Categories: Reviews

HOLDEN. Terrible Things. EP Review

Manchester, UK based alternative, indie pop twin brother duo HOLDEN have recently released a new EP ‘Terrible Things’.

FFO: Glass Animals, Portugal The Man, Twenty One Pilots, Paramore, Everything Everything.

Sharing the same face, the same upbringing, the same dream, the Holden twins have played music together since they were just six years old.

They’ve toured the world with the likes of Bombay Bicycle Club, Tom Misch, Rachel Chinouriri, Hot Milk and more.

The project ‘Holden.’ started in 2024, after two gruelling years touring as hired musicians. They had enough and decided to take the leap into the spotlight themselves and have created the 5 tracks that make up the EP ‘Terrible Things’.

The duo combine pop hooks and massive choruses with emotionally raw lyricism, delving into topics like the human experience of trying to be something even close to normal in a world where we are always overwhelmed, and never enough for the world’s expectations.

“Having grown up on jazz, cut our teeth in the punk rock scene, fallen in love with hip-hop and been totally immersed in the new wave of Dark Pop, we wanted to blend all the things we love and express every single emotion we were told we weren’t supposed to feel.”

Said the twins about their influences.

Every song on the ‘Terrible Things’ EP has something different to give and with their latest one you can definitely hear the Glass Animals influence. The twins have such unique voices that you instantly say, “That’s Holden.!”.

If they carry on creating tracks like this they are definitely going to grow their fan base, especially with their anthemic choruses that just make you want to tap your feet, and sing along once you’ve listened a few times.

They are two very talented musicians, and have produced the entirety of their singles themselves out of the backs of tour buses, hotel rooms, kitchen tables, and yes even in an attic over the last few years.

The tracks speak for themselves so go and listen today, you won’t be disappointed!

Check out HOLDEN. on their socials:

Check out our indie playlist ‘Punkio’s Indie Picks’ here:

Tim Marshall