Review
POLAR – IRON LUNGS
Released 7th May 2012 (A Wolf At Your Door Records)
Words: Charlie Wallis
Whether it’s live or recorded, Guildford locals Polar always bring an element of intensity to anything they touch. Their first album “This Polar Noise” was extremely well received both by fans and the UK hardcore scene. From promising beginnings “Iron Lungs” is a huge step forward and provides the listener with an album that manages to be both visceral but also accessible.
The introduction is like a sledgehammer to the ear and from the get go sets the tone for this relentless assault of a record. “Sick Old Buzzard” smacks of old hardcore aggression with a dirty riffy guitar sound that wouldn’t look out of place on the records of much bigger bands, musically “Every Time I Die” spring to mind. Moving further down the track list first single “H.E.L.L” is an extremely strong track showing off Polar’s ability to write a track that’s uncompromising in it’s aggression but gives their audience the anthemic shout along choruses that they crave.
What’s really impressive about this record is that it really shows off the bands musicianship in a much larger way than their earlier offering. Title track “Iron Lungs” with its moody overtones couldn’t be further from their regular sound whilst still retaining that Polar feel showing that even without shouting at the top of their lungs this band still has so much to offer.
Polar are going to be the big stars of the UK hardcore scene before long and based on the strength of this latest offering, things are going to get very exciting, very quickly for these lads.
