Interview by Angela Croudace
After 15 years in the game, Polar's frontman Adam "Woody" Woodford could have easily walked away when the band hit a rough patch. But instead of throwing in the towel, he rebuilt the band with a fresh line-up and a renewed sense of purpose. The result? Five Arrows is their boldest and most experimental album to date.
Polar's journey has been anything but easy. After members left and relationships were tested, Woody was at a crossroads. But rather than giving up, he saw an opportunity for a fresh start. "When you lose everything, you gain everything," Woody explains, paraphrasing Fight Club. This approach laid the groundwork for the band's artistic rejuvenation. As a result, the new album exemplifies that philosophy: challenging, sincere, and unfiltered.
Five Arrows represents a new era for the band, as they threw out the rulebook and embraced an experimental approach to their sound. "There was nothing left to lose," Woody reflects. The result is an album that pushes boundaries, blending aggression and melody in a way they hadn't explored before. "We threw the rulebook out," he adds, highlighting how the band has moved away from its established blueprint to create something more dynamic and challenging.
The songwriting process for Five Arrows was a true collaboration. Guitarist Simon Richardson wrote a series of riffs that became the album's foundation, and the band worked together, refining and expanding on the ideas. But it wasn't just about the band, but also the outside influences that shaped the sound. Producer Jack Murphy played a crucial role, pushing the band out of their comfort zones and challenging them to explore new directions.
For Woody, the album's emotional core is just as important as the sound. Five Arrows tackles the destructive power of change and the resilience needed to overcome it. Woody reflects on how embracing change has brought the band to a place of growth and renewal, no matter how difficult. "It's all about resilience," he says. "There's no dead end unless you make it one."
Polar's future looks bright as the band prepares to tour and share Five Arrows with the world. What started as a passion project has become a symbol of strength, unity, and perseverance. For Woody and the band, Five Arrows is more than just an album - it's a physical incarnation of their ability to rise from the ashes and embrace whatever comes next.

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