Polaris on Honoring Ryan Siew With ‘Without You’ & Their Good Things Return
The Australian band reflects on its first new song in three years, the decision to keep touring and a milestone Good Things Festival set.
Australian metalcore band Polaris has released its first new song in three years, "Without You," following the death of guitarist Ryan Siew in 2023. The track marks a significant departure from their final album, Fatalism, which was recorded months after Siew's passing. In an interview with Billboard, Polaris' frontman Rick Schneider described Siew as "irreplaceable," explaining that the band needed time to acknowledge and contextualize his significance within their group.
Drummer Daniel Furnari said writing the song was "bittersweet" and "cathartic," as they struggled to convey the depth of loss through music. "Without You" was written by Furnari and features a heavy riff from Schneider. The track's writing process was emotionally challenging, with the loss of Siew creating a "shadow in the room" during sessions.
Despite the difficulty, the band is proud of its survival and committed to continuing as a group, even if they are missing a key member. Polaris remains focused on honoring their history and making space for a future, with more music on the way that will not be rushed.
Written by urgent.news from Billboard's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
