Holding.Sky burst onto the Hamilton music scene in early 2005 hitting Ontario full steam ahead. Tim Laidman, Kohji Nagata, Michael Hill, Ben Tillmann and Bourke Tillmann have not only won the loyalty of fans with their raw music, they have also found acceptance amongst local critics with their ability to avoid the screamo wave that seams to be sweeping the underground while still expressing the frustrations of youth. This is music made from passion. With two members being in medical school and the other three all having post-graduate degrees you would think Holding.Sky would be a weekend gig. Instead they have walked out of emergency rooms, driven through snow storms (wrecking once so far), and told bosses that loved ones have died in order to bring their musical message to whichever venue will have them on stage for the night.

    It is through this determination that Holding.Sky has been around for the past three years. At each show new fans are formed and pass on the message to their friends. And it is this support that has allowed them to release two independent albums as well as be voted on as Toronto’s favourite local band for the Taste of Chaos in 2006, a show which featured The Deftones, Thrice, Atreyu, Silverstein and many other major acts. To add to this Holding.Sky, has shared the stage with Moneen, The Reason, The Junction and even pop-punk legends The Ataris.

    Now Holding.Sky has entered Catherine North studios with producer Dan Achen (City and Colour) at the helm. The end product, From the Throne to the Lions, shows a level of maturity that only comes from hard work and sacrifice. With songs dealing with the death of close friends, the aftermath of a car crash and the ever present effect of drugs on our culture it is easy to see the lyrical growth of the band. But the maturity is found in more than just the lyric book. When they walked into the studio they didn’t want to make an album that would fit a mold, they wanted to capture the raw energy of a live show. This lead to an album that creates space for itself. When the guitar part hits you, they make sure it’s going to really hit you hard. And it is this ability to create space, to create that musical moment that shows the maturity they have found.

    So you can stop here, and wonder what this all means, or go out and catch a live show, and then begin to understand what drives Holding.Sky.