Polaris
The Guilt & The Grief


3.5
great

Review

by Mitch Worden EMERITUS
February 19th, 2016 | 98 replies


Release Date: 2016 | Tracklist

Review Summary: A convincing departure from the norm.

It’s hard to find metal genres as divisive as the –core categories. The mainstream image of angst-ridden teens flailing about in a mosh pit for every ill-conceived breakdown certainly prevails in the minds of many metal fans. With this outlook, it’s hard for many people to break through the mediocre giants of the classification and dig underneath the dirt. Since there are so many outlets for music offered by the internet, the metalcore underground has exploded, revealing some energetic tunes that are emerging for young bands.


Take Polaris for example. If you just see metalcore as Parkway Drive & friends, there’s no chance you’ll hear the promising Australian outfit’s newest release, The Guilt and the Grief. So many acts nowadays revert to the typical breakdown and chorus formula, lacking any sort of originality or liveliness to compensate. Polaris attack the listener immediately, showcasing the sort of vigor that the genre normally lacks, breaking from any persisting stereotypes. Sitting at a comfortable 23 minute runtime, The Guilt and the Grief is a strong EP that displays the growing talent of the band.


The Guilt and the Grief begins with the first of the six tracks, “Regress”. Although one can certainly hear the Architects influence on the main riff of the song, Polaris insert more melody in their songs and exhibit more technicality with their instruments – reminiscent of progressive metalcore set The Afterimage, albeit with less progressive elements. “Regress” starts off loud and melodic, featuring an infectious chorus that’s sure to get stuck in your head. The central riff, featuring the usual djent fare broken up and made interesting with pleasing guitar harmonies. The overarching guitar melodies, combined with the vocal efforts of Jamie Hails and bassist Jake Steinhauser, really drive the song.


Polaris don’t make the mistake of faltering after a strong opener, and second song “L’Appel Du Vide” carries the energy from “Regress” over. With a powerful guitar erupting right at the start, the band showcase their ability to form beautiful soundscapes littered with harmonies and strong vocal performances. Guitarists Rick Schneider and Ryan Siew work with perfect synergy, demonstrating their aptitude when it comes to making each riff captivating. The subsequent track, “Unfamiliar”, proceeds at a slower tempo than the previous entries. Careful not to fall into the trap of monotonous breakdowns, Polaris stick to their talents and continue to show a good quality of technical instrumental work. “Unfamiliar”‘s reduced speed validates that the band has control over how fast they go, and it serves to differentiate the EP.


The band continues to impress with the second half of the release. Although uninspiring at the beginning, “Voiceless” ends up showing the group’s more progressive side with an instrumental break appearing in the middle. Tight vocal synchronizations soar with the guitars, adding strength to the overall sound. “No Rest” is the obligatory metalcore ballad, but it is aided by the presence of the bass (audible, believe it or not) and the band’s appealing riffs. Like all previous songs, Polaris try to steer away from the clichés, opting to not resort to typical djent grooves. Everything is wrapped up by “Hold You Under”, a metalcore rocker that definitely has the hardcore influence on display, sounding a lot like a Seasons in Wreckage jam.


However, not all clichés are abandoned, and the record inevitably suffers due to some of the old metalcore tricks making unwanted appearances. Breakdowns still pop up, and not all of them bring excitement. “Hold You Under” is the big offender in this department, throwing breakdowns around all over, hurting the album’s finale. The songs can come off as formulaic, as a handful go by the verse-chorus-verse-chorus recipe. While it is still entertaining, “No Rest” feels like the band wanting to contribute to the metalcore ballad trend, and doesn’t feel as genuine as other tracks.


But make no mistake--Polaris have a lot to show with this record. It is held back from being a truly great record by its conformity to genre standards, but it still manages to burst through with its commanding, energetic performances. The guitars and drumming are quite progressive and technical, giving a little uniqueness that towers above other releases. Along with aforementioned clutches such as The Afterimage, Polaris are trying to pave a different path from the rest. With their increasing popularity, it would be safe to assume the Aussies may be heading for big exposure as they continue to make music and tour. The Guilt and the Grief is a forceful step forward in front of the competition.



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user ratings (130)
3.8
excellent


Comments:Add a Comment 
MarsKid
Emeritus
February 19th 2016


21035 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5 | Sound Off

These guys are pretty darn good. If you like metalcore or are ambivalent on it, you'll probably enjoy this at least a bit. Feel free to comment, critique, and so on and so on.



Also, thanks to the mods for fixing this, since I botched it in the beginning.

grindcorecore
February 20th 2016


619 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

neat review pos'd.

MarsKid
Emeritus
February 20th 2016


21035 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5 | Sound Off

Thanks for stopping by!

Epicenter
February 20th 2016


287 Comments


Been meaning to check this out in full. Good review.

MarsKid
Emeritus
February 21st 2016


21035 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5 | Sound Off

Thanks a lot!

dvd0bvb
February 26th 2016


69 Comments


"Polaris don’t make the mistake of..."
Tell me what they do, not what they don't

Nice review. It's a little long for me though. I'm impatient and I just want to know if I'm going to like or want to listen to the music without being told all the details of every song.

MarsKid
Emeritus
February 27th 2016


21035 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5 | Sound Off

I try to limit my reviews, but I inevitably end up making them longer than the norm. Thanks for stopping by!

Danred97
February 29th 2016


2544 Comments


pretty decent review. It's a bit long, but that's not that of a big deal.

This EP is really great. Polaris are definitely one of my favorite metalcore bands at the moment.

Hansol
March 27th 2016


40 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Great review! Totally agree. Really digging this.

MarsKid
Emeritus
March 29th 2016


21035 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5 | Sound Off

Great songs throughout. The weakest is the closer, though. Too many breakdowns tossed about.

MarsKid
Emeritus
June 3rd 2016


21035 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5 | Sound Off

Damn, we got 5s up in here?

Danred97
September 5th 2016


2544 Comments


Yeah...this grew off me hard. Their are still some great tracks, but it's so damn formulaic at points.

MarsKid
Emeritus
September 7th 2016


21035 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5 | Sound Off

I find there are some pretty enjoyable parts, but it's certainly dragged down by typical genre cliches.

LotusFlower
September 7th 2016


12000 Comments


so this actually doesnt suck, neato.

SteakByrnes
September 7th 2016


30382 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

I thought this was a phenomenal EP

Danred97
September 8th 2016


2544 Comments


So did I...at first. Over time though, the glaring flaws (way to many cliche lyrics and breakdowns) started showing. I still think it's good, but when compared to other bands like Northlane and Invent/Animate, this style is being done better.

MarsKid
Emeritus
September 8th 2016


21035 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5 | Sound Off

Last song is definitely the worst. I would have this in the 3.7-.8 range but that final track just kinda kills all momentum. Breakdown city.

SteakByrnes
September 8th 2016


30382 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

@Dan Yea I definitely think other bands do it better, and I will most likely drop this to a 4.0, but I still find this to be pretty damn good.



On another note though, Invent, Animate's new record is the best release this year in my opinion

MarsKid
Emeritus
September 8th 2016


21035 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5 | Sound Off

It's pretty great. Definitely an improvement from their last album.

Thandall
October 22nd 2016


8 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

Can anyone name a better progressive metalcore band with a release this year? Invent/Animate? Circle of Contempt?



I think this Polaris might take the cake in this niche.



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