Project Description

POLARIS

with BELLE HAVEN, DEADLIGHTS and DAYBREAK

@ OXFORD ART FACTORY

(Live Review)

Reviewer – Braithe Selby

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Over the past few years a major shift has occurred within the Australian heavy music scene with an array of bands pouncing into the minds and hearts of listeners around the globe. One band from Sydney’s south have solidified themselves on the frontier of this movement and after a recent string of success with their latest breakthrough single ‘The Remedy’ local Metalcore heroes POLARIS are blazing through the scene like wildfire.

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You could smell the anticipation, sweaty palms and steamy fervor within the sold out Oxford Art Factory for one of the most relevant tours in the Australian Metalcore / Post- Hardcore circuit this year.

Perth youngsters DAYBREAK hit the stage first with some fresh deathcore swag and a violent onslaught of riffs, diverting the crowd’s attention from looking at their super likes on Tinder. Solid show overall, representing their core niche with a nasty edge reminiscent of Danish deathcore kings CABAL.

Up and coming Brisbanites DEADLIGHTS took to the stage with a full house, instantly winning over the crowd with their infectious groove, energetic stage antics and Tynan Reibelt’s impressive cleans. A mild mosh emerged mid-set and everyone pushed forward to catch a glimpse of the emerging post-hardcore outfit. The only element lacking lied within the direction of songs, especially live. The repeat dose and imbalance of clean vox to heavy vox began crippling the delivery of the songs and leaving me begging for more heavy grooves. Watch this band, they are all talented as a mutha and are on track for a bright future!

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Next up, BELLE HAVEN graced the crowd in all of their post-emo vigour and prowess. The entire band representing the songs with every inch of themselves and a feat for the energy and drive of the band. Move of the night goes to the flashy spirit-fingers 360 from bass player Tom Mitchell mid-breakdown. Overall the vibe felt a little plastic, auto-tuned and monotone for the testosterone filled patrons in the front row and and as the temperature was climbing in anticipation for the headliner, it largely flew over the spectators heads like a flock of hungry seagulls.

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Photo: Dani Brown

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POLARIS have found their way into the minds and hearts of listeners down under and around the globe, landing themselves on their biggest tour and hometown show of their career. When you talk about the art of balancing riff, melody and tasty breakdowns, then opening track “The Remedy” ticks all the boxes. An explosive first song with vocalist Jamie Halls spitting commands of circle pits and crowd claps whilst a sea of sweaty eyes squinted aimlessly from the blinding light show – devoted fans continued jumping from all corners of the stage, grabbing the mic and frantically moshing. The packed room found themselves in awe as the band steam rolled “La’Appel Du Vide“, “Regress” and two unheard tracks from long awaited LP “The Mortal Coil“. More notably their latest single and closing number “Consume” left you helplessly immersed and revelling in the moment as it was obvious the proof was all in witnessing this tasty metalcore pudding. After leaving the stage for an impromptu crowd chant, POLARIS closed a memorable and iconic hometown show with a ferocious wall of death for crowd pleaser “Hold you Under” departing the stage with sights set for fast approaching European Never Say Die Festival Tour, Polaris are simmering to become Australia’s next mammoth metalcore band.

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AMNPLIFY – RL

Connect with Polaris

Official Website • Facebook • Instagram • Twitter • Spotify

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