It’s my great pleasure to introduce you to Holding Poison, a phenomenal band that emerged from lockdown with a clear sound and chops that belie their short time together as a band. Vocalist/guitarist Matt Blackwell, lead guitarist Jack Findell, drummer Joe Lazarus, and backing vocalist Georgie Carter meld to deliver a powerhouse slice of alternative rock. Most clearly, you can hear where their influences are, from Foo Fighters to Queens of the Stone Age to Biffy Clyro, but Holding Poison has done enough to put its spin on these sounds and create a very distinguishable identity.
I’ve had Holding Poison’s new single “It All Dies” on repeat since I first checked it out. Something about this song just gets hold of you right from that opening guitar riff and refuses to let go. With driving drums, great melodies, and big rock harmonies, “It All Dies” has everything one would want in a high-energy headbanging tune.
“It All Dies” doesn’t waste much time, going straight down to business from the opening riffᅳmaking one take note of its bouncy, bluesy swagger. The assured vocals come right without any pause, full of passion, as the melody is very catchy and sticky. Everything flows into a similar killer pre-chorus before going into fantastic vocals on the big hook.
Speaking of the vocals, Holding Poison weaves gorgeous layered harmonies throughout the track that give me chills. I mean, there is something kind of epic about their vocal interplay, and that elevates the track. The guitars punch through with attitude, too, while solos ring out like cries. The extended outro is a highlight, letting those huge guitars and drums have their shining moment. This is a real rock song that builds, breaks down, and climaxes in all the right ways.
Holding Poison didn’t form that long ago, but quite obviously, there’s been no hanging about getting their style and skill together during lockdown. Now, the time for them is to unleash an impact armed with this punchy, explosive sound. And even better for fans, “It All Dies” is only the beginning of that new music batch that’s coming, since they already have something in store that will take it to a whole different level. Holding Poison also shared some fun tidbits, like the message: “Be good, if you can’t be good, be safe if you can’t be safe, buy a pram.”
As a first-time listener to Holding Poison, “It All Dies,” put me in serious obsession mode. This song just has energy and appeal that you can’t help but love. Consider me a new diehard fan, because now I’m looking out for more from Holding Poison. Make sure to check out the track on all major streaming platforms to get your fill of “It All Dies.”