Alpha Wolf & Holding Absence The Lost & The Longing

From the outset, THE LOST & THE LONGING seems like an ambitious crossover.

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As one of the most exciting metal acts in the country, Alpha Wolf traditionally deliver brutal breakdowns; gritty guitar tones and downtuned nü metal-esque riffs, the Welsh based Holding Absence on the other hand, dominate the post-hardcore scene, with the group being renowned for their melodic song structures, evocative lyrics and powerful singalongs. Meaning a joint EP which sees both groups unveil a standalone single each, as well as two collaborative tracks, could go either way.

As expected, both bands pull it off with finesse, with The Lost & The Longing proving to not only be a matchup that works incredibly well, but a release that sees both bands propel their sounds to completely new heights. As the opening track on the release, 60cm of Steel is an absolute onslaught. Ushering in sludgy riffs, unrelenting drum fills and heavily industrial harmonics, it’s Alpha Wolf at their finest, with the inclusion of Holding Absence’s Lucas Woodland’s cleans only enhancing the group’s already iconic sound. With Woodland delivering the track’s powerful choruses, it almost feels like a natural part of Alpha Wolf’s sound, with moments feeling like an extension of the group’s revered song bleed 4 u.

As a fusion of two incredibly different acts, THE LOST & THE LONGING is certainly a release that no one saw coming, but what a pleasant surprise it is. Not only is it an EP that’ll undoubtedly keep fans of both Holding Absence and Alpha Wolf satisfied, it’s also the kind of ambitious and left of centre release that’ll hopefully inspire other groups to take a chance and try something different.

For the few that will undoubtedly complain about the inclusion of cleans in 60 cm of Steel, Hotel Underground will have you covered, with its classic A Quiet Place To Die guitar tones and effectively minimalistic breakdown being enough to make any Alpha Wolf fan feel at home. Considering the assault that Side A delivers, you’d assume that the introduction of Holding Absence may come across slightly jarring at first, that’s not the case, with Aching Longing stepping up the tempo to deliver what is easily the heaviest song in their catalog. With the combination of Woodland’s soaring vocal range and Keogh’s powerful screams working so cohesively together, it’s a sonic direction that many will want Holding Absence to explore more of. As a fusion of two incredibly different acts, THE LOST & THE LONGING is certainly a release that no one saw coming, but what a pleasant surprise it is. Not only is it an EP that’ll undoubtedly keep fans of both Holding Absence and Alpha Wolf satisfied, it’s also the kind of ambitious and left of centre release that’ll hopefully inspire other groups to take a chance and try something different.

STANDOUT TRACKS: 60cm of Steel, Aching Longing, Hotel Underground
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