SINCE the mid-2000s, Malaysia has been a hotbed for a slew of instrumental and progressive rock bands that purposely elude the radar of the mainstream but command a devoted following among aficionados.
One of those bands is Polaris, a Kuala Lumpur-based quartet that formed and actively gigged during that period before going dormant for a decade.
However, the band has recently re-emerged with a new single and a re-work of past material as a reminder to show their genre remains relevant to this day.
On June 21, Polaris released a new version of their old single 'Siqlab Run' accompanied by a music video showing a montage of old and new clips stretching between 2005 and 2021.
The dynamic tune came after the band released the new composition 'Arpeggio Tryst' in January this year.
Describing their music, Polaris says it moves seamlessly from grunge to classic rock, folk, metal, and progressive crunchy rock, among others.
The band's principal songwriter and frontman, Shahrul, strives for his compositions to have memorable melodies that stand on their own, yielding an unmistakably musical foundation for compelling voiceless tracks.
"For the band, it's all about the playing, technical abilities, and the timing to deliver musical hooks, deft arrangements, and lush harmonies that provide a 'just right' amount of colour to support the jovial core of each song," the band said in a statement.
Other than Shahrul, Polaris consists of guitarist Saiful, drummer Arif, while their bassist Amir is also a member of a local Nasyid group.
On their January single, Polaris 'Arpeggio Tryst' tells listeners about the experience of existing and broken connections.
"(It's) a significant association between or among things: the relation between cause and effect and the various connections between peoples, in which every notes that compose a chord are played in a rising or descending relationship and private romantic rendezvous between lovers," the band said.
Both tracks were recorded at the infamous iSeek Music Studio in Kota Damansara, the band said.
While the band has yet to announce an upcoming EP or full-length album, the two singles this year hint at more releases to be expected in the near future. – The Vibes, July 11, 2021
