Colchester Arts Centre
Thursday 2nd February 2023
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HOLDING ABSENCE – COLCHESTER – LIVE REVIEW
As Independent Venue Week continues we head to one of the countryās finest, the wonderful Colchester Arts Centre. Seriously though, those toilets will have you feeling like royalty – toilet-circuit indeed!
In town tonight are Holding Absence who are towards the end of a tour of the UKās off the beaten track venues and the locals are clearly excited with the show a sell out.
Most of the audience are in the venue early to catch the support (always a wise move!) and up first the crowd are treated to the ferocious Your Misery. Controlling the stage as if they were seasoned veterans, the band are able to not just warm up the crowd but fully win them over. Certainly one to keep an eye on, Your Misery couldnāt have done any more tonight to make a statement.
Our second act, Australians Void of Vision, most definitely feel like a band that know how to make a statement of their own. The group burst onto stage and fill the venue with their huge sound. Itās an audio onslaught for the next forty-five minutes as the likes of āDOMINATRIXā, āTHE LONELY PEOPLEā and āINTO THE DARKā leave the crowd desperate for more.
There may not be any more Void of Vision tonight, but you can expect to hear much more in the future. With a new EP coming soon, this could be a breakthrough year for the band.
WATCH ‘AFTERLIFE’ ON YOUTUBE
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Our headliners, Holding Absence, have felt like they are breaking out for a few years now. Certainly not ones to rest on their laurels; their touring schedule has been intense. The majority of those shows though have been support slots, so itās refreshing to catch them at a headline show finally.
The core fanbase of the band appear very committed and there is anticipation in the air in this old church tonight. That anticipation boils over as the band arrive on stage and quickly run through āMonochromeā, āBeyond Beliefā and āLike A Shadowā much to the delight of those fans.
The setlist tonight is a real mix of the bands releases with highlights including āGravityā, āIn Circlesā and new song āAching Longingā. Youād perhaps expect a little more from a headline show, but I guess the old adage is to leave the audience wanting more.
After a finale of āAfterlifeā and āWiltā, Holding Absence most definitely do just that. With so many sing-a-long anthems or bangers as the kids would say, and an engaging stage presence youād hope that the band will live up to their early promise.
Three bands at different stages of their budding careers tonight all make a valuable impression. Itās worth remembering that nights like this are happening up and down the country, night in night out. Itās tough out there and venues and bands need your support, so perhaps think twice on spending hundreds of pounds on those Beyonce tickets and pop down to your local independent venue instead!
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Read our review of ‘The Greatest Mistake of My Life’ from Holding Absence