It is a cold and wet Sunday evening in Dublin and Sydney-based metalcore crew are in town for their debut headline show on Irish soil. It's a statement to the band that they are headlining a venue of such size, considering they only have three albums to their name, and their latest album 'Fatalism' was only released on the 1st of September this year. Unfortunately, due to having to attend a child's birthday party before the gig- yes a children's birthday party on a Sunday evening - we miss both support acts.
As we arrive at the venue Polaris are setting up and the venue starts getting more and more crowded. The lights dim and on walks vocalist Jamie Hails to open up with 'Harbinger' the first track off their new album. Jamie's luscious clean pipes have the crowd mesmerised and from this point on he has the crowd in the palm of his hand. Rattling through the set with plenty off the new album and throwing in others from albums 'The Death of Me' and 'The Mortal Coil'.
Asking the crowd to start circle pits and a wall of death seems a bit optimistic for a Sunday night when most people have work the next day. However, the crowd duly obliges and there are people running from the outskirts of the pit and throwing themselves in, like an ending fight scene from a Marvel film. This is what metal is all about and Jamie asks for one thing ''Just be yourself and have fun'', and we do.
There is an emotional tribute to Ryan Siew - who sadly passed away recently- before they kick into 'Martyr (Waves)'. Jamie asks for ''everyone to put on your phone light for this next song. Let's shine it so bright that Ryan can see it wherever he is.'' And the room illuminates during the whole track. Clearly, losing such a close friend would have an impact on anyone but, the five-piece- pull off a show that would do Ryan proud. Every single person in the room is having a good time and the band themselves are on fine form.
Polaris are tagged as metalcore but, they also have these fantastic Djent-style moments in their tracks that showcase them way more than just a standard metalcore band. The mix on the night is brilliant and each instrument is perfectly audible. With breakdowns galore and pounding double-kick drums the place shakes and the floor bounces.
If you are 'thinking' about going to see Polaris on this tour, don't think, do it. You will not regret it.
The band apologised for taking so long to reach Irish shores. Next time, don't leave it so long, lads.
Photo credit- Naomi Lowe
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