Shout it out loud: to mark their recent signing to Sumerian Records, UK trio — and post-hardcore AI modeler target — Holding Absence have delivered their first song in three years, “Whisper of a Dream.”
To paraphrase the pop-heavy tune’s lyrics, the Wales-based Holding Absence emerged from “a shadow in the darkness” to deliver the song, which is explained in a press release to be about “what it means to be human when hope feels out of reach.”
Sonically, they communicate this with bruised-heart post-hardcore melodicism and vocalist Lucas Woodland’s emotive musings on connection and sentience (“If the Mannequins could speak – surely, they would kick and fucking scream”). The track is inspired by cyberpunk media, and the video — which you’ll find up above — debuts the group’s new mascot, a robot named Y4-BB0.
“After releasing our third record, The Noble Art Of Self-Destruction, it felt essential to step away for a while — to take stock and rediscover who we are as a band,” Woodland says, adding that “Whisper of a Dream” marks a “perfect” reintroduction to the band.
“In many ways, it represents everything Holding Absence has always been, while introducing new elements to our sound and opening the door to what comes next.”
Details on a full-length follow-up to The Noble Art Of Self-Destruction have yet to be revealed, though it’s explained that we’ll soon see more of Holding Absence and Y4-BB0.
For starters, the band will be performing at the Welcome to Rockville, Sonic Temple, Louder than Life and Aftershock festivals this year.