Alpha Wolf

Holding Absence

The Lost & The Longing

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Genre: Metalcore.
Released: 19/08/2022

EP Review: Alpha Wolf & Holding Absence – The Lost & The Longing

In what may be one of the surprises of the year in the rock and metal space, Alpha Wolf and Holding Absence have dropped their collaborative EP onto the world and many are wondering just how it’ll work. I for one cannot contain my curiosity so without further adieu, Here is my review of ‘The Lost & The Longing’.

The collaborative EP starts with ‘60 CM Of Steel’, One of the two Alpha Wolf entries. A subtle looming intro that is interrupted by guttural scratches and a beefy percussion track. A more metal-orientated song sets the bar high for the rest of the EP and the feature from Holding Absence act’s as the peace within the panic during this track. A more aggressive vocal delivery from Lucas Woodland may take some by surprise but it bosses this heavy track!

Alpha Wolf’s second entry is ‘Hotel Underground’ which captures the band’s sound perfectly and adds a bit more of an all-out assault feel to the EP. Chugging riffs mixed with hyper-melodic elements that are enough to send any self-respecting metal fan into a headbanging frenzy. This is a track that existing fans of the band are going to adore as it serves as a natural progression of the band’s sound over the years. 

Holding Absence gets their first of two tracks underway with ‘Aching Longing’. Surprisingly, the song has a bit of a more a heavy feel to it than what fans of the band would probably expect, however the remnants of the band’s sound remain among the more angst-filled tracks. One takeaway from this song is that the Holding formula would 100% work with half-speed breakdowns and intense guterals as delivered by Alpha Wolf’s Lochie Keogh.

Closing out the EP is ‘Coffin’, A much more recognisable Holding Absence track. A very emotionally driven song that captures your mind with its lyrics but captures your dance moves with a bouncy instrumental. The song sounds as if it could have fit perfectly on the band’s most recent album ‘The Greatest Mistake Of My Life’ so I’m sure fans will quickly take this in just as quickly as they did that release. 

When I first saw the announcement of this collaborative EP I have to admit that I was skeptical however the band’s have done an amazing job of lending each others vastly different styles and blending them into something memorable and enjoyable. It’s two new songs to each of these bands discographies and a great way to introduce fans of different genres to something new.