Holding Absence, Thornhill – Cardiff University Students Union
Holding Absence, Thornhill
Cardiff University Students Union
18/11/2023
Live Review by Alex Swift
9/10
Being a homecoming show for Holding Absence, tonight feels like a rite of passage. On their last album tour they were playing the smaller, twin venue to this one, and the band take care to acknowledge the local venues where they grew into the musicians that they are today. Now touring in support of their third album, the Welsh alternative act feel like they are going from strength to strength. As I write this, they’ve just announced a run of stadium shows supporting Pierce the Veil, and there’s a palpable excitement in the air tonight that we’re witness to something significant – that this might be one of the last venues of a small size the band will play for some time.
Australia’s Thornhill captivated the crowd with a moving performance. The Thornhill live experience is incredibly creative, with a strong emphasis on throbbing soundscapes and dramatic moods. With his scorching intensity and captivating delivery of the words, vocalist Jacob Charlton radiates superstar potential. Even though the band inspirations are all over the place, their creativity and ambition make them one of the most interesting new acts around.
It would be negligent to overlook the noticeable spike in enthusiasm that occurs when the main act takes the stage. It goes without saying that one of the most beloved bands in the current iterations of alt-rock has the capacity to blow it out of the water. With Lucas Woodland leading the way and exuding both a boundless strength and a grateful, youthful charm outside of songs, it’s fair to say that Holding Absence are among the best live performers in their scene. That’s not surprising at all, though, since the show has some of the cleanest sounds this little of a space is likely to produce. The quality of this sound is absolutely amazing. Not a single nuance is lost, as the darker, cerebral character of the band’s music is still present.
That doesn’t seem like a very controversial viewpoint, and if you give it to everyone here tonight, they would probably agree. That’s the current grip of Holding Absence – a degree of commitment that’s unquestionably not inconsequential. Although it would be simple to write them off as another band caught in the crossfire of a frenzy, this is a very distinct occurrence from anything that falls into that category. This isn’t even remotely shallow excitement, and when it carries through to a performance that is primarily made up of new songs greeted with unrestrained, unrelenting admiration, being a part of that is contagious.
Still, if you’re looking to be impressed by an up-and-coming act, look no farther than the assurance of Holding Absence. With the grace of well-known favourites, even their earliest tracks are introduced and accepted as such, never faltering, or erring in judgement. Mostly, it’s proof of just how deep the band’s reservoir of hits is—a set that never lacks impetus or an explosive hook. Even though ‘Wilt’ and ‘Afterlife’ feel like the pinnacle of brilliance, they’re actually no more spectacular than anything else they do this evening. You could play this setlist in whatever sequence you’d want, and the outcome would always be the same: a smooth, well-executed performance with emotional and exciting moments that few could match, let alone exceed.
LINKS:
Thornhill
Holding Absence Socials
Disclaimer: This review is solely the property of Alex Swift and Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this review, unless you have the strict permission of both parties. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.