It's good to know that bands like Polar still exist. With their latest record, Shadowed by Vultures, the UK band has cranked up the heaviness to add to their energetic brand of post-hardcore. While not exactly new, their style has become a timeless structure on the landscape of extreme music: both heavy and melodic guitar lines mixed with both harsh and melodic vocals. The band formed in 2009 in their hometown of Guildford (the town sits about one hour southwest of London) and have toured with bands like This is Hell, Gallows and Trash Talk. Their new album was put out by Prosthetic Records and the band is currently finalizing plans for a European tour.
I had the chance to do a quick Q&A with the band's lead singer, Adam "Woody" Woodford.
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Metal Injection: Hey Adam, first off- congrats on the new record! When I listen to songs like "Blood Lines" and "Shadowed by Vultures," it seems like you guys have amplified the metal side of your sound a little more than on Iron Lungs. Would you say that's accurate?
Adam Woodford: I would completely agree with that and it was a decision we made when writing Shadowed By Vultures. We wanted to sharpen the sound that we had created with Iron Lungs and wanted to make the whole sound a lot heavier, we are all big metal fans. For us it was a challenge and chance for us to push our own musical boundaries.
MI: At the same time though, a lot of the guitar parts definitely remind me of bands like Shai Hulud and the Carrier, are you guys into those bands?
AW: We are into the melodic hardcore scene and proud to be a part of the scene. Bands like the ones you have stated have influenced us with their music and their hard work ethics, they have opened doors and paved the way for bands like ourselves.
MI: What touring plans do you have going for this year? Will you be coming to the United States?
AW: We are so determined to get the US as soon as we possibly can; it’s our dream as a band. We are still confirming our touring plans for the rest of the year but we had an amazing start to the year supporting Being As An Ocean, Hundredth and Counterparts in Europe, the biggest European tour for us to date.
MI: Speaking of touring, you've played with a lot of cool acts, any bands you especially enjoy playing with?
AW: We have been extremely lucky to have toured with the bands we have but I would say that supporting Funeral For A Friend throughout last year was a career high. They have been such a major influence on us and we learnt so much from them. We are forever thankful to them for taking us out on tour and we will always remain good friends for life.
You've said in other interviews that the key to being a band is to keep playing gigs and never give up, do you feel like that's starting to make an impact for you guys with this new record?
AW: We are extremely thankful to the fans, new and old, for supporting our band and appreciating all of our hard work. We are determined to overcome all obstacles that are put in our way and keep going at all costs. We will never be defeated, even if it kills us.
Shadowed by Vultures can be purchase through Amazon, Itunes or through Prosthetic Records directly.
