{"title":"Holding Absence","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHolding Absence is a rock band from Cardiff, Wales formed in 2015. The group consists of lead vocalist Lucas Woodland, guitarist Scott Carey, bassist Benjamin Elliot and drummer Ashley Green.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"the-noble-art-of-self-destruction","title":"The Noble Art Of Self Destruction","description":"\u003cp\u003eFrom the moment of our first breath to the very last gasp we take before we die, we never stop growing as people. Every trial and tribulation, every heartbreak, success and failure, every scar, blemish and wrinkle is another brushstroke illuminating our life’s unique canvas. As Holding Absence frontman Lucas Woodland sings on “The Angel in the Marble,” the closing track on his band’s outstanding third album \u003ci\u003eThe Noble Art of Self-Destruction\u003c\/i\u003e, we are, each and every one of us, “a puzzle, a painting, a work of art in the making.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHolding Absence’s new album is a testament to how our life’s story is never fully told, with opportunities for change and growth found in every moment, from the depths of despair to the euphoria of our greatest loves. Whether adding flourishes of colour to an already picturesque painting, or chiselling away at the marble to reveal the beauty within, \u003ci\u003eThe Noble Art of Self-Destruction \u003c\/i\u003e– the final act in a trilogy of records encompassing the first chapter of Holding Absence’s career – speaks to how we are each an unfinished work of art with new meanings and qualities waiting to be discovered.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA record Lucas describes as a form of self-therapy that sees him more candid and comfortable with his emotions than ever before, \u003ci\u003eThe Noble Art of Self-Destruction\u003c\/i\u003e brims with a level of energy, excitement and sheer weight of feeling that is unparalleled in contemporary alternative music. Whether Lucas and his bandmates – guitarist Scott Carey, bassist Ben Elliot and drummer Ash Green – are performing relatable anthems about imposter syndrome and self-loathing like massive singles “Crooked Melody” and “False Dawn,” gushing love ballads (“Honey Moon”) or existential reflections on suicide (“Death Nonetheless”), the four-piece’s approach on their new album is packed with the kind of vigour that saw \u003ci\u003eKerrang!\u003c\/i\u003e label them as British rock’s “new leading light” and \u003ci\u003eLoudwire\u003c\/i\u003e proclaim the Cardiff natives to be “the UK’s most exciting new rock band.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eRecorded at Canada’s Jukasa Studios with producer Dan Weller (Enter Shikari, Bury Tomorrow), \u003ci\u003eThe Noble Art of Self-Destruction\u003c\/i\u003e builds further into the lore of Holding Absence that sets them apart from many of their contemporaries. Taking influence from a varied array of sources including Renaissance sculptor Michelangelo, sci-fi blockbuster \u003ci\u003eStar Wars\u003c\/i\u003e and the Japanese pottery art of Kintsugi, Holding Absence’s new LP speaks to the desire of Lucas and his bandmates to create a project that exists as so much more than just a band.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“It’s really important to state that this record is the third part of a trilogy,” Lucas says. “\u003ci\u003eThe Noble Art of Self-Destruction\u003c\/i\u003e is the final piece of a wider art project, with this record serving as a bit of a love letter to Holding Absence before we take the next step. In that regard, I really took inspiration from the \u003ci\u003eStar Wars\u003c\/i\u003e trilogies and how people over the years have completed these epic projects that really fill in the blanks and allow the art to evolve into something bigger and different.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHaving broken one million monthly listeners on \u003ci\u003eSpotify\u003c\/i\u003e and with top song “Afterlife” racking up in excess of 30,000,000 streams, \u003ci\u003eThe Noble Art of Self-Destruction\u003c\/i\u003e looks a sure bet to bring even more success the way of Holding Absence, who’ve toured with the likes of Funeral For a Friend, Electric Callboy and You Me At Six. Previous LP \u003ci\u003eThe Greatest Mistake of My Life\u003c\/i\u003e saw the band grace the covers of \u003ci\u003eKerrang!\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eRock Sound\u003c\/i\u003e, with glowing coverage from outlets including \u003ci\u003eLoudwire\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eAlternative Press\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eUpset\u003c\/i\u003e. \u003ci\u003eThe Guardian\u003c\/i\u003e, meanwhile, praised Holding Absence as a band “making pop-rock anthems with rib-rattling drumming and mainstream appeal.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWith that love only set to grow once \u003ci\u003eThe Noble Art of Self-Destruction\u003c\/i\u003e is released, it’s important for Lucas to emphasise how this album represents that what’s come so far is just the beginning of Holding Absence’s journey.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Our first album (2019’s \u003ci\u003eHolding Absence\u003c\/i\u003e) was about love, \u003ci\u003eThe Greatest Mistake of My Life\u003c\/i\u003e was about loss, and this album is about the person that’s left at the end of that, and the lessons they’ve learned from their trauma. It’s the end of a trilogy – the album art literally says this is part three of three – but it’s not the end of Holding Absence. \u003ci\u003eThe Noble Art of Self-Destruction\u003c\/i\u003e ends on a note of hope, of looking forward free of fear and of embracing yourself, cracks and all. I think that’s something to be really proud of.”\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sharptone","offers":[{"title":"White LP","offer_id":50393704792395,"sku":"2025855","price":37.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Gold LP","offer_id":50393705087307,"sku":"2050375","price":37.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":50393704137035,"sku":"2025854","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/The_Noble_Art_Of_Self_Destruction_3ed36d92_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1726424149"},{"product_id":"holding-absence","title":"Holding Absence","description":"\u003cp\u003eCritically-acclaimed debut from Welsh melodic post rockers.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sharptone","offers":[{"title":"White | LP","offer_id":50401540342091,"sku":"1144450","price":26.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"Clear LP","offer_id":50401540866379,"sku":"2054941","price":27.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/c090a922-e60a-4ce9-8595-68654d4a7d25_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1726524741"},{"product_id":"the-greatest-mistake-of-my-life","title":"The Greatest Mistake Of My Life","description":"\u003cp\u003eHindsight is a powerful and complex thing, and a phenomenon whose intricacies are explored in captivating fashion on \u003ci\u003eThe Greatest Mistake Of My Life\u003c\/i\u003e, the second album from Cardiff’s Holding Absence. Building on the excellent foundations laid down by the band’s eponymous debut record, released in 2019, and following standalone singles ‘Gravity’ and ‘Birdcage’, the four-piece have returned with a group of songs that, in the view of vocalist Lucas Woodland, are the truest representation of Holding Absence to date. Inspired by a song of the same name that was recorded in the 1930s by actor and singer Dame Gracie Fields, \u003ci\u003eThe Greatest Mistake Of My Life\u003c\/i\u003e is rooted in a time long before Holding Absence even existed. Lucas’ great uncle covered the song during the 1950s – something the frontman repeats on this album – and after finding this out from his grandmother, the singer decided the poignancy of its words were worthy of titling Holding Absence’s next record.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHolding Absence – the band completed by bassist James Joseph and drummer Ashley Green – carry the \u003ci\u003eThe Greatest Mistake Of My Life’s\u003c\/i\u003e contemplative and thoughtful spirit throughout their second album. Whereas their debut was a concept record about the subject of love,\u003ci\u003e The Greatest Mistake Of My Life’s\u003c\/i\u003e inspirations are more complex, as Holding Absence stare down love in the face of death, all the while musing on the vast array of emotions we as humans experience throughout our lives. Lead single ‘Beyond Belief’ is a soaring epic about the risk of loving someone forever, when their definition of ‘Forever’ might be different to yours, and a song that, Lucas says, argues how “love is something worth taking a risk on.” \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHolding Absence’s unique approach to romance is also present on atmospheric tracks like ‘Curse Me With Your Kiss’ and ‘Afterlife’, but for every display of affection, \u003ci\u003eThe Greatest Mistake Of My Life\u003c\/i\u003e counters with despondency. ‘Die Alone (In Your Lover’s Arms)’ tells of the loneliness two people feel within a relationship long-turned sour, while ‘In Circles’ speaks to the monotony of everyday life and the crushing of dreams. \u003ci\u003eThe Greatest Mistake Of My Life\u003c\/i\u003e soundtracks the journey of our lives via all of its despair, elation, joy and pain, but never once tells the listener how they should be feeling. Shedding their skins and emerging into a bright new phase for their band, with \u003ci\u003eThe Greatest Mistake Of My Life\u003c\/i\u003e, Holding Absence are embracing change whilst holding onto the things that make them special. Aesthetic, for instance, remains important to Lucas and his bandmates, but as seen in the video for ‘Beyond Belief’, no longer do they exist in a world of purely black and white colour. Ushering in a colourful new era for Holding Absence, Lucas speaks of a desire “to bring warmth to people’s lives.” Armed with a stellar new album and an unflinching belief in their craft, this new incarnation of Holding Absence promises to excite and impress like never before. An enthralling collection of songs and stories that tell of love, life, death and everything in between,\u003ci\u003e The Greatest Mistake Of My Life\u003c\/i\u003e is a thrilling record, and one its creators were born to make. As Holding Absence have proved, the greatest mistakes can sometimes open the door to even greater triumphs.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sharptone","offers":[{"title":"2LP - Green Ripple","offer_id":52114527781195,"sku":"R8771-8831","price":54.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":50522513408331,"sku":"1112819","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/610bd0f1-8b89-41f3-a5f9-fee37ac3e49e_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1728010176"},{"product_id":"modern-life-is-lonely","title":"Modern Life Is Lonely","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHolding Absence\u003c\/strong\u003e return with their most immersive project yet, a new album that stretches their trademark emotional intensity into something bigger and more transportive. It is not just a collection of songs, but a fully realised world fans can step inside.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOver more than a decade, \u003cstrong\u003eHolding Absence\u003c\/strong\u003e have built a fiercely loyal global following, with deluxe physical editions consistently selling out and every release sparking strong engagement. This album grows naturally from that connection, deepening the bond between band and audience.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFor longtime listeners and newcomers alike, this is a release that captures what makes \u003cstrong\u003eHolding Absence\u003c\/strong\u003e so compelling: emotional weight, ambition, and a sense of total immersion.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sumerian Records","offers":[{"title":"LP - Blue and Purple and Gold Marble Blend","offer_id":57904464920907,"sku":"R0691-2720","price":27.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":57904464953675,"sku":"R0691-2962","price":13.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/ARTWORK_HI-RES_FRONT-1_2.jpg?v=1784541585"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/collections\/test_550868ee_thumbnail_4096_86e49270-e78c-44b2-90c4-937800eb2b39.jpg?v=1726424108","url":"https:\/\/shop.roughtrade.com\/collections\/holding-absence.oembed","provider":"Rough Trade","version":"1.0","type":"link"}