This is the last set of complete songs that they wrote together with their lead guitarist Ryan Siew, who passed away in June, aged 26.
Through releasing this album and continuing to tour as planned, the Eora/Sydney melodic metalcore outfit Polaris hopes to honour their artistic soulmate’s memory while summoning the healing power of live music to help them grieve alongside their loyal fanbase.
Before pressing play, we already know this record will be bleak and heavy AF, both aurally and thematically. “Cutting to the marrow, right through the bones” – these lyrics from opener Harbinger perfectly describe the penetrative impact of Polaris’ sound.
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While the global pandemic engulfed the world, drummer Daniel Furnari – also one of the band’s main songwriters – had an epiphany: “our collective dread was our greatest unifier”, which soon became a thematic thread running through Fatalism.
The dystopian Nightmare kicks off with demonic clickety-clack rim clicks before dense, lurching riffs take hold. With its percolating undercurrent, Overflow threatens to boil over: “Where do I shelter when it’s raining inside?/ No peace and quiet from the noise in my mind…”
Aftertouch’s soothing, keys-led intro gives listeners a rare moment to catch their breath. The perfect vehicle to showcase Polaris’ enviable synergy, All In Vein – this record’s stacks-on finale – hits like a sonic smash room.
Ooft, Fatalism is beautifully brutal. Best you fling your limbs around, expend some pent-up energy and get involved.
LABEL: RESIST RECORDS
RELEASE DATE: 1 SEP
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