Holding Absence | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Origin | Cardiff, Wales |
Genres | |
Years active | 2015–present |
Labels | SharpTone |
Members |
|
Past members |
|
Website | holdingabsence |
Holding Absence are a Welsh rock band from Cardiff, Wales, formed in 2015. The group consists of lead vocalist Lucas Woodland, guitarist Scott Carey, and bassist Benjamin Elliott.
The band released an initial collection of singles in 2017, as well as a split EP with Loathe in 2018, before finally releasing their debut record, Holding Absence, in 2019. They are signed with SharpTone Records.
The band took their name from the title of the song "Holding Your Absence" by Hammock.
The band initially formed in 2015, fronted by vocalist Zac Vernon who appears on their first recorded and released tracks, including "Immerse" and "Luna". However, he soon parted ways with the band and formed Parting Gift [4] leaving the door open to Lucas Woodland of defunct outfit, Falling With Style.
Upon Lucas joining the band in 2016, Holding Absence released "Permanent", their debut single under this iteration. [5] The band would soon go on to follow up the release of "Permanent" with their contrasting single "Dream of Me", gaining the attention of US-based record label "Sharptone Records". [4]
In 2017, the band signed with SharpTone Records, with a physical release of the double-A side single Permanent/Dream of Me. [6] The following few months were spent touring the UK alongside several bands, including Blood Youth and We Are The Ocean, before eventually performing at the prestigious Download Festival in Donington. [7]
Soon after Download, the band released their third single "Penance", a six-minute track about "the journey towards happiness". [8] Before the year was out, the band toured the UK again supporting Young Guns, [9] and soon after released their fourth single "Heaven Knows". [10]
Before the end of the year,[ when? ] Holding Absence announced a surprise split EP with label mates Loathe, as well as releasing their fifth single "Saint Cecilia". [11] This Is as One was released in March 2018, accompanied by a unique co-headline tour with the two bands. According to Woodland, "the split came about both at a stage in our careers where we could have benefited from releasing music, but also we wanted to do something a little different". [12] This tour was Holding Absence's first foray into European territory and on the UK leg the bands opted to hand-pick the support acts for each date, including artists such as Sleep Token, Modern Error and Parting Gift. [13]
Soon after returning from the This Is as One tour, founding member and guitarist Feisal El-Khazragi left the band, [14] it was later announced that he had joined Loathe on bass duties. [15]
A new-look Holding Absence (including future guitarists Scott Carey and Chris Smitheram) made their first live appearances at Slam Dunk Festival, [16] before jetting off to Europe again, this time to support Being As An Ocean. [17] The band went on to win the Cardiff Music Award for "Best Breakthrough Band", [18] as well as being nominated at the Heavy Music awards for the "Best UK Breakthrough Band". [19] After finishing the summer by playing sporadic UK festivals Holding Absence went on to close the year off with their biggest tour yet supporting fellow UK post-hardcore band As It Is, alongside Trash Boat and Courage My Love. [12]
In support of this tour, Holding Absence released "Like a Shadow", [20] the first single off the, at the time, unannounced debut album. After the uncertainty with the band's line-up earlier in the year, "Like a Shadow" was seen as a reintroduction to the band and their new line-up. [21]
Later in the year, Holding Absence announced their debut, self-titled record would be released on 8 March 2019. [22] They released 3 more singles before the album release, "Perish", [23] "You Are Everything" [24] and "Monochrome". [25]
Woodland mentions in several interviews how hard the song-writing process was. In regards to El-Khazragi's leaving the band he said that the "line-up change happened not just mid-album, but mid-recording" and how the band "were left having to write and record another half of the album" without him. [26] The record was also recorded in two parts, which caused the band further complications while trying to get it finished. Woodland believes that the changes benefitted the record in the end, as tracks like "Wilt", "Monochrome" and "Like A Shadow" wouldn't have existed if the band remained in its original form. [27]
Holding Absence was finally released via Sharptone Records on 8 March and was instantly received well critically and commercially. [28] Kerrang! gave it 4 out of 5 Ks, stating that the album was a "brilliantly told tale of love and life, and a superb example of how to stretch the limits of what Post-Hardcore can achieve". [29] As well as giving the album a 9/10, Dead Press! expressed, though a long-time coming, Holding Absence "prove[d] that art cannot be rushed, relinquishing a stellar debut that bares the human soul, emotion, and conviction in abundance" [30] Loudwire named it one of the 50 best rock albums of 2019. [31]
In aid of the record release, Holding Absence started touring, playing some of their biggest UK shows to date,[ citation needed ] joined by Luke Rainsford and The Nightmares. [32] Holding Absence spent the remainder of the year touring Europe with Being As An Ocean and Counterparts in the summer, before returning again alongside Sleeping With Sirens in the winter.[ citation needed ]
On 27 March 2020, the band released a new single entitled "Gravity". [33] On 17 April 2020, the band followed up with the release another new single "Birdcage", in conjunction with the release of a 7" picture disc including both "Gravity" and "Birdcage". [34] [35]
On 21 October 2020, the band announced their second full-length album, The Greatest Mistake of My Life, and released its first single "Beyond Belief". [36] [37] With the release of the second single "Afterlife" on 15 January 2021, Holding Absence announced the departure of bassist James Joseph on amicable terms. [38] [39] On 19 March 2021, the third and final single from the album, "In Circles" was released. [40] The Greatest Mistake of My Life was released on 16 April 2021. It was elected by Loudwire as the 7th best rock/metal album of 2021, [41] and the 5th best rock/metal album of 2021 by Kerrang . [42]
On 8 June 2022, the band released a new single "Aching Longing", and announced a split EP with Alpha Wolf entitled The Lost & the Longing, set to be released on 15 August 2022 via SharpTone and Greyscale Records. [43] On 3 August 2022, the band released their second single "Coffin" from the EP. [44]
On 1 April 2023, in Leipzig, Germany on tour with Electric Callboy, the band debuted the first single "A Crooked Melody" [45] live off of their at the time unannounced new album, with the single being released soon thereafter on 6 April. [46] On 17 May, the band posted a teaser on social media which consisted of the previous albums' artwork be slowly torn off to reveal the corner of the new album cover. [47] On 19 May, the second single "False Dawn" was released, [48] [49] along with the band announcing their third album The Noble Art of Self Destruction, to be released on 25 August 2023 via SharpTone Records. [50] [51] On 23 June, the third single "Honey Moon" was released. [52] On 21 July, a fourth single "Scissors" was released. [53]
Vocalist and lyricist Lucas Woodland explained the meaning behind the album cover on social media mentioning it to be a completion of a trilogy, embracing oneself and it being like an art project. [54] In an interview with Rock Sound, he went into further depth behind the album title and artwork, mentioning how be was inspired by the Japanese art style of kintsugi of infusing glue with gold in how hardships in life can make you learn and grow as a person, and how you can learn from self-destruction no matter hard it may be and find something beautiful within it. [55]
On 28 October, 2024, it was announced that long-time drummer Ashley Green had parted ways with the band "for the foreseeable future", with the reason seemingly being related to touring. [56]
Current members
| Former members
Touring members
|
Holding Absence discography | |
---|---|
Studio albums | 3 |
EPs | 2 |
Singles | 21 |
Music videos | 18 |
Title | Album details | Peak chart positions |
---|---|---|
UK [58] | ||
Holding Absence [59] |
| — |
The Greatest Mistake of My Life |
| 90 |
The Noble Art of Self Destruction [60] |
| 67 |
Title | EP details |
---|---|
This Is as One [61] | |
The Lost & the Longing |
|
Title | Year | Album |
---|---|---|
"Immerse" [62] | 2015 | Non-album singles |
"Luna" [63] | ||
"Permanent/Dream of Me" [64] | 2017 | |
"Penance" [65] | ||
"Heaven Knows" [66] | ||
"Saint Cecilia" [67] | This Is as One | |
"Like a Shadow" [68] | 2018 | Holding Absence |
"Perish" [69] | 2019 | |
"You Are Everything" [70] | ||
"Monochrome" [71] | ||
"Gravity" | 2020 | Non-album singles |
"Birdcage" | ||
"Beyond Belief" | The Greatest Mistake of My Life | |
"Afterlife" | 2021 | |
"In Circles" | ||
"Aching Longing"(Featuring Alpha Wolf) | 2022 | The Lost & The Longing |
"Coffin" | ||
"A Crooked Melody" | 2023 | The Noble Art of Self Destruction |
"False Dawn" | ||
"Honey Moon" | ||
"Scissors" |
Title | Year | Director | Link |
---|---|---|---|
"Immerse" | 2015 | [72] | |
"Permanent" | 2017 | [73] | |
"Dream of Me" | [74] | ||
"Penance" | Life Is Art Visuals and Holding Absence | [75] | |
"Heaven Knows" | Ashlea Bea and Holding Absence | [76] | |
"Saint Cecilia" | Zak Pinchin | [77] | |
"Everything" | 2018 | [78] | |
"Like a Shadow" | Zak Pinchin | [79] | |
"Perish" | 2019 | [80] | |
"You Are Everything" | Bethan Miller | [81] | |
"Monochrome" | Life Is Art Visuals | [82] | |
"Gravity" | 2020 | Zak Pinchin | [83] |
"Beyond Belief" | Lewis Cater | [84] | |
"Afterlife" | 2021 | [85] | |
"In Circles" | Zak Pinchin | [86] | |
"Nomoreroses" | Zak Pinchin and Bethan Miller | [87] | |
"Coffin" | 2022 | Zak Pinchin | [88] |
"A Crooked Melody" | 2023 | Lewis Cater | [89] |
"False Dawn" | Third Eye Visuals | [90] | |
"Her Wings" | Lewis Cater | [91] |
The Used is an American rock band from Orem, Utah, formed in 2000. The group consists of vocalist Bert McCracken, bassist Jeph Howard, drummer Dan Whitesides, and guitarist Joey Bradford. Former members include Quinn Allman, Branden Steineckert, and Justin Shekoski.
Glamour of the Kill were an English metalcore band from York. They had a Kerrang! video of the week with the track "Feeling Alive".
Sylosis are a British heavy metal band formed in Reading, Berkshire, in 2000. Signed to Nuclear Blast Records, the band has released six studio albums, a live album, two EPs and twelve music videos. Their latest album, A Sign of Things to Come, was released in 2023.
Crystal Lake is a Japanese metalcore band from Tokyo, formed in 2002. The band comprises vocalist John Robert Centorrino, guitarists Yudai Miyamoto and Hisatsugu Taji, bassist Mitsuru, and drummer Gaku Taura, who is a former member of Nocturnal Bloodlust. After Shinya Hori's departure, Miyamoto is the only member of the original line-up who remains in the band. Crystal Lake have released five studio albums. Their latest studio album, Helix, was released on 28 November 2018.
We Came as Romans is an American metalcore band from Troy, Michigan. Formed in 2005, the band has gone through one name change and multiple line-up changes, and signed to SharpTone Records in 2016 after having been on roster of Equal Vision Records since 2009. They have released six studio albums – To Plant a Seed (2009), Understanding What We've Grown to Be (2011), Tracing Back Roots (2013), We Came as Romans (2015), Cold Like War (2017) and Darkbloom (2022) – and two EPs in 2008 titled Demonstrations and Dreams.
Of Mice & Men is an American rock band formed in Costa Mesa, California, in 2009. The band's line-up currently consists of drummer Valentino Arteaga, guitarists Phil Manansala and Alan Ashby, and bassist and lead vocalist Aaron Pauley. The group was founded by former lead vocalist Austin Carlile and former bassist Jaxin Hall in mid-2009 after Carlile's departure from Attack Attack!. Carlile departed from the band in December 2016 citing that a long-term health condition prompted his exit. After Carlile's departure, the band continued to pursue creating music with Pauley as the band's bassist and lead vocalist.
Don Broco are a British rock band formed in Bedford, England, in 2008. The band consists of Rob Damiani, Simon Delaney (guitar), Tom Doyle and Matt Donnelly. The band have released four studio albums, including Priorities (2012), Automatic (2015) and Technology (2018). Their most recent album Amazing Things (2021) was their first to reach No.1 in the UK Album Charts.
While She Sleeps are a British metalcore band from Sheffield. Formed in 2006, the group consists of vocalist Lawrence Taylor, guitarists Sean Long and Mat Welsh, bassist Aaran McKenzie and drummer Adam Savage. They are currently signed to their own label Sleeps Brothers in the UK and in collaboration with Spinefarm Records in the US and UNFD in Australia. They have released three EPs, And This Is Just the Start, Split and The North Stands for Nothing, and six studio albums, This Is the Six, Brainwashed, You Are We, So What?, Sleeps Society and Self Hell. They received the Best British Newcomer award at the Kerrang! Awards 2012. The group has maintained the same line-up since its formation, with vocalist Taylor being the only bandmate who is not an original member. Despite this, he has still appeared on every release apart from the group's first two EPs.
Set It Off is an American rock band formed in 2008 in Tampa, Florida. The band consists of lead vocalist Cody Carson, guitarist and bassist Zach Dewall, and drummer Maxx Danziger.
Twenty One Pilots are an American musical duo from Columbus, Ohio. Initially a band, the group was formed in 2009 by lead vocalist Tyler Joseph along with Nick Thomas and Chris Salih, who both left in 2011. Since their departure, the line-up has consisted of Joseph and drummer Josh Dun. The duo is best known for their singles "Stressed Out", "Ride", and "Heathens", which achieved commercial success between 2015 and 2016. The duo received a Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards for "Stressed Out".
Beartooth is an American rock band founded by vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Caleb Shomo in Columbus, Ohio, in 2012. Originally Shomo performed every instrument when in the studio, before being joined by a four-piece band. Beartooth has been signed to Red Bull Records since 2013; its debut EP Sick was released on July 26, 2013, followed by the debut full-length album Disgusting on June 10, 2014. Since then, Shomo has released a further three studio albums under the Beartooth moniker: Aggressive (2016), Disease (2018), and Below (2021). The band's fifth studio album, The Surface, was released on October 13, 2023.
Pvris is an American pop rock band formed in Lowell, Massachusetts in 2012. Following several lineup changes, the band is now composed of frontwoman Lynn Gunn.
Trophy Eyes is an Australian punk rock band from Newcastle, formed in 2013. They are currently signed to Hopeless Records. The band currently consists of vocalist John Floreani, bassist and backing vocalist Jeremy Winchester, lead guitarist Josh Campiao, and drummer Blake Caruso. Their single "Hurt" was ranked No. 135 on Triple J's Hottest 100. Other Hottest 100 appearances include No. 101 in 2016 with "Chlorine" and No. 93 in 2018 with "You Can Count on Me". To date, they have released four studio albums: Mend, Move On (2014), Chemical Miracle (2016), The American Dream (2018) and Suicide and Sunshine (2023).
As It Is are a British-American rock band based in Brighton, England. The band was formed in 2012, and signed to Fearless Records in 2014. Following a hiatus, they reunited under Slam Dunk Records.
SharpTone Records is an American independent record label started on September 11, 2013. The label was founded by Nuclear Blast CEO Markus Staiger and former vice president of Sumerian Records Shawn Keith.
Loathe are an English heavy metal band from Liverpool. Formed in 2014, the group consists of lead vocalist Kadeem France, guitarist and second vocalist Erik Bickerstaffe, drummer Sean Radcliffe and bassist Feisal El-Khazragi.
Lotus Eater were a Scottish heavy metal band from Glasgow. Playing a style that puts a heavy emphasis on rhythm and downtuning, they have been cited by publications such as NME and Metal Hammer as helping to lead the new wave of heavy music in Britain alongside groups like Loathe and Holding Absence.
Sleep Token are a British rock band from London, formed in 2016. The group are an anonymous, masked collective led by a frontman using the moniker Vessel. They have been categorised under many different genres, including alternative metal, post-rock/metal, progressive metal, indie rock/pop, and djent. After self-releasing their debut extended play (EP) One in 2016, the band signed with Basick Records and issued a follow-up, Two, the next year. The group later signed with Spinefarm Records and released their debut full-length album Sundowning in 2019, which was followed in 2021 by This Place Will Become Your Tomb. A third album, Take Me Back to Eden, was released in May 2023.
Static Dress are an English rock band from Leeds, West Yorkshire. The band formed in 2018 and currently consists of vocalist Olli Appleyard, drummer Sam Ogden, bassist George Holding, and anonymous masked guitarist Contrast. They have released one full length studio album, three EPs and various standalone singles.
Currents is an American metalcore band formed in Newtown, Connecticut in 2011 by former drummer Jeff Brown. After numerous line-up changes, they consist of singer Brian Wille, guitarists Ryan Castaldi and Chris Wiseman, bassist and backing vocalist Christian Pulgarin, and drummer Matt Young. Since 2018, no original members remain with the band.
{{cite web}}
: External link in |title=
(help){{cite web}}
: External link in |title=
(help){{cite web}}
: External link in |title=
(help)