Modern day metalcore heroes, Polaris' sole South Australian show – on their mammoth 22–date regional tour of Australia – was a triumphant return to the state, but not one that went without a hitch or two.
Pulling off a mostly sold-out tour of far flung towns and cities across the country, bad luck caught up with the band at Pooraka's Bridgeway Hotel (20 July), with the band taking an hour-long break just two songs into an otherwise blistering set of emphatic hits.Opening the night were fellow NSW metal act Inertia, who took to the stage amidst moody backlighting and techy glitching sound effects.
Unfortunately for the band, those same glitchy sound effects soon manifested into reality, as the venue sound system dropped out for a bracing 20 seconds. Consummate professionals, the band plowed on through track 'Dominion' without missing a beat, safely holding the gripped attention of the audience as they ventured through a set packed with menacing yet intricate metal soundscapes.
Frontman Julian Latouche, an imposing figure, cast a dark silhouette along with his bandmates, dressed fully in black, with flares of stylistic steely adornment, a statement reflected by the modern, stylish edge of their music.
Inertia - image © Mike Lockheart
Ocean Grove and Polaris' friendship and touring history has, over the decade, aligned so closely that the current touring configuration feels like an obvious pairing set in the stars.
Indeed, the Melbourne nu-metal band's set made for a hugely uplifting precursor to the gloriously optimistic sound and message of the headliner.
Ocean Grove's highly energetic performance instilled a sense of joyful mischief, channeling the same groove, message and desire to move as the emerging forefathers of the genre did in the '90s, albeit with a distinctly 2024 edge.
Interchangeable frontmen/ bassists Dale Tanner and Twiggy Hunter indulged in onstage acrobatics, unifying the moshpit in jumping on the spot and pumping fists along with their infectiously groovy sounds. Closing with anthemic hit 'Junkie$' marked a moment acknowledged onstage by Tanner of the synchronicity of this touring duo and their genuine joy in sharing stages.
Little did the Bridgeway audience know, Ocean Grove would in fact be the longest set of the evening. Good thing it was riveting, uplifting and packed with the catchiest nu-metal ever to come out of Australia.
Ocean Grove - image © Mike Lockheart
Polaris took to the stage not 20 minutes later, with a stripped-back production of light beams and moving spots behind their backline. Regardless, the immense sound generated by the band's seismic riffs compensated for the lack of visually stunning display the band have recently toured with.
Opening with fan favourite 'The Crossfire' from their 2023 album 'Fatalism', almost by popular demand, the swelling audience moved and swayed in unison as a fever pitch of euphoria overtook the moshpit.
The anthemic chorus of the song, very much in place as a set opener, delivered with impassioned intensity by frontman Jamie Hails and for some was overwhelming, who sang along at the loudest volumes they could muster. Closing out a bruising rendition of 'All Of This Is Fleeting', Hails drew the band to a halt, having witnessed an incident in the crowd.
Polaris - image © Mike Lockheart
While venue and touring staff rushed to ascertain the situation, the band stepped off stage to give crew and attendees space, ultimately leading to an hour-long wait until paramedics safely removed a fallen audience member for medical care.
The individual's spirit was still high as he was stretchered from the building, fist bumping fellow Polaris fans through the doors. This unfortunately meant that Polaris made a dramatic reduction to their set list, kicking off with the ever powerful 'Hypermania'.
Undeterred by the drama, band and moshpits alike continued in frenzy at Hails' insistence, with those involved on the floor taking particular care of one another through the night.
Hard hitters from 'Fatalism' and 2020 album 'The Death Of Me' like song 'Masochist' resonated deeply with the diverse and inclusive audience, the vast majority of which adorned in beloved Polaris merchandise.
Polaris - image © Mike Lockheart
As has become par for the course, the entirety of the band's merchandise offering on the night was depleted to nil by the time the band closed their set with back to back renditions of 'Nightmare' and 'Inhumane', wringing out every drop of sweat and energy from the pulsating crowd.
Retreating into the crisp, winter air outside was a welcome respite from a moving, eventful and positively affirming event, and potentially may well be the last opportunity to catch Polaris in such an intimate setting for the foreseeable future.
The Polaris Tour Australis 2024 tour continues this week with dates in regional Victoria and Tasmania.
More photos from the concert.
