people who haven't seen em' yet ;D