Live Review: Holding Absence – ‘The Noble Art Of Self Destruction’ UK Tour – O2 Forum Kentish Town, London

Holding Absence are a band that have been making waves in the post-hardcore scene, playing over 200 shows since the pandemic and captivating audiences worldwide with their incredible music. With the release of their third album ‘The Noble Art Of Self Destruction’ – which received both critical acclaim and fan praise – it was only right for the Welsh quintet to embark on their biggest UK tour to date, bringing along two exciting and diverse support acts: Dark Divine and Thornhill. I had the chance to catch the band at their London show, and witness their incredible live performance. Here is what went down.

Described as “Spooky Hard Rock”, Dark Divine wouldn’t have been my first choice when picking support for Holding Absence, however the Orlando five piece did a fantastic job of warming up the early comers. From the first moments of ‘Drown’ right through to the last notes of ‘Halloweentown’, the band laid down lots of energy upon the stage, and really kicked started the night off.

Traveling all the way from Melbourne, Australia, to join this tour it was clear that Thornhill were not here to muck around, launching themselves into their short but meaningful set with their latest single ‘Viper Room’. From the first note the room was lit up with energy. Vocalist Jacob Charlton caressing and throwing his mic stand about, as if it was his tango partner.

As the band played through their perfectly flowing setlist, which included gems like ‘View From The Sun’, and ‘Reptile’ – the latter of which was a change from previous nights on the tour – the room reflected every bit of energy that was shown from the stage. ‘Where We Go When We Die’ would give the London crowd the final allowance for the night, departing the stage to great applause. Unmistakably with all the fanfare, I hope (and can’t wait for) the band to return to the UK again soon.

Right from the first note, as Holding Absence entered the stage it was clear that every ounce of passion and musical excellence was going to go into this set. It was only right for the band to start off the sets on this tour with the first two songs from ‘The Noble Art Of Self Destruction’, setting the tone for the rest of the night. Mosh pits and crowd-surfers were a staple right from the off and it was clear that the London audience was ready to let loose for the rest of the night.

While the setlist was heavily focused on the new album, moments of the band’s past discography were slotted around. This made for a perfect balance between the new and the old and was a great way to display Lucas Woodland’s impressive range, from his Angelic clean vocals to his raw powerful screams.

But Lucas wasn’t the only one that was at the top of their game, with each member of the band performing impeccably. It’s clear that the over 200 shows that the band have played since the pandemic have helped them hone down their skills to an impeccable point.

As the night grew old, with the band performing the last song on the main set ‘ WILT’, the audience were not ready to go off into the cold winter air, demanding more. Of course this was delivered in the best way possible with the band launching into ‘Celebration Song’, with confetti perfectly timed to Lucus’ “I’m Alive” lyric. This was the start of the band’s three song encore that would let the crowd use their final dregs of energy. With the new album starting off the night it was only right that it would cap it off as well, and what better way than with the last song on it ‘The Angel in the Marble’

Holding Absence delivered a stunning performance at the O2 Kentish Town Forum, the band proved why they are one of the most exciting acts in the scene, with a passionate and energetic show that left the audience breathless and hungry for more. Connecting with the crowd, to help create memorable and unforgettable experiences, whilst also performing as well as one can is no easy feat, and helps prove that they are one of the best bands in the scene right now.