Review: “Ruin The Best Of Me” by Holder

Known for their live intensity, Holder are a five piece born of the west Massachusetts Hardcore scene who have been channeling late 90’s and early 00’s Screamo and Post-Hardcore influences through a modern lens like a ten year old burning ants with a magnifying glass since 2024. While other records languish like a tractor stuck in the boggy mud at the bottom of a farmers field, unable to move despite everyones best efforts, the bands debut self titled EP hit with such force that it opened the doors for them to share stages with the likes of Static Dress, Balmora and Febuary, leaving them in need to the studio. That has been a situation resolved with the help of Nicholas Zalowski who produced, mixed and mastered a sophomore effort…

Nothing short of a frenzied assault on the senses “Inconsolable” is one to capture the bands live energy as if it were being performed live on the floor of the studio in front of a packed house. A two minute crusher that begins with the ominous sound of feedback before bursting into screams of passionate intensity that see vocalist Brie give the kind of performance that  Walls of Jericho screamer Candace Kucsulain would be proud of. The drums and bass offer a little funky groove underneath the melodic dissonance of the lead guitars, the weighty rhythm guitars matching the tone of the harrowing lyrical narrative in pure catharsis. Holder prove with that first slap that they’re more than simply the sum of their parts and with “Ruin The Best Of Me” they then offer up an anthem that feels like even more of an emotional rollercoaster. Accomplished musicianship and deep rooted confidence in what they’re doing means that they’re not afraid to play with fleeting melodies and shoegazing moments before bringing back the kind of riffs that were designed for spin kicking and two steppers. The complexity and emotional weight that they carry with these songs adds to the intensity of their energy and all in all the two tracks set the tone for what should be an incredible debt album [8.5/10]

Track Listing

1. Inconsolable
2. Ruin The Best Of Me

“Ruin The Best Of Me” by Holder is out 23rd January 2026 via Daze