The EP ‘This Polar Noise’ begins with little fanfare, straight into an intense assault of POLAR’S no-nonsense hardcore with ‘Tonight Matthew, I Am The Batman’. Polar carry on as they’ve begun with four more tracks of blistering rhythm and rough, distorted vocals. It’s an enjoyable release of entertaining hardcore, but more than anything it carries the air of a great live band – the energy of a live show would surely put across the real sentiment behind the songs far more successfully. Unfortunately on record, the songs blend together somewhat; while there aren’t any particular weak spots that let the band down, it’s equally hard to pick out highlights. The band is at their strongest with the emphasised repeated refrains that hammer home the intensity they play with. With an unrelenting sound, the group close the EP with the raucous ‘Smile You Son Of A Bitch!’, the most all-out of the release, and affirms the group as one to watch.
JOSIE MARTIN