66. Holding Absence - "The Noble Art Of Self-Destruction"

There is an understated beauty to be found in this record. It is an album of self-aware introspection. It does rock and it is not overtly maudlin, but it has a restrained mannerism to it that means everything is measured and distinctly self-reflective. 

There is an emotional warmth to the songs that I usually find absent in modern post-hardcore. Usually it’s proponents are trying so hard to be genuine and in touch with their metrosexual feelings that it all gets lost on me and just washes over me in a tsunami of male angst. But “The Noble Art of Self Destruction” is a rare beast in the fact that it’s passion and pain doesn’t feel overengineered, instead there is a humility and reserved nature to its vulnerability, like they are sharing only what they feel confident to do so.