Holding Absence
Welsh post-hardcore romantics with soaring, heart-first heaviness, every chorus written to be wept through, Cardiff sincerity at full wingspan.
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About Holding Absence
Holding Absence is a post-hardcore band from Cardiff, UK, formed in 2016.
Holding Absence formed in Cardiff in 2015, when bassist James Evans and guitarist Giorgio Cantarutti left their previous band Oceans Apart to build a new melodic hardcore project. Original singer Zac Vernon departed in 2016 and was replaced by Lucas Woodland, previously of Falling With Style. The band's name comes from "Holding Your Absence," a song by the ambient act Hammock.
Woodland's arrival led to the single "Permanent," which drew the attention of SharpTone Records. The label signed the band in 2017 and released "Permanent" and "Dream of Me" together as a double A-side. Holding Absence spent the following months touring the UK alongside Blood Youth and We Are the Ocean, building a live reputation away from their recordings.
In 2018 the band released a split EP with label mates Loathe, titled This Is as One, touring the UK and Europe together. Founding guitarist Feisal El-Khazragi left soon after and joined Loathe on bass; Scott Carey and Chris Smitheram stepped into the guitar spots, and the retooled band went on to win the Cardiff Music Award for Best Breakthrough Band.
Holding Absence works in a melodic strain of post-hardcore built on reverb-heavy guitars and slow-building arrangements, with choruses pitched for maximum lift. Woodland sings rather than screams, and his lyrics deal directly with grief, love and mental health, giving the material an unusually direct emotional register for the genre.
Their self-titled debut album arrived in 2019, followed by The Greatest Mistake of My Life in 2021 and The Noble Art of Self Destruction in 2023, all released through SharpTone. The band's current lineup keeps Woodland alongside guitarist Scott Carey and bassist Benjamin Elliott.
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Questions about Holding Absence
What festivals is Holding Absence playing in 2027?
Holding Absence is booked at 2 festivals we cover: Rock am Ring 2027, Rock im Park 2027.
Is Holding Absence on tour?
Yes. Holding Absence has 3 shows listed, from Nottingham, UK on Nov 13, 2026 to Manchester, UK on Nov 19, 2026, plus 2 festivals on the page above.
Is Holding Absence playing Rock am Ring 2027?
Yes, Holding Absence is on the Rock am Ring 2027 lineup, June 4–6, 2027 at Nürburgring, Nürburg, Germany. They play Saturday, June 5.
Is Holding Absence playing Rock im Park 2027?
Yes, Holding Absence is on the Rock im Park 2027 lineup, June 4–6, 2027 at Zeppelinfeld, Nuremberg, Germany. They play Friday, June 4.
Where is Holding Absence from?
Holding Absence is from Cardiff, UK.
When did Holding Absence form?
Holding Absence formed in Cardiff in 2016.
What was Holding Absence's first album?
Holding Absence's first album was Holding Absence (2019). The latest is Modern Life Is Lonely (2026).
What kind of music does Holding Absence play?
Holding Absence plays post-hardcore and alternative rock.
What festivals has Holding Absence played before?
Holding Absence has played Aftershock 2026, Louder Than Life 2026, Riot Fest 2026, Sonic Temple 2026.