Album number three is always difficult to make. Album number three can also seem pretty daunting when you revolve your album around political topics when your first two albums didn’t really enter that market. But Polar have done just that; they’ve dived straight into the global issue of homelessness, an issue that affects roughly 100 million people in the world. And the band have used this issue to fuel their fire to create a hard-hitting, ferocious album.
There’s the dark and brooding ‘Blood for Blood’ which is a pleasant surprise – the addition of a gang vocals during the refrain of “And I can see” creates a sweeping, melodic bridge and a massive, anthemic chorus. ‘Tidal Waves and Hurricanes’ is surprisingly emotional; vocalist Adam Woodford’s cries of “Find what you love and let it kill you” is rather heart-breaking.
The refrain alone during ‘Deus Ex Machine’ is enough to make hairs stand on end. Raw and powerful in every single way, it gives way to the aggressive guest vocals of Comeback Kid’s Andrew Neufeld – combined with Adam’s ferocious growls, it works splendidly to create fury-laden track, that’s still heavily melodic. Instrumental ‘No Cure’ is a fantastic breather in the midst of a storm, while ‘Until the Light’ and ‘Downfall’ sees speed and aggression crushed together. The re-working of ‘Destroy’, taken from their 2013 release ‘Create, Inspire, Destroy’, is a nice touch too; abrasive riffs combine with hard-hitting drum work to create a more mature version. ‘No Saviour’ ends this album on a high note; melodic guitar work gives way to a mountain of thunderous drum work and slabs of abrasive riffs, creating a monster of a track to end on.
From start to end, ‘No Cure No Saviour’ is visceral and biting; Polar have made sure to retain their commanding presence throughout this release. What has changed is the change from personal to global issues within the album, and the step-up in production – the fat has been trimmed off these tracks, creating a release that’s lean and powerful. It sounds huge in every single way and demonstrates the skill and talent this Surrey quintet possesses; talent that will see them being elevated above other bands within the hardcore scene.
JESS TAGLIANI