LIVE REVIEW: Polaris @ SWX, Bristol
POLARIS have been coming to our shores since 2017 and each time they’ve been coming back bigger and better.
This time round its their second show at SWX in Bristol and they bring with them a stacked bill with support from SILENT PLANET, THORNHILL and PALEDUSK. It’s no surprise to anyone that the show was an instant sell out.
With the venue slowly filling up, a good chunk of people have made it down to catch openers PALEDUSK, hailing from Japan, its only their second time in the UK and coming on a monumental tour like this shows how well liked they are on our shores. Coming on in a hail of spin kicks they set the bar high for the start of the night. Hyping up the crowd with songs like Black Ice, PaleHell and Slay!!. With fists and legs constantly flying in the pit, it has us pondering if the crowd will handle three more bands. Their set was short, sweet and full of energy. The early birds for the night got a wonderful treat for the start of a spectacular evening. Everyone will be going away remembering PALEDUSK.
Rating: 9/10
With a quick change over, THORNHILL are up next. With the bar set high the Aussie quartet take on the challenge. Opening with Views From The Sun, it is has a definitive groove in comparison to PALEDUSK, highlighted by singer Jacob Charlton constantly thrusting his hips in a dance along to the music. The riffs continue through the set in a more melodic nature and we can see the crowd enjoying the change of pace and having a good song along, rather than moshing through the whole set. Jacob still flexes his vocal chords with some impressive low growls that really bring the rumble to their set. Although THORNHILL have to work a bit harder to get the crowd moving with more slower beats in the set, it’s still an impressive performance and provided a little respite before the night moves on.
Rating: 8/10
Quick changes are the call for tonight because with just enough time to catch a couple breaths, the final support is up. SILENT PLANET blast on to stage with a wonderful metalcore mix. Starting off strong with tracks Offworlder and Collider, it’s an instant energy injection for the whole room. It’s a contrast to the grooves of THORNHILL with even more naughty riffs in songs like Antimatter, the crowd are also in contrast making non-stop pits and any time a circle pit is called, the crowd obeys. There is however, some time given in the set to shout out International Women’s Day, which this gig lands on. It’s great to see the day acknowledged on an all male line up, they shout out some of the women that are in the touring party, with a cheer from the crowd in support. Bringing it it back up for the latter half of the set, the energy is rising still. Ending on Trilogy, a personal song written by Garret Russell during his stay in a psychiatric hospital after he made an attempt on his own life, before the finale he talks about his experience and about living life. A more humbling and heart felt message to end the set on.
Rating: 9/10
The crowd cheers as POLARIS finally take the stage. Starting things off slow with Harbinger. It’s a change of pace with singer Jamie Hails walking out solo to start off the track while the rest of the band follow suit a short while in to the track. However, the set quickly gets jumping, with the crowd eager to sing along and be part of the show. Continuing with second single from Fatalism, Nightmare is the time for everyone to flex their vocals cords screaming “we’re living in a nightmare” back at the band.
Not even two songs in and the crowd surfers start cascading over the barrier with Glasgow having almost five hundred over the barrier, will Bristol beat it? Well, they give it a good shot and defiantly keep security on their toes for the whole set. Crowd surfing aside, POLARIS keep the show on top form. Playing a good mix of songs from each of their albums from Lucid to Martyr (Waves). The journey through each album highlights just how good POLARIS are and it’s no surprise at their rise through the ranks of the metalcore elite.
They make sure no one is sitting still, opening up bigger and bigger circle pits which take over SWX and leave nowhere for people hide. Taking some time out to speak about being positive, it’s always good when a band uses their platform to bring a good message to their audience. Ending the night on Pray For Rain and break out single The Remedy really brings the show to a close with a bang.
Everyone truly has had the night of their lives, witnessing four superb bands put on one hell of a show. Metalcore is alive and kicking and going from strength to strength. With the show ending before 10pm, the audience will be able to squeeze in a post-gig pint so they can reflect and recover from the show and raise a glass to POLARIS.
Rating: 10/10
Check out our photo gallery of the night’s action in Bristol from Serena Hill Photography here:
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