THE WAVES WITHIN
Written by Peter Anthony & Madelynn Elyse.
Produced by John Spiker, Peter Anthony, and Madelynn Elyse.
Drums performed by Kiel Feher.
Engineered, Mixed, and Mastered by John Spiker.
Released by Shark Attack Records, May 2019.
Still, despite sharing this recognizable aspect of compositional foundation, the two songs sound nothing alike, thanks to differences in mix prominence, tempo, and frequency throughout both. Herein lies another praiseworthy trait of Polaris Rose’s work: the duo can lead listeners down a musically cohesive trail without resorting to mind-numbing repetition. The strength of a tried-and-true song structure reigns. Even so, sonic treats like the completely seamless transition between the first two tracks and the recurring out-of-key flatted 6thchord dangling “Bird of Paradise” between major and minor moods, for example, are sprinkled in just enough to set the music apart from forgettable chorus-centric pop hits. Again, these writing decisions are small but show an added layer of consideration toward how to dress up conventions of modern songs without simply drowning them in every wacky plug-in available. Not only that but even though Polaris Rose aren’t afraid to play with loud dynamics and bold tones as a way of emphasizing its rock-flavored roots, the band is equally unafraid to exercise restraint. A very reserved melody and legato swaying rhythm line the uncertainty-laden ballad “Killer” and a mostly acoustic-leaning guitar tone serves to support Anthony’s leading vocals on the album’s somber closer, “Wait Forever.” - Throw the Dice and Play Nice