Review & Photography by Paul Verner for MPM
A mixed trio of artists for a Friday night of live music in Belfast. Limelight 2 was the intimate setting for Welsh post hardcore 4-piece Holding Absence on their first headlining visit to Northern Ireland, and support was provided by England’s Lizzy Farrell and local band, Archives.
Wholly intent in creating as much carnage as possible Archives took to the stage amid a flurry of smoke and strobe lighting as their backing track kicked in and they set about delivering a solid, but short set from their back catalogue.
It was clear that they had brought along some friends who were all ready to party, and the band’s particular brand of metal hardcore was all they needed to get a circle pit going in the tiny venue.
After a short stage reset, and much of the usual clutter of cables and gear removed, Lizzy Farrall takes to the stage and was left with plenty of room to stalk and prowl as she kicked into high tempo opener ‘Addict’.
Her set provided a surprising change in melodic composition from the brutality of the previous set. With songs like ‘Balloon’, ‘Gas Lighting’, and ‘Room 42’, the melodies were as catchy as the lyrics were heartfelt.
For the most part the music is energetic and draws on influences from rock, pop, funk and the 70’s disco influence in ‘Balloon’. The set finished out with recent 2024 single ‘Mad Hotel’.
As the intro track rang out, Holding Absence burst into ‘Like a Shadow’ from their 2019 self titled album. From the very first note the crowd was energised and already singing at the top of their collective voices; they were clearly audible over both the musicians and venue p.a. system.
Just as well the opening barrage of songs continued with ‘Curse me with your Kiss’, ‘Gravity’, ‘Aching Longing’ and ‘False Dawn’ all high energy anthems in their own right.
It wasn’t until just over halfway through the set in ‘Birdcage’ and the introspective ‘In Circles’ that there was any kind of let-up in tempo or intensity.
Other highlights included ‘Coffin’, ‘A Crooked Melody’ and ‘Afterlife’. Proceedings were closed out with the epic ‘The Angel in the Marble’.
Throughout the set, Holding Absence demonstrated a vulnerability & delicacy in their lyrical content which was contrasted by the passionate delivery and explosive instrumentation which seemed to draw the audience in, and, judging by the hoarse voices after the show, it greatly enhanced their emotional live experience.
The Holding Absence tour continues on 28th July at Manchester’s O2 Warehouse, Chepstow Castle on Sunday 10th August, then they are off to the United States for a string of dates beginning in September. For further touring information please see their website.
Set List
- Like a Shadow
- Curse Me With Your Kiss
- Gravity
- Aching Longing
- False Dawn
- Scissors
- Birdcage
- In Circles
- Coffin
- A Crooked Melody
- Afterlife
- The Angel in The Marble
