Song DNA
Misophonia Triggers
Groovy alternative rock song from Foo Fighters' Medicine at Midnight album, exploring themes of inner turmoil and emotional poison through hard-driving riffs and anthemic choruses.
Hear it the way it was made
The right gear changes everything.
Moods: emotional, energetic, rebellious
Traditions: alternative rock, hard rock
How this song sits on each sensory axis
A dynamic range of 7/10 means this song moves. Expect a real volume climb between quiet sections and the loudest part of the arrangement — enough that you may want to set the initial volume below where you'd normally land.
Sudden changes: mild. There are one or two transitions worth knowing about, though they're musically resolved rather than surprise-driven.
Texture is layered — a full arrangement with clear separation between parts.
Predictability is medium — conventional structure overall, with one or two moments that deviate from what you'd expect.
Vocal style: dynamic vocals.
Where this sits in Foo Fighters's catalog
We have 80 songs from Foo Fighters in the library. Of those, 5 are rated Safe, 37 Moderate, and 38 Intense. This song's dynamic range of 7/10 sits below the artist average of 7.5, making it the #65 most dynamic track of theirs in our library.
Other tracks from Medicine at Midnight
We have 6 songs from this album. Overall, the album leans moderate in sensory profile.
- Shame Shame — moderate DR 5
- Waiting on a War — moderate DR 7
- Making a Fire — moderate DR 7
- Love Dies Young — intense DR 8
- Chasing Birds — safe DR 4
2021 context
Released in 2021. We have 405 songs from that year in our library, averaging a dynamic range of 6.2/10. This track is about average than the year average. Explore more from the 2020s.
Explore by mood and tradition
Why this rating
We rate this song Moderate because it falls between our Safe and Intense thresholds on at least one dimension. Moderate is the default for most well-produced music that has real arc but no surprise elements. Full rubric: methodology.
Rating last reviewed: 2026-04-13. Reviewed by the Music I Want editorial team against the documented methodology.
Think this rating is wrong? Email the editor — every message is read and ratings get revised.
Frequently asked about "Holding Poison"
Quick answers pulled from the song's sensory analysis.
What is the sensory intensity of "Holding Poison" by Foo Fighters?
"Holding Poison" by Foo Fighters rates as Moderate intensity. Dynamic range 7/10, mild sudden changes, layered texture. Moderate is the default for well-produced music with real arc but no surprise elements.
How loud is "Holding Poison" — what is its dynamic range?
"Holding Poison" has a dynamic range of 7/10. Noticeable climb from quiet sections to loudest point. Set opening volume slightly lower than your preferred peak.
Does "Holding Poison" have sudden or surprising changes?
"Holding Poison" has mild sudden changes — one or two transitions worth knowing about, but they are musically resolved rather than surprise-driven.
What is "Holding Poison" best for?
In our library "Holding Poison" is recommended for: emotional release, energy, workout. These tags are assigned only where the song's sensory profile genuinely supports the use case.
When was "Holding Poison" released?
"Holding Poison" is from 2021, on the album "Medicine at Midnight". It appears in our 2020s catalog.
What is the emotional mood of "Holding Poison"?
We tag "Holding Poison" as emotional, energetic, rebellious. Moods are tonal descriptors based on how the song reads emotionally — separate from the sensory intensity axes.
What is the vocal style of "Holding Poison"?
The vocal style is dynamic vocals.
Should I listen to "Holding Poison"?
"Holding Poison" is Moderate intensity — fine for most listeners, but with enough dynamic activity that it works best as active listening rather than background.
Songs with the same DNA
layered texture, similar intensity — across any genre or era.
Safer alternatives with a similar feel
These songs share similar moods but with a gentler sensory profile.
What this song means to people
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