EP REVIEW: This Is As One – Loathe/Holding Absence

LOATHE and HOLDING ABSENCE have been sister bands since their recent inception. Hailing from Liverpool and Cardiff respectively, each are absolutely dominating the local scene and the underground in their areas, gaining cult followings from very short careers and sparse releases. LOATHE blew critics away last year with their earth-shattering release The Cold Sun, touring the UK and the US in support of it with bands like WAGE WAR and BAD OMENS, whilst HOLDING ABSENCE have consolidated a passionate fanbase from less than ten songs. Thus, from the powerhouse that is Sharptone Records, the bands have teamed up for a brief but incredible aural decimation in the form of their split EP – This Is As One. Clocking in at less than 20 minutes and spanning four tracks – two apiece, the record stunningly showcases the brilliance and originality of the participant artists.

LOATHE take the reins of the first half of the record with White Hot and Servant and Master, which both come in swinging with the group’s trademark bleak, dissonant and crushing tones. Demonstrating more refinement and maturity than their debut release, the songs maintain an utterly unique sound whilst keeping up with, and complimenting, HOLDING ABSENCE‘s catchy, clean-vocal driven tracks. Kadeem France’s frenzied, nightmarish harsh vocals fulfil their dark aesthetic whilst the clean vocals featured bring an element of restrainment and beauty to their art. White Hot develops throughout the track from their classic, pumping, rhythmic beatdowns to soaring, pensive lead guitar, contrasting the huge breakdown that signals the end of the song. Servant and Master is closer to the tracks from The Cold Sun, featuring dissonant ambience, more pounding percussion, but also with the synthesisers and futuristic vocals reminiscent of the transitionary tracks on The Cold Sun.

HOLDING ABSENCE‘s half of the record is a totally different ball game – but not in a way that detracts. Featuring upbeat post-hardcore melodies, soaring, stellar clean vocals and poignant lyrics, they are almost the polar opposite of the chaos and dissonance of LOATHE. This is the strength of This Is As One. Saint Cecilia brings one of the biggest choruses of 2018 so far, which would not be out of place being screamed out to an arena. “What are you to do, when the thing you live for, is dying beside you?” – images of love, loss, death and faith dominate the lyrics, creating an original and intriguing thoughtscape throughout the second half of the record. This Is As One closes out with Everything, a beautiful slow burning track dominated by a building drum track and clean vocals. “Love changed everything” and “love, giving up on you” are chanted in the chorus, further detailing the contrast between this emotional melodic hardcore and LOATHE‘s no-holds-barred beatdown hardcore.

All in all, This Is As One is undoubtedly a landmark release for both bands involved, as well as Sharptone Records. Demonstrating two groups that both have so much yet to give not only gives us some cracking music for the time being, but shines a light on the exciting future of the heavy music scene in the UK. We can’t wait for their upcoming joint tour in support of the EP with support from other incredible acts like SLEEP TOKEN and GOD COMPLEX. You won’t need to keep an eye out for either of these bands – they’ll be laying waste to much bigger venues in the months to come. Stellar work.

Rating: 9/10

This Is As One is out now via SharpTone Records.

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