{"id":77889,"date":"2019-04-08T15:18:39","date_gmt":"2019-04-08T14:18:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/?p=77889"},"modified":"2023-04-07T14:23:31","modified_gmt":"2023-04-07T13:23:31","slug":"review-polar-nova","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/review-polar-nova\/","title":{"rendered":"Review: Polar &#8211; Nova"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-77892\" src=\"https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Polar-Nova-Artwork-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Polar-Nova-Artwork-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Polar-Nova-Artwork-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Polar-Nova-Artwork-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Polar-Nova-Artwork-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Polar-Nova-Artwork-30x30.jpg 30w, https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Polar-Nova-Artwork-465x465.jpg 465w, https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Polar-Nova-Artwork-500x500.jpg 500w, https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Polar-Nova-Artwork-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Polar-Nova-Artwork-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Polar-Nova-Artwork.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>Polar<\/strong>, the London-based post-hardcore band have redefined themselves with their latest release, <em>\u2018Nova\u2019<\/em>. They\u2019ve written twelve hardcore tracks with an experimental spirit that sees them combine genres in an unexpected way.<\/p>\n<p>After the stunning introduction from <em>\u2018M\u00e6re\u2019<\/em>, <em>\u2018Devil\u2019<\/em> explodes as if from nowhere. Adam Woodford\u2019s vocals are powerful but clear in their delivery. Subtle changes in the synths as the chorus is introduced hint at what\u2019s to come over the next ten tracks. While not as brutal as a typical hardcore song, the energy in the recording creates a huge impact \u2013 it\u2019s clear that <strong>Polar<\/strong> are going somewhere.<\/p>\n<p>After the clever guitar licks of <em>\u2018Cradle<\/em>\u2019, the production of <em>\u2018Drive\u2019<\/em> switches things up. The thought and time that\u2019s been put into this record is clear, from the chugging guitars to the experimental reverb and EQ. From the outside, <strong>Polar<\/strong> look like any other hardcore band, but on second inspection the experimentation and creativity present make a pleasant surprise.<\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"POLAR - Drive (OFFICIAL VIDEO)\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/9DwcP8LoczE?feature=oembed&#038;enablejsapi=1&#038;origin=https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>\u2018<em>Adore\u2019<\/em> is yet another explosive tune with an impressive drum track. As the LP progresses, Woodford\u2019s vocals become harder to discern but the energy is present throughout. Following this is the delicate <em>\u2018Sonder\u2019.<\/em> A stunning interlude track, it effortlessly changes the tone of the record.<\/p>\n<p>The muddy effects throughout<em> \u2018Amber\u2019<\/em> grab attention and refuse to let it wander. However, the second half of <em>\u2018Nova\u2019<\/em> doesn\u2019t quite have the same hold over us. While the sound of <em>\u2018Prey\u2019<\/em> is huge, the experimental angle seems to have been played out.<\/p>\n<p>From the quiet of<em> \u2018Dusk\u2019, \u2018Midnight<\/em>\u2019 explodes into being. It\u2019s a clever extension of the previous track and the huge sound is enjoyable, but the LP starts to grate as each song blends into the next. <em>\u2018Nova\u2019<\/em> is a good effort from<strong> Polar<\/strong>, with its clever tricks and creativity. It\u2019s high-octane and enjoyable, proving a maturity from the band that was unexpected. While there are a few moments that could be more exciting, the London five-piece have created something excellent.<\/p>\n<p>3.5\/5<\/p>\n<p><em>&#8216;Nova&#8217;\u00a0<\/em>by\u00a0<strong>Polar\u00a0<\/strong>is out now on <strong>Arising Empire.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Polar\u00a0<\/strong>links: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.polaruk.co\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Website<\/a> | <a href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/thispolarnoise\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Facebook<\/a> | <a href=\"http:\/\/www.twitter.com\/polaruk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Twitter<\/a> | <a href=\"http:\/\/www.instagram.com\/polaruk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Instagram<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Words by Dottie Giles (<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/DottieG19\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">@DottieG19<\/a>)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Subtle changes in the synths as the chorus is introduced hint at what\u2019s to come over the next ten tracks&#8230; it\u2019s clear that Polar are going somewhere.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":37,"featured_media":77892,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[5879,993,16554,2881,465],"class_list":["post-77889","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-album-reviews","tag-album-reviews","tag-arising-empire","tag-dottie-giles","tag-nova","tag-polar"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.7 - 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