Fatalism By Polaris

By Phil Hawkins

Fear is a unique thing as it is humanity’s great divider, but also its most potent unifier. This very thought is what lies at the core of Fatalism, Polaris’s latest album. The album was shaped by a sense of dystopia and despair as the world was engulfed in it the past few years mixed with the overwhelming sensation that accompanies that we are/were merely powerless to reset the course. “I don’t think many of us have experienced such a period of division in our own lifetimes,” shares drummer and lyricist Daniel Furnari, “and at some point it occurred to me that through all the conflict and debate raging everywhere, maybe the one thing that was universally relatable was that we were all afraid. No matter what side you were on, the potential outcomes looked terrifying.”

Where its 2020 predecessor The Death Of Me firmly balanced light and shade, Fatalism instead barrels headfirst into much darker and heavier tendencies, showcasing Polaris in a freshly resolved and aggressive light, thanks largely in part to the band’s meticulous approach to crafting the album’s guitarwork and vocals, as well as shaping the surrounding layers to bolster and complement proceedings.

Fatalism kicks off with “Harbinger” which starts out rather soft but continues to build as the track progresses and then shifts in to full swing around the 1:40 mark and then carrying the track out the rest of the way. “Nightmare” follows and wastes no time as it is on full tilt from the very beginning. There are some solid contrasts strewn throughout the track as the chorus/hook takes a cleaner approach vocally that really ties things together well. “Parasites” keeps things fast paced and and relentlessly pushes through from start to finish. The drums are tight and fast mixed with a sonic wall of guitarwork that is tonally brooding. “Overflow” rounds out the first portion of the album and takes a more melodic approach over the previous tracks veracity. It’s a strong track and the vocal work is a definite highlight that meshes beautifully with the lyricism.

“With Regards” keeps things in a similar musical space as “Overflow” but quickly flips things in a more aggressive manner that fits the album’s overall aesthetic. “Inhumane” kicks off with a solid bass riff that gives the track a bit of a tonal flair as that bass riff lingers in the background of the track from start to finish and builds upon other elements that aren’t as prominent on the rest of the album. Notably, the electronic melody that is laced within a couple of different segments of the track. “The Crossfire” and “Dissipate” round out the middle segment of the album. Both tracks hold similar elements that have been experienced on the album thus far, but they still manage to expand upon those elements without just recreating something they have previously done on the album.

“Aftertouch” ushers in the final act of the album as it takes on the most melancholy approach of any track on the album. It’s distinctly different than the rest of the album and stands out amidst an album chock full riffage and blast beats. Given the more somber tone of the track it still has a solid sense of beauty and is remarkably crafted. It still manages to embrace the heavier side of things musically, but it is a solid and consistent build to that point and still manages to stay grounded in the more melodic framework that it starts with. “Fault Line” is another interesting track that starts out more mellow in nature before building into a melodically heavy onslaught. It is interesting to see these tracks placed so late in the album (and right after one another) rather than spacing them out a bit. However, being so close to the end of the album it works well. “All In Vain” closes out the album in a grand fashion as it takes elements of the rest of the album and throws them in to a blender of sorts resulting in a perfectly crafted tracks that embodies the whole album making it the perfect closing track.

Fatalism is a remarkably intentional album as the finished product embodies a band that knew what they wanted to create and they brought it all to the table leaving nothing to the imagination. They manage to blend and contrast seamlessly without wasting a single iota of musical space. The musicianship is tight and the production is very lush and full in every aspect available.

Fatalism is out now via SharpTone Records and Resist Records and is available on all major streaming and digital platforms. Physical copies can be order through various sites based on national region; USA, Europe and Australia.

Polaris is currently on tour in Australia with dates in Europe later this month. Additionally, they will kick off their U.S. tour in October. For information on all their upcoming tour dates or to purchase tickets click here.