HOLDING ABSENCE - THE NOBLE ART OF SELF DESTRUCTION
Earlier this year, Holding Absence released their third album, The Noble Art of Self Destruction, which stands as undoubtedly one of the finest pop-punk records of 2023.
As Lucas Woodland himself said in a recent interview, the album revolves around the beauty in being honest with yourself and genuinely embracing your flaws. Consequently, there is no better way to kick off the album with the track ‘Head Prison Blues’. The track begins with Lucas screaming: “Heart in hand, here I am,” which amplifies the overall message of the album that is vulnerability and showing people your true self, no matter how bad it is. This, to me, highlights the band's authenticity. It truly establishes the mood for the rest of the record. Many artists touch on mental health and their struggles but often avoid delving into the darkest aspects.
Holding Absence, on the flip side, paints a genuine picture of the ongoing struggle, and they immediately underscore this message with the very first line of the entire album. This is also highlighted in another lyric of the song, that is my personal favourite, “My heads been a prison, nobody should visit / I’m losing the will to go on.” This track is something that many people will be able to relate to, and find comfort in the fact that they are not alone. Thank you, Holding Absence.
Next up, we have ‘A Crooked Melody’. This is the ultimate shower song. This is because the chorus is incredibly catchy, you'll find yourself humming it throughout the day without even realising it. Despite the upbeat tone of the song, again, Holding Absence explores the theme of mental health. The lyrics that stuck with me from this song were: “I’ve been lost alone inside my head / the devil on my shoulder is crying wolf again / started thinking that I’m better off dead / How could the sum of someone's life be them believing their own lies?”
This really hits the nail on the head about mental health. Many people go through their daily lives with these thoughts, and what Holding Absence is getting at is that these thoughts are deceiving, and life is genuinely worth living. The band has done a remarkable job at illustrating the realities of mental health and giving people a crucial reminder that they're not going through it alone.
The next song, let me tell you, had my jaw to the floor. This is because, ‘False Dawn’, fades into ‘Scissors’, the song after. So perfectly as well, may I add. I know that many artists pull it off, but Holding Absence executed it so seamlessly that I initially didn't even notice the song had changed, and when I did, I literally gasped. ’Scissors’ really leans into the theme of self-destruction that the band aimed to convey. They delve into some pretty dark territory, exploring the idea of going to great lengths to transform oneself. The chorus drives home the point that, even though it might be painful, sometimes you have to let go of certain things in life. This song delves into a wide range of emotions, and they've executed it beautifully.
‘Honey Moon’, our next track, is the slowest one on the album. Perfect for acoustic sets. ‘Honey Moon’ is a love song. This song is typically quite different from the usual Holding Absence sound, but it’s absolutely great nonetheless. It’s always amazing to see bands experimenting with their music. There's a definite fusion of rock and metal vibes here, blending the soothing energy of an acoustic rock tune with the intensity of a metal band. Absolutely spot on, couldn't be better.
As we move to the latter part of the album and listen to 'Her Wings,' this is the track where the drums truly shine. They bring such a heavy presence, intensifying the whole listening experience. This song explores the idea that humans typically view death as a sombre concept, but it takes a different approach by romanticising it, infusing a positive tone with its beautiful lyrics. This connection ties into track 6, 'Death Nonetheless.'
The final track, 'The Angel In The Marble,' holds immense significance within the album. It's a deeply emotional and unfiltered piece. It delves into the concept that we, the listeners, are like the angel trapped in the marble, and within that unshaped potential, anything is possible—you can truly become anything you envision.
This album is undeniably one of the band's finest works and stands as one of the standout releases of the year. I can not wait for whatever Holding Absence has in store next.
Emily Fletcher
★★★★☆