Black Polaris
I liked Black Polaris when we first featured them, so I was hoping I would be first in line to check out their EP, Envisage, when it was sent through to us here at Loud-Stuff. Thankfully, seeing as the bands come through me when they want reviews, I was able to grab the record as soon as it arrived, plugged in the speakers turned the volume up to the ‘kill the neighbours’ setting, and settled in to hear what they’d come up with.
Opening with title track Envisage, the band have clearly been working hard, opening as they mean to go on with a hammering guitar line, pounding drum section and some gang vocals which pave the way into what is quite possibly the most ear shattering combination of music I’ve ever come across. Powerful and distorted doesn’t seem to do this justice, it’s phenomenally heavy from the off, and doesn’t allow you a moment to really grasp what’s going on. Roaring vocals, intricate guitar work, melodic moments of sheer genius, bass so powerful it overloads the speakers – this track has everything you could possibly want from an opening track, standing these guys in good stead to be a serious force to be reckoned with.
Leading into Power, Corruption , the power continues but this time, you’re forewarned by a dark and haunting synth line, almost as if to prepare you. Heavy and aggressive once again, this track picks up where the last left off and once again demonstrates that if you’re looking for heavy and distorted, then Black Polaris could well be the way forward. My gut instinct when this track was played for the first time was that I wanted to see it live, but the more I hear it the more I fear for my safety if I were to get out there – the breakdowns are insane!! Oblivion continues this all out frantic approach, throwing down with some rolling drums which are sure to get you moving, a roar which will haunt you til the day you die and some guitar work which will leave you wondering what happened to your hearing. Powerful once again doesn’t seem to quite cut it here, the track is as full on as I’ve come across and at no point, stops to give you a chance to breath. Another track which is surely going to kill on the live scene, we’re three tracks in and there’s no sign of the band easing up.
Mountains doesn’t offer up any reprise, once again launching into a melee of powerful guitar work, hammering drums and roaring vocals. Personally, this was one of my favourites from the EP, there’s just something about the track which I couldn’t help but connect with. I love the melodic intricacies which the guys have managed to incorporate, offering a reprise in the raw power for a few moments and showing that as a band, they understand music, understand song writing and understand how to keep people listening to an EP. Closing with Valleys there’s one last moment of all destruction to close things, finishing on a high note and showing that the word distortion has just taken on a new meaning. Once again throwing in enough breakdowns to keep an entire generation happy, this final moment on the EP will do one of two things – either convert people to the sound of Black Polaris, or kill them.
There has been a few occasions when I’ve heard new stuff from bands and just thought hmm, they’ve gone wrong there – but Black Polaris have done quite the opposite. What you’ve got here is a band who have developed their sound, worked hard, and produced an EP which will leave the world as dust when it hits. Forget what you thought you knew about metal, Black Polaris just made up new rules!
To find out about Black Polaris, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls
Opening with title track Envisage, the band have clearly been working hard, opening as they mean to go on with a hammering guitar line, pounding drum section and some gang vocals which pave the way into what is quite possibly the most ear shattering combination of music I’ve ever come across. Powerful and distorted doesn’t seem to do this justice, it’s phenomenally heavy from the off, and doesn’t allow you a moment to really grasp what’s going on. Roaring vocals, intricate guitar work, melodic moments of sheer genius, bass so powerful it overloads the speakers – this track has everything you could possibly want from an opening track, standing these guys in good stead to be a serious force to be reckoned with.
Leading into Power, Corruption , the power continues but this time, you’re forewarned by a dark and haunting synth line, almost as if to prepare you. Heavy and aggressive once again, this track picks up where the last left off and once again demonstrates that if you’re looking for heavy and distorted, then Black Polaris could well be the way forward. My gut instinct when this track was played for the first time was that I wanted to see it live, but the more I hear it the more I fear for my safety if I were to get out there – the breakdowns are insane!! Oblivion continues this all out frantic approach, throwing down with some rolling drums which are sure to get you moving, a roar which will haunt you til the day you die and some guitar work which will leave you wondering what happened to your hearing. Powerful once again doesn’t seem to quite cut it here, the track is as full on as I’ve come across and at no point, stops to give you a chance to breath. Another track which is surely going to kill on the live scene, we’re three tracks in and there’s no sign of the band easing up.
Mountains doesn’t offer up any reprise, once again launching into a melee of powerful guitar work, hammering drums and roaring vocals. Personally, this was one of my favourites from the EP, there’s just something about the track which I couldn’t help but connect with. I love the melodic intricacies which the guys have managed to incorporate, offering a reprise in the raw power for a few moments and showing that as a band, they understand music, understand song writing and understand how to keep people listening to an EP. Closing with Valleys there’s one last moment of all destruction to close things, finishing on a high note and showing that the word distortion has just taken on a new meaning. Once again throwing in enough breakdowns to keep an entire generation happy, this final moment on the EP will do one of two things – either convert people to the sound of Black Polaris, or kill them.
There has been a few occasions when I’ve heard new stuff from bands and just thought hmm, they’ve gone wrong there – but Black Polaris have done quite the opposite. What you’ve got here is a band who have developed their sound, worked hard, and produced an EP which will leave the world as dust when it hits. Forget what you thought you knew about metal, Black Polaris just made up new rules!
To find out about Black Polaris, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls
Black Polaris
Royston based Black Polaris were recently sent to us to check out ready for their upcoming album release for Empires on the 5th of December. Describing themselves as Melodic Death-progsters I was intruiged as to what sound these guys had gone for….themselves stating ‘Black Polaris’ sound merges full-throttle rhythmic patterns fused with ball-busting riffage, all tightly woven together by captivating melodies and considered dynamism’….better get listening then!
Intro track Charlie Bronson, suggests that what is to follow is going to be pretty relentless, opening with spoken word before fading in the guitars the kicking into a rolling beat underpinning a sludgy bass heavy riff laden section – if this is just an intro then my god! What’s the rest going to be like! Continuing to build through the rolling double bass and relentless guitar riffs, the scene is not only set dark, but the bar set high! As Forget kicks in, you’re greeted by screaming vocals, more slamming guitars and the most awesome rolling double bass pedal – it’s a mash up which creates an ominous sense of there being far heavier to come in. Treating the listener to an intricate lead line before fully kicking in with the vocals and picking up the pace, this is a track which will pummel you repeatedly until you submit to it, it’s insane! Unrelenting until the second the track comes to a close, this track is one hell of a way to introduce yourself to a band, it’s quite simply full on, in your face and unforgiving, not for the feint hearted….but for me…..well…I love it already!
Oracle follows on and straight away throws another series of riffs at you for consideration, slowing the drums right down this time to make the track even heavier than before. Soon enough though we’re back up to rolling pace, powering ever onwards accompanied by guttural roars of vocals, rolling drums, bass heavy melodies…the mix is a lot to take in but it’s all there. Altering the pace of the track throughout, this track is another which will keep you guessing as to what’s going to come next. As it comes to it’s close and Effortless fades in, everything seems to slow down a notch, The guitars are cleaned up and some synth effects pluck along soothingly in the back ground. The bass drum’s still there though, almost warning, letting you know you’re not safe – and you’re not! Kicking into a Fear Factory-esque mix of bass, guitars and rolling drums the track suddenly takes form and once again picks up the epic pace. The vocals here take on a more frantic approach, sounding more raw against the rolling beat behind them – this seems to be matched midway through the track when the beat changes to a faster approach, again matching that frantic approach.
Power Corruption is up next, opening with more of those synth effects to create a dark and ominous feeling – this is a very Cradle of Filth opening to a track – opening dark, heavy and almost foreboding as to what is to follow. Once again alternating the vocals between screaming and roaring, this track is raised to a new level by continuing the synth effects behind the music whilst the distorted riffs continue to flow out from the speakers – the effect is something which is still insanely heavy but also melodic and accessible. This is probably my personal favourite track from the album, there’s a lot going on in it but it all works. Mountains on the other hand is a far funkier track than before, losing the frantic approach and instead opting for a sludgy distorted guitar riff which makes the listener want to move along with it. Kicking into a faster section, the vocals continue to keep that frantic approach flowing. Breaking everything down to a guitar solo and more of those cleaned up guitar lines, this track demonstrates this bands ability to create tracks which contrast against themselves, making you pay attention so you don’t get caught out – the result is something pretty special I think.
Interlude seems to be just that, it’s more electronic in it’s style and features more of the sampled vocals from the beginning of the track – the vibe created serves to move away from the heaviness of the tracks and gives you a rest, something which after the unrelenting heaviness of before, is actually quite appreciated! That said, even the interlude is pretty damned dark! Oblivion soon throws you straight back into the melee and makes you forget all about that rest, opening with a cry of Oh My God, the drums once again pound at your head whilst the vocals and guitars tear you apart from limb to limb – this track seems almost heavier than the ones before, maybe it’s because of the break! Once again rolling onwards with that double bass before kicking into off beat slower sections, this track continues the theme of the album so far, demonstrating that these guys know what they’re doing and do it well!
Rise And Fall seems to return to the more funky edge to the track, opening with intermittent rolls on the bass accompanying a guitar line, the vocals soon kick back into their guttural roars and really hammer the track home. Heavy once again, this track is another assault on your ear drums which will leave you sat back marvelling at the abuse you just received. As it fades, and final track Memories kicks in, you’re left with no doubt that what you’ve just heard has been one hell of an experience! Insanely heavy from the start, the drums and guitars seem to rove around in your head whilst the vocals chase them around, trying to restore some form of order to the chaos. This chaos though is heavy, hard, dirty and downright insane – and I’ve enjoyed every second of it.
Black Polaris have shown me what Death-Prog is, and I’m almost thankful it’s them who have really demonstrated it to me. Their style is heavy, disjointed and unforgiving, but it’s one which if you like metal of any sort you’ll be able to connect with. Not an album for fans of softer stuff admittedly, but give them a try, you might just like it!
To find out more about Black Polaris, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Intro track Charlie Bronson, suggests that what is to follow is going to be pretty relentless, opening with spoken word before fading in the guitars the kicking into a rolling beat underpinning a sludgy bass heavy riff laden section – if this is just an intro then my god! What’s the rest going to be like! Continuing to build through the rolling double bass and relentless guitar riffs, the scene is not only set dark, but the bar set high! As Forget kicks in, you’re greeted by screaming vocals, more slamming guitars and the most awesome rolling double bass pedal – it’s a mash up which creates an ominous sense of there being far heavier to come in. Treating the listener to an intricate lead line before fully kicking in with the vocals and picking up the pace, this is a track which will pummel you repeatedly until you submit to it, it’s insane! Unrelenting until the second the track comes to a close, this track is one hell of a way to introduce yourself to a band, it’s quite simply full on, in your face and unforgiving, not for the feint hearted….but for me…..well…I love it already!
Oracle follows on and straight away throws another series of riffs at you for consideration, slowing the drums right down this time to make the track even heavier than before. Soon enough though we’re back up to rolling pace, powering ever onwards accompanied by guttural roars of vocals, rolling drums, bass heavy melodies…the mix is a lot to take in but it’s all there. Altering the pace of the track throughout, this track is another which will keep you guessing as to what’s going to come next. As it comes to it’s close and Effortless fades in, everything seems to slow down a notch, The guitars are cleaned up and some synth effects pluck along soothingly in the back ground. The bass drum’s still there though, almost warning, letting you know you’re not safe – and you’re not! Kicking into a Fear Factory-esque mix of bass, guitars and rolling drums the track suddenly takes form and once again picks up the epic pace. The vocals here take on a more frantic approach, sounding more raw against the rolling beat behind them – this seems to be matched midway through the track when the beat changes to a faster approach, again matching that frantic approach.
Power Corruption is up next, opening with more of those synth effects to create a dark and ominous feeling – this is a very Cradle of Filth opening to a track – opening dark, heavy and almost foreboding as to what is to follow. Once again alternating the vocals between screaming and roaring, this track is raised to a new level by continuing the synth effects behind the music whilst the distorted riffs continue to flow out from the speakers – the effect is something which is still insanely heavy but also melodic and accessible. This is probably my personal favourite track from the album, there’s a lot going on in it but it all works. Mountains on the other hand is a far funkier track than before, losing the frantic approach and instead opting for a sludgy distorted guitar riff which makes the listener want to move along with it. Kicking into a faster section, the vocals continue to keep that frantic approach flowing. Breaking everything down to a guitar solo and more of those cleaned up guitar lines, this track demonstrates this bands ability to create tracks which contrast against themselves, making you pay attention so you don’t get caught out – the result is something pretty special I think.
Interlude seems to be just that, it’s more electronic in it’s style and features more of the sampled vocals from the beginning of the track – the vibe created serves to move away from the heaviness of the tracks and gives you a rest, something which after the unrelenting heaviness of before, is actually quite appreciated! That said, even the interlude is pretty damned dark! Oblivion soon throws you straight back into the melee and makes you forget all about that rest, opening with a cry of Oh My God, the drums once again pound at your head whilst the vocals and guitars tear you apart from limb to limb – this track seems almost heavier than the ones before, maybe it’s because of the break! Once again rolling onwards with that double bass before kicking into off beat slower sections, this track continues the theme of the album so far, demonstrating that these guys know what they’re doing and do it well!
Rise And Fall seems to return to the more funky edge to the track, opening with intermittent rolls on the bass accompanying a guitar line, the vocals soon kick back into their guttural roars and really hammer the track home. Heavy once again, this track is another assault on your ear drums which will leave you sat back marvelling at the abuse you just received. As it fades, and final track Memories kicks in, you’re left with no doubt that what you’ve just heard has been one hell of an experience! Insanely heavy from the start, the drums and guitars seem to rove around in your head whilst the vocals chase them around, trying to restore some form of order to the chaos. This chaos though is heavy, hard, dirty and downright insane – and I’ve enjoyed every second of it.
Black Polaris have shown me what Death-Prog is, and I’m almost thankful it’s them who have really demonstrated it to me. Their style is heavy, disjointed and unforgiving, but it’s one which if you like metal of any sort you’ll be able to connect with. Not an album for fans of softer stuff admittedly, but give them a try, you might just like it!
To find out more about Black Polaris, check out their Facebook page HERE.