14th January 2024

Review: “Polarity” by Night Thieves

You might have thought that not having a drummer might have stopped progress on a third EP in six years from London Alternative Metal outfit Night Thieves but the remaining members of the band had other ideas. Instead they sent their demos to producer Romesh Dodengoda (BMTH, Funeral For A Friend, Nova Twins) who not only loved the songs but provided some ideas and so they got Tom Connolly from Dream State to join them in the studio. The end result of those sessions is four new cuts titled “Polarity” with vocalist Jess Moyle, guitarist Paul Andrew and bassist Rick Hunter-Burns now joined by new drummer Ryan Delglyn and set to take on the World…

Opening with the anthemic “Collide” which has a powerful arena sized sing-a-long chorus and a couple of heavier rhythmic moments sets the tone with a big, bold and bright tune to help you breathe more easily. Embracing programming and a bouncy bassline, the track draws obvious comparisons with the finest work of American Industrial outfit Kidneythieves as vocalist Jess Moyle has a similar vocal range to that of Free Dominguez, but whereas that band had some cold, stark moments these Londoners have a warmth that is unmistakable. They benefit from mixing things up, having heavier moments mixed into their rich melodies and at times feel like they are a classic gateway band, a guilty pleasure that will tempt you like a siren from the deep and will never let you go. “The Way The Story Goes” continues in the same vein with another big clean sung chorus, the bands ability to create memorable tunes to surround them being what makes them stand out. Each cut has an element of programming with some synths but they are tastefully sparingly used so that they don’t overpower or encroach too far into what the band consider their core sound. Hints at the Progressive Metalcore influence of bands like Architects rise to the surface with a well crafted mosh part in the final third of “Through The Looking Glass“, a cut which finds Moyle asking who the fairest in all the land is. Another one soaked in rich warm melodies, it offers a lyrical narrative for the deeper thinkers as it ponders the fragility of life. A funky bass bleed out between chunky riffs from Andrews endures that “Walkaway” is a fourth potentially huge single in four cuts and a song that would work very well on a film soundtrack. The whispered moments help give the track a wonderful dynamic, that quiet, quiet, loud styling a trick as old as time but one that never loses its impact when it’s done right… [7.5/10]

Track Listing