New York Hardcore Dudes Get Sentimental

Upstate New York's Polar Bear Club are one of the bands leading the charge in the recent revival of earnest, emotion evoking punk rock that has been permeating the underground music scene as of late.

Last year they released their debut full-length album "Sometimes Things Just Disappear" on Red Leader Records to rave reviews and toured the world with bands like the Gaslight Anthem and Ruiner, gathering up a slew of new fans along the way. The album blended the passion punk of bands like Gaslight and 90's Epitaph Records stalwarts Hot Water Music, with the song craft of alternative rockers Far, and just a little touch of east coast hardcore thrown in for good measure.

Songs like "Convinced I'm Wrong" and, "Burned Out In A Jar" became sweaty sing along scene staples, and all of a sudden Polar Bear Club found themselves on respected Boston hardcore label Bridge 9. With a deadline for their follow up record approaching and big name producer Matt Bayles behind the boards, it was make or break time for Polar Bear Club, they have definitely beaten the sophomore slump.

PBC emerged from Bayles' Seattle studio with "Chasing Hamburg," ten well-rounded, pop-hardcore songs about life on the road. While "Sometimes" was so well received because of its scrappy charm and lead singer Jimmy Stadt's raw throated hollering, "Hamburg" is special for its' cleaner, more refined sound. Stadt seems to hold back a lot more, opting for more delicate harmonizing in songs like "Take Me to the Town " and "The Old Fisher Burial Ground" where he sounds more like Bayside's Anthony Raneri than his usual impression of Hot Water Music's Chuck Ragan. Bayles adds his own touch as well, most noticeably in the guitars of Nate Morris and Chris Browne. The producer, famous for his work with heavier bands like Norma Jean, the Deftones and Mastodon, brings a little of that hardcore buzz saw sound to the background of the songs, which nicely offset Stadt's newfound croon.

Stadt has stepped up his lyrics on this album as well. He has clearly been inspired by all the traveling he's done in the last year. In the song, "Light of Local Eyes, "he laments, "There was a time, when this city shined, the lights in the parking lots would lead us through the night and to sunrise." There is something very poetic about his tales from the road. This is the kind of album that makes kids want to start bands and tour.

The album's crowning achievement however, is the closing title track. Stadt really lays his heart out on this song. This is a fitting ending to a true road record. You can almost hear the band's van humming along the highway in the background. The album ends with all five members of Polar Bear Club harmonizing, "There is no more room for love," together as the instruments fade out and all that's left is their tired, road weary voices. This album is highly recommended, and can be purchased at bridge9.com for only $10!