Mark McConville
Chasing light in this transitioning world can be an insurmountable challenge, a task which drains inner strength and momentum, breaking you down until you feel crippled and disengaged. Making peace with your faith is another mammoth ordeal when there’s bloodshed and news reports glorifying the state of the streets and those who are blazing a trail of destruction.
Rallying hope could create a scene of justice, a moment of clarity, shuddering optimism, even if the swollen clouds rain on the parade.
A band showcase their grievances on a record which also cites broken love as a trait that spreads like wildfire and creates sudden heartache. This act is Holding Absence, and they’re hunting for joy, though it doesn’t come easily, as they’re pushed through the motions, swinging from the coattails of emotion, and drifting off into dazes.
But when they strike gold, they do so with conviction and musicality, forming songs which offer the lost a chance to follow their lead. From the beginning of The Noble Art Of Self-Destruction, the band lay the groundwork with powerful confidence, pushing their musical prowess beyond the normal framework.
These songs commit to emotion too, there’s no doubting that, and lead singer Lucas Woodland causes a flurry as his voice breaks the atmosphere, burgeoning and uplifting.
It’s a testament to him and the band’s hard work, their perseverance and their self-control. They prove this in the opening song, ‘Head Prison Blues.’ This contribution shows urgency and craft, strong songwriting, and a desire for openness in such an enclosed world. ‘False Down’ opens creatively. The vocals are crisp and clear, the guitar sequence thrilling. Woodland secures an expert tone, and the song digs deep into the singer’s failings and pain. It’s a standout.
‘Scissors’ is another masterclass, a track that openly screams for validation, a song consisting of well-versed instrumentals and a story balancing hope with mistrust. ‘These New Dreams’ focuses on forbidden fruit and recklessness in the wreckage. Woodland sings eagerly, shifting styles and rolling out a blockbuster fable. The chorus also fundamentally pulls from different directions.
And this record also has shock value as the band tell their stories through songs which all seamlessly connect. The band want us to feel their wave of absolute energy too, even if the darkness comes in thick and fast. Talent glows from these musicians, empowering the fans to listen to every aching word, to every plot-line, to every sudden movement.
Woodland, in particular, transfers his talent onto the world, as he tries to escape the mundanity of life, an existence he can’t fully cope with. He’s a starlet, trapped in his own head, but when he finds that feeling, that urgency, he’s the best front-man on the planet. And Holding Absence breaks ground on this release, marking their territory as ones to consider, a group of trailblazing artists craving to see the beam of hope, the shimmering light.
The Noble Art Of Self-Destruction is the band’s stroke of genius, their tour de force, crafted and perfectly sincere. To create art, you must be ambitious, and Holding Absence shows they’re masters of melancholia while breaking ground.
The Noble Art Of Self-Destruction can be purchased or streamed online.
Mark McConville is a freelance music journalist who has written for many online and print publications. He also likes to write dark fiction and poetry.
X: @Writer1990Mark
