Project Description

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Polaris.

Polaris

Polaris // Photo – Kay Cann

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POLARIS
+ Alphawolf
+ Justice For The Damned
@ The Bridgeway Hotel Adelaide
20th May 2022
(Live Review)

Interview by Kayla Hamilton

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Polaris

Polaris // Photo – Kay Cann

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Hitting the stage of the iconic The Bridgeway Hotel for the second night in the row, POLARIS along with their incredible support acts put on a show to remember for Adelaide metalcore fans. There is a reason that Australia holds such a significant spot in the metalcore community around the world and this tour is real proof of the talent that continues to come out of this scene. A tour almost a year in the making, the wait was well worth it.

Opening the show was MIRRORS, hailing from Victoria. Warming up the crowd with a set that was polished, heavy and left nobody still, it is easy to see why MIRRORS is becoming such a loving act in this country. Stellar vocal work by frontman Patty Goldman is only the beginning when discussing the beautiful complexity of MIRRORS’ music. Not only was their setlist perfect for this show, but it was also executed with the energy and presence needed when on the card with the heavyweight acts that were playing after. If you have not had the opportunity to see MIRRORS live or add them to your playlist, do yourself a favour.

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Justice For The Damned

Justice For The Damned // Photo – Kay Cann

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Justice For The Damned

Justice For The Damned // Photo – Kay Cann

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Picking up where MIRRORS left off, Sydney deathcore band JUSTICE FOR THE DAMNED was up next and it was from then on, that the crowd did not stop moving. Breakdowns, heavy riffs and punch in your face energy- every second of their set was pure deathcore bliss. Smashing the crowd with tracks such as ‘Pain is Power’ and ‘The House You Built is Burning’, it would be hard to find one person with a ticket to either of the nights not walking out a fan of this band.

Not only did JUSTICE OF THE DAMNED get the crowd pumping, but they also took a moment to spread a message of positivity. Motivating the crowd to go into the world and be warriors – JUSTICE FOR THE DAMNED was as inspiring as their music is brutal. By the end of what seemed to be a too-short set, there had to be at least a few kids in this all-ages crowd that would take away some lessons of strength, power and how to 2-step.

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Alphawolf

Alphawolf // Photo – Kay Cann

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Alphawolf

Alphawolf // Photo – Kay Cann

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The only band that could match the brutality and energy of JUSTICE FOR THE DAMNED was of course ALPHA WOLF and they just happened to be up next. Off the back of tours of the USA and the rest of Australia, it is no wonder why ALPHA WOLF is gaining such a big following around the world. Ripping through a set that would have both die-hard and new to party frothing at the mouth, after this tour with POLARIS it will be very surprising if their own tour does not sell out completely next month.

Incredible stage presence, including guitarist Sabian Lynch hanging from the rig and singer Lochie Keogh having incredible control of the crowd- it was just so satisfying to see a crowd moshing and crowd-surfing again. After a short but sweet set, there is no doubt that when it comes to Australian metalcore, ALPHA WOLF is now one of the heavyweights. Whether it was the first time you had the privilege to witness ALPHA WOLF live or have seen them multiple times, they never disappoint. If anything, they are just getting better and better. Ending the show by asking the crowd to ‘give the security some work to do’, was all this riled up audience needed to let loose.

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Polaris

Polaris // Photo – Kay Cann

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Polaris

Polaris // Photo – Kay Cann

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With a crowd chomping at the bit for more heavy goodness, POLARIS was given a warm welcome to the stage. Starting the set beautifully with the ‘Pray for Rain’, this Adelaide crowd were taken on a journey through some of POLARIS’s best music. There was not one spot on the floor that was left unclaimed and barely a soul left not either jumping, headbanging, moshing, crowd surfing or fighting to get to them from the second they hit the stage. The band showcased their latest album ‘The Death of Me’, as well as throwing in the tracks for the long-time fans. There really was no surprise that some fans had purchased tickets to both shows.

Between going wild for heavy tracks like ‘Hypermania’, ‘The Remedy’ and ‘Creatures of Habit’ to the phone lights out and belting out of ‘Martyr (waves)’- the diversity in POLARIS’ set shows not just their talent but maturity as performers. Frontman Jamie Hails is a force to be reckoned with and the rest of the band follows suit. Truly bringing the metal to metalcore, guitarist Ryan Siew was an absolute delight to witness in the flesh along with rhythm guitarist Rick Schneider who brings not just incredible guitar playing but contagious energy to the stage. Not to outshine the rest of the members though, as each musician in POLARIS brings such a solid skillset and strong musicianship to the table. Drummer Daniel Furnari is a beast behind the kit and Jake Steinhauser not only adds his depth to the rhythm section but also powerful clean vocals. There is no shortage of talent and presence when it comes to experiencing POLARIS.

Hopefully, Adelaide fans will not have to wait another two and a half years before being blessed with a POLARIS appearance, but even if they do, judging from this tour- it will be worth waiting for.

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Polaris

Polaris // Photo – Kay Cann

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Check out Kay Cann’s gallery of this event HERE


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Polaris

Polaris // Photo – Kay Cann

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