Islington’s O2 Academy 2 sees hardcore metal four-piece Polar, hailed from the leafy green suburbs of Surrey take to the stage on the final night of their headline UK tour in support of their recent release ‘Shadowed By Vultures’. With a line-up filled to the brim of metalcore and alternative generosity, tonight’s offerings are expected to catapult the 250 capacity venue into a state of euphoric maniacal hysteria.
As the evening commences, a somewhat disappointing emptiness lays bare to the room. But that doesn’t stop first band ZOAX from attempting to unleash lunacy from the get go. As the quintet boast their EP ‘XIII’, frontman Adam Carroll instantaneously activates into a Mr Hyde-like persona as he spends the bulk of the set off the stage, engaging with the crowd (and their text messages). Vocals from tracks such as ‘Bitter.Angry.Fake’ sees nodding heads, tapping feet as well as a one-man mosh pit as they exude exasperated screams, in front of a solid guitar and percussion unit. Despite lighting problems, Carroll’s comical craziness on the floor as well as an aggressive rawness from the stage, the band leave a memorable impression.
Birmingham based hardcore rockers The Catharsis follow with a head bang breakdown to open their anguishing set awash with ruthlessness. The venue’s small stage fails to cease their potential to radiate through. Their hardcore devoted energy, alongside killer riffs cause for an eventual mosh-pit to emerge to truly begin the evening’s audience participation. From frontman Morgan spinning on the floor and launching himself around the room on one crazed fan’s shoulders, to a unique bassist to vocalist swap, this band certainly don’t lack guts and confidence when it comes to a room lacking with audience.
Diversity materialises in alternative rockers Anavae, who provide a gallant edge to the evening as the room begins to fill for the band who have an unlikeness to the rest on the bill. Vocals from Rebecca Need-Menear without delay showcases versatile emotion and raw harmonious delight that boasts excellence. Their electronic essence, underneath an alternative rock setup ooze through the promotion of their latest record ‘Dimensions’. Despite a short set of only five songs, closer ‘Invaesion’ outrightly expose their drumming excellence. As two drums are brought out to the front of the stage, Rebecca, and guitarist Jamie Finch duel in an epic display of impressive percussion cacophony.
As headliners Polar take to the stage, the change in the crowd is felt in an instance. Lacking in numbers still, they take no prisoners as the expected carnage kicks off on the floor as the set opens with ferocious ‘Blood Lines’. Frontman Adam Woodford’s merciless vocals are on-point from the get-go, and the entirety of the five-piece sound solid with the praise of fans’ screaming lyrics and producing circle pits galore. Morgan from The Catharsis joins for ‘Glass Cutter’ that fuels Adam’s words, “London, tonight we’re going to cause a fucking riot!”. You wouldn’t have guessed this crowd size was lacking as stage dives greet the crowd, alongside an en mass sing along in the middle of the room surrounding Adam with a sea of fist pumps and head bangs like a hardcore camp fire gathering. Although their set is short lived, Polar’s creation of unity through killer metalcore riffs and savage screams allow the crowd to forget about a room that should have been rammed.
