Yab Crave

Holding Absence, When We Were Young 2025 REVIEW: "We will look back on this day for a very long time,” Lucas Woodland exclaims. Yet when that statement concerns Holding Absence rather than the When We Were Young attendees, it’s for a very different reason than what he may have initially expected it to mean. As the only member of the band to have their Visa approved in time to get across the Atlantic for this appearance, the last week has been spent building a contingency plan. That involved three members of metalcore royalty, Boundaries, joining the fold, three days for them to learn this six-song set, and the first time all four of this version of the band getting to run through it being here in front of this ever-expanding crowd. For many an artist, the pressure that comes with such a rush could crush them. But Lucas is thriving within it, his already impassioned performance reaching a new level of intensity. ‘Afterlife’ and ‘Like A Shadow’ are dispatched with grit and gusto, whilst a vicious showing of ‘Aching Longing’ allows this weekend’s bassist Nathan Calcagno to deliver some audacious growls. The mutual appreciation is evident from the Boundaries boys, who are clearly stoked to have been given the chance to play these songs. And as a gorgeous ‘Wilt’ closes things out and Lucas delivers one final heartwrenching croon, you can see how much it means to him for them to have gone into this headfirst. As the stress of the last few days melts away, leaving an intensely grateful smile across his face, it’s clear this was not just a triumph in the face of true adversity. It was a reminder of the beauty of community, the reward of resilience and how the most unexpected of occurrences can create the most timeless of moments. ✏️ Jack Rogers 📷 Jenn Five