HOLDING ABSENCE | 'The Noble Art of Self Destruction' | ALBUM REACTION/REVIEW

This is my reaction/review for 'The Noble Art of Self Destruction' which is the newest album from Holding Absence. I've covered a lot of this band on the channel and I really dig their sound. I feel this record is their best full release yet. Which tracks are your favorites? The support links/merch for the band can be found a bit further below.
SOCIALS/LINKS: linktr.ee/rachellereacts
**SUPPORT THE BAND:
Pre-order 'The Noble Art of Self Destruction': bfan.link/the-noble-art-of-se...
Buy their merch: www.holdingabsence.com/
Follow them on Instagram: / holdingabsence
Follow them on Twitter: / holdingabsence
Follow them on Facebook: / holdingabsence
ATTENTION!!! DID YOU LIKE MY BADASS NEW INTRO SONG? CHECK OUT THE BADASS FRIENDS WHO MADE IT:
Brandon: / bxmmusic
Ciarán: / @ciaran1344
Credit for Rachelle Reacts logo: / macsweatshirt
Credit for intro filming and editing: Zilla Hawkins
Timestamps
0:00:00 Start
0:00:17 Intro
0:01:15 Head Prison Blues
0:05:50 A Crooked Melody (Full reaction/review on the channel)
0:07:54 False Dawn (Full reaction/review on the channel)
0:10:11 Scissors
0:14:56 Honey Moon (Full reaction/review on the channel)
0:17:20 Death Nonetheless
0:21:45 Her Wings
0:24:44 These New Dreams
0:29:05 Liminal
0:33:24 The Angel in the Marble
0:39:30 Outro/Review discussion

[@lrn5152]

The Angel in the Marble makes me so emotional. It's so uplifting and far too relatable.

[@Vixfor_]

One of my favourite albums this year

[@maxay159]

Drummer is clean. Disinfectant clean. Reminds me of the guy from Killswitch: gives each note its full value, and just as importantly, the space between the notes its full value.

[@RachelleReacts]

Ash is the king!

[@binarycode1397]

Didn't think they would top 'Greatest mistake' but there going from strength to strength, 10/10 album.

[@davidnelsonbradsher1381]

I'm so glad you reacted to the whole album. You're my favorite reactor not only because of your musical taste, but also because you feel the raw emotion the same way I do. Some of these tracks hit me immediately, and some are growers, but the album as a whole is a great 3 of 3, and The Angel in the Marble hit so hard with a combination of sadness, but also as an acknowledgement of moving forward with a modicum of hope. Thanks, Rachelle. Keep doing what you're doing. Lots of love from NC.

[@RachelleReacts]

thank you so much for the kind words!! i also hugely agree with the sad yet hopeful feeling in The Angel in the Marble. such a powerful track about the struggle to become someone positive or that you’re supposed to be

[@forty1down]

Liminal and Head Prison Blues all day! 🔥

[@ryanyomomma]

Head Prison Blues is the play for me.

[@rcahyarasy]

"I'll merge the man that I was hoping I could be with the man that I know that I am The noble art of self-destruction guiding my hand" this line got me in tears.

[@sweetgregt]

That part in "Death Nonetheless" after the 3 minute mark is STRAIGHT UP The Receiving End of Sirens. One of the greatest post-hardcore bands of all time and clearly an influence for the band. But they loved to do those thumping bass build ups with layers and layers of vocal melodies repeating on top of each other. Brilliantly done.

[@rev327]

Lovely album from the lovely boys! Liminal is my 'on repeat' track for now.

[@sweetgregt]

10/10 album. Same feeling I got when I heard Anberlin's Never Take Friendship Personal years and years ago. Emotional, energetic, alternative rock on a whole other level than anyone else. This one will be a masterpiece.

[@Offwithurhead7987]

Album is a 10/10 for me. This album does have a more up tempo to it. Although not some of my favorite tracks compared to others on the other albums this one just flowed and is more cohesive. Can’t wait to see them play some of these like here in the states and I’m still hoping they have a headline tour here so we can get a lot more of their discography played

[@vanyamotionless9342]

the bridge part of The Angel In The Marble is the best part ever, it's very deep/soothing emotion, you can feel the grit and rawness in his voice back and fourth, and the lyrics is so meaningful just wow "I am a puzzle, I am a painting I am a work of art in the making Trust in your hand and Trust in the process I am a work of art in the progress I learned from my flaws and I cut myself open Glued myself better Golden; unbroken Now all I have left is A handful of hope and A thousand laments That I can't leave unspoken The noble art of self-destruction guiding my hand I'll merge the man that I was hoping I could be with the man that I know that I am The noble art of self-destruction guiding my hand" this song is such a masterpiece, (the album also) Thankyou for reacting to this album, very underrated album, a hidden gem

[@ThatYellowPokemon]

So mad the album isn't bigger, I want them everywhere.

[@spitz5183]

False Dawn and Liminal are the best tracks on the album for me.

[@ItsAnthonyy]

Holding Absence really cooked with this one, my favorite bands of all time, they're so underrated, which makes them a special gem, also I love that all the songs here transition to each other! Feels like if you listen to them chronologically it's like a really long song which I love. This album got me in tears, it's so good. Hopefully it's not their last album

[@patraboramie4027]

Loved the reaction! Btw at 22:14 the intro of Her Wings kinda sounds like Curse Me With Your Kiss

[@0.hellothere.0]

Along with Invent Animate's 'Heavener' my favorite album this year so far. I'm gonna see them live in November and I'm already so excited to hear these new amazing songs live (and of course also their other songs)!!

[@mylife1221]

Which show are you going to? I'll be at the Manchester one on the 22nd. The gig in Liverpool (my hometown) I saw them at in January was probably my favourite gig I've been to.

[@0.hellothere.0]

@@mylife1221 I'm from Germany so I'll be at the Cologne show. Glad you enjoyed them :)

[@moo2k4]

Stellar album, my favorite of the year. Angel in the Marble might be the best song they've ever written and kind of feels like a de facto sequel to Wilt. If they opt to close with that at shows (and I bet they do) then the audience better prepared to just sob.

[@marcosro5891]

The Last one need a músic video, Is amazing AND so emotional

[@acampillo]

10/10 for me. Singles didn't hit the same as they did as part of a whole. I already felt similar with TGMOL. I think these guys are really good at creating complex concepts ☺️

[@WickedGoodBooks]

The first track reminded me so much of ANBERLIN!

[@markthedark595]

That part in Death Nonetheless reminded me of Bullet For My Valentine. The style from the first three records mainly. Her Wings is my favorite track on this record and it gives off Paramore vibes to me. Like if Paramore was a hardcore band fronted by a male. That's what it does feel like for me.

[@niallosullivan2423]

Love this album and anything holding absence haven't had the chance to see to them yet soon hopefully 🤞🤞

[@user-dw3ei1vd9w]

Death nonetheless = the receiving end of sirens feels

[@dimkablinov4651]

Top 10 albums this year, easy

[@lnhaleExhale90]

Was waiting for this reaction!

[@RachelleReacts]

i got you 🤝

[@devonatty1399]

Death nonetheless is my favourite

[@RachelleReacts]

me too!

[@DJC171]

Finally getting round to this one! Loved seeing how much you enjoyed this! I actually liked this album more than I was expecting. Vocals were excellent throughout! Crooked Melody was surprising because I had thought I didn't really like that track but hearing it again here, it turns out I love it! Other favourites would have to be Angel in the Marble, Scissors and Liminal! There were a couple of tracks that weren't for me. Death Noneless wasn't my vibe really, particularly the gang vocal section and Her Wings I probably won't go back to but I think everything else was great!

[@RachelleReacts]

yay! i totally forgot that we never talked about this one but i’m glad it was a release that did it for you :)

[@Kedrok]

Yes.

[@Commandercolt44]

This album is one of my most anticipated of the year and they did not disappoint

[@bl0odm1st7]

Early favorite - These new dreams This video is a great way to start the week!

[@mylife1221]

i posted this comment on a reddit post last night, so i may as well just paste it here My favourites list has already changed, but my god this album is SO much better than TGMOML in my opinion. Definitely my top pick for album of the year so far, and I was so sure Periphery would hold it. My current ranking looks something like this: 1. Scissors 2. Her Wings 3. False Dawn 4. Honey Moon 5. Death Nonetheless 6. These New Dreams 7. Liminal 8. The Angel in the Marble 9. Head Prison Blues 10. A Crooked Melody The songs past These New Dreams (excluding A Crooked Melody) are songs I haven't listened to enough to decide a proper placing, but if I had to estimate from my first listen of them, it'd look something like that. Scissors is everything I want from this band. Some sort of groovy section (the intro), a wall-of-sound chorus, a sudden tempo/time sig change (going from 4/4 to 3/4 in the chorus), a melody that hits like a ton of bricks with lyrics that perfectly showcase its emotion, a momentary switch-up (the transition into the 2nd chorus), a unique "breakdown", an ethereal transition, a section with powerful screams, unedited background noise (the breathing)... it has it all. It's just sheer perfection. Her Wings reminds me of Blinding Lights by The Weeknd; correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure the chorus has the same chord progression. It's equally as catchy, too, with a unique cymbal-heavy drum pattern I don't hear Ash playing often. If any song from the album were to blow up in the mainstream, I'd say it'd probably be this one. The Afterlife of TNAOSD, False Dawn was my love-at-first-listen. After being disappointed following my first-time listen to A Crooked Melody, I was pretty scared to give this a try. It ended up becoming my favourite Holding Absence song, period. Then the album released, and obviously, things change. Lyrically though? This is the song I relate to the most on the album, and that chorus could bring the strongest of rooves down with ease. Honey Moon is quite possibly the most beautiful song I've ever heard. The inhale as a (possible) reference to Mourning Song leading into the divine, ambient post-hardcore sound we all know and love is the cherry on top. Then you have the super long note before the second chorus, which he held three times longer than I initially expected him to. And the melody choices by Lucas in the first verse? Nuts. Absolutely nuts. Death Nonetheless has one of my favourite intros to any of their songs, truth be told. It almost has the groove of Scissors' intro riff, but it has a playful element to it as well. And then there are (what I believe to be) subtle references to Curse Me With Your Kiss (the riff between verses) and Die Alone (In Your Lover's Arms) (the outro with a crescendo of layered vocals of different lyrics); this is always welcome, and was an incredible stylistic choice if intentional. The lyrics are also some of the more sensitive ones Lucas has made in my opinion. These New Dreams is honestly just a bog standard song, really. The main thing that makes it interesting for me is Lucas hits the lowest note in his vocal range that we know of (an F#2), which confirmed his vocal range is exactly 3 octaves wide (he hits an F#5 at the end of Mourning Song, which I believe is his highest note). I guess there's still room for this one to grow as well, but I've listened to it way more than the other songs below it. I didn't expect to be writing such a long essay, but at 5am, ADHD go brrrr. I'm beyond excited to see them on tour so I can let loose again - this band speaks to me unlike any other, even though they're not my favourite band. It just makes the emotional release during gigs so much stronger, which is always a plus.

[@RachelleReacts]

appreciate the thought going into your listening experience! my ranking would be somewhat similar, with Death Nonetheless higher, the more I've listened to the album the more I've really loved that track. Scissors is definitely a highlight also. Just the most consistent release from them we've seen and I'm stoked about it. I can hear those subtle references as well, quite a few moments that reflect on prior parts of the trilogy which is neat to see. Really cool to see the facts about Lucas' vocal range as well!! Thank you Jake!

[@mylife1221]

@@RachelleReacts yeah, death nonetheless is probably gonna grow on me a lot. i love when artists reference their older work in their newer work, whether it be explicitly (periphery) or subtly (this album). callbacks always bring out stronger feels

[@carlosbarrantes6571]

React to the new album of The Word Alive plz It is so fkn’ good

[@robinjohnsson6125]

this album is so fucking good

[@jordanspence-bell6488]

fantastic album reaction rachelle the noble art of self destruction is the best album that holding absence has released to date all of the songs blend into each other so well making the album consistent & cohesive to listen to the vocal contrast between lucas woodland & scott carey on this album are absolutely flawless going back & fourth between the songs ashley green's drumming on this album is the highlight for me the way he hits every single snare/tom fills/ cymbal strikes is insanely good i really enjoyed this album from holding absence & there is nothing that i would change about it the album as a whole is perfection 10/10 album of the year for me. Keep the reactions coming rachelle well done.🙂❤🤟🔥

[@RachelleReacts]

thank you so much Jordan! agreed, i think this is their best album yet :)

[@stevenm6301]

AOTY.

[@user-th6kt2jf7x]

Awesome record, for sure one of my favorites this year. The best single for me is Honey Moon, two best non-singles are These New Dreams (the chorus!) and Angel In The Marble (these lyrics and the atmosphere are really touching). The least favorite tracks are Liminal - it has great chorus, but lyrics are boring to my liking. And Death, Nonetheless because I disliked the ending part that has no resolution, I really waited for a drop and was disappointed - the rest of the song is excellent. Thank you for the reaction!

[@RachelleReacts]

HONEY ALL I SEE IS YOOOOOU such a catchy tune

[@user-th6kt2jf7x]

@@RachelleReacts yasssss

[@robmetalhead6185]

Neither heard of this band gives me emery vibes a bit maybe cause of scissors song along with the emotive vocals definitely going to check out this album

[@sebastienjamet1488]

Heyy , good video :), I have a question for u, Are u expected to react to Casey's new album (How to disappear)? It's a master piece. TY for ur reacts

[@villagewolf999]

Death nonetheless wins because of after 3:00. Sick album