Track Listing:

1. Rainmaker [4:27]
2. Spirit Of Vengeance [4:29]
3. All Along The Watchtower [4:47]
4. The Book [2:58]

This band didn’t even send me a proper CD case. But how can I bear such an insignificant grudge against a band that make music as good as this?

Five-piece Polarian have only existed since mid-2004, forming in Wales. To quote from the correspondence, they are: “taking in influences as diverse as Led Zeppelin, Monster Magnet and Radiohead”, which can all be heard in various guises in their work, no less the formidable voice of Will Stafford, who manages to shadow each one.

“Rainmaker” is such a strong piece vocally, and has a slow, but powerful melody line. It sounds like quite an epic, and is a beauty to listen to. “Spirit Of Vengeance” is the opposite. Much faster, and a few decades earlier too, and has a hint of Led Zep about it, the strongest hint of that influence mentioned earlier. Heavy guitars and strong drumming dominate the chorus, whereas they both soften for the verse with emphasis on the vocals. Polarian describe it as an anthem for “Ghostrider”, which ended up working so well, it made its way onto CD. Then, the award-winning “All Along The Watchtower”, which won “Riffathon Studio 2005” award. It is a cover version of the Bob Dylan classic, rocked up to an intense extreme. Jimmy Page himself, a judge of that particular contest, described it as “the best cover I have heard in a long time. And after two heavy tracks like that, what better way to end it than “The Book”, written and recorded in less than an hour, which sounds like it could’ve made it’s way onto OK Computer.

How one band can insert so much diversity into 4 tracks is beyond me, there seems to be a bit of everything in just 15 minutes of music. Although the exact route the music will take is unclear, they’re certainly keeping their options open. Look out for these guys, they’ve got the potential to make it big. If the Arctic Monkeys can do it, so can these.

Band Members:

Carl Gethin (Lead Guitar)
Paul Gethin (Rhythm Guitar)
Ben Picken (Bass)
Will Stafford (Vocals)
Dave Barker (Drums)

Rating Out of 10: