16. October 2026
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Media Review

HOL1D4Y – Topology

Florian Buechtingby Florian Buechting

HOL1D4Y - Topologie

HOL1D4Y - Topologie
4.2

Rating

 4.2/5

Flyctory.com Pros

  • Very high level musical level of composing
  • Nice blend of progressive rock and synth elements
  • Majorly fluent listen

Flyctory.com Cons

  • Few weaker songs and too virtuous sections

Scott Holiday is best known as the guitarist and the creative mastermind of the Rival Sons. On 25th September 2026, he is having a very special release. Topology is his solo debut album. I had a listen.

 

HOL1D4Y – About the Artist

Scott Holiday is a US American guitarist and musician, born on 27th December 1981 in Long Beach, California. He had an early passion for rock music at young age and started to learn the guitar right before he became a teenager. He had a couple of bands, before remnants of one of the band finally lead to the Rival Sons. Apart from himself, two of the four founding members, singer Jay Buchanan and drummer Mike Miley are still active parts of the band.

In February 2026, I reviewed Jay Buchanan’s solo album Weapons of Beauty. For HOL1D4Y, the two singles of Topology have been the first single releases as a solo artist.

 

HOL1D4Y – Topology – Track by Track

The nine track album lasts 46 minutes.

1. Holotropic

The album starts with Holotropic. The press kit explicitly states that tiles like that are different windows into the same central question: how does a shift in perspective change the way we experience ourselves? In fact, the mixture of progressive rock and synth elments does create a very mental level. Here and there, the spherical sound turns into an almost psychedelic experience.

2. Panoptic

The second song on Topology is Panoptic. The song comes with a similar duration as the opener and works with similar elements. However, the song does not drift that much towards more extreme sound and therefore has a rather melodic touch. The groovy parts even remind of blues rock, the key genre of the Rival Sons.

3. Veridream

Veridream and Autonomatic, the following two songs of the album, have been released as singles beforehand. The five minute works with fast mood changes and thus leads to arather metal experience. In other sections, though, the guitars feel to march forward and drive the song. Progressive rock lovers will definitely enjoy these parts.

4. Autonomatic

With 3:33 minutes, Autonomatic is a comparably compact song. The song does come with different parts and surprising twists, like the darker and distorted, guitar-driven brdige. Nonetheless, it leaves a rather harmonic impression.

5. Constellations

Instrumentally, Topology lives from its mixture of guitar and electric elements. Most of the times, though, the strings take a certain lead. Constellations, though, starts with a synth part. On top of that, the guitars and other instruments are developing their themes. The song follows are rather straight plot, even though it is getting more complex and virtuous towards its end.

6. Metacognition

Metacognition combines the sound of structure of progressive rock sounds with electric distortion and synth elements. Scott Holiday does that in a very wise and thoughtful way, so that different weights of the two elements lead to new landscapes, new melodic styles. The song sometimes feels futuristic, almost a science fiction style – while it presents a rocking and intense moment in the next one. This overall leads to a very nice listen.

7. CRISM

If you opt for the vinyl edition of Topology, it comes with two records. This seventh song, CRISM, takes the A-side of the second record (or the C-Side of the double album) all by itself. This already tells you that this song has a quite epic duration. Precisely, HOL1D4Y takes almost twelve minutes for it.

The instrumental song shows his experienced and masterful skill in composing. Even though the song has so many different elements in stock, it feels harmonic – and not boring at at all. Thus, not only due to its duration, CRISM is the undisputed core track of the album.

8. Equanimity

The vocal style of Equanimity has some nostalgic touch. On the melodic side, the song does have a rather dark mood with low guitar chord themes. When the synth elements take over the dominant role, the song creates a very different touch. Even though this is an interesting experience, I feel that the penultimate track is a comparably weaker spot of Topology.

9. Love of Separation

The album closes with a fine and gentle melody. The acoustic guitar style song leads to a fine fade-out of the album. It starts fairy tale-alike, but then leads to greater depth. Love of Separation is another track underlining the high musical level of this record.

 

HOL1D4Y – Topology – Spotify

Here is the album on Spotify:

 

HOL1D4Y – Topology – My View

Scott Holiday illustrates his long experience in the music business. Even though Topology is quite a departure from the Rival Sons sound, you quickly get into his music and enjoy the skilled, complex compositions. Most of the songs take you on a lovely journey from the beginning to the end, leading through different sections and kinds of atmosphere. Here and there, though, I feel that he is pushing a bit too much for a virtuous experience.

Favorite Song: CRISM

 

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