Polaris have opened a new chapter following the death of guitarist Ryan Siew with “Without You,” the Australian metalcore band’s first new music in three years. Released Sept. 3, the song was written in the aftermath of Siew’s death in 2023 and marks the group’s first recording made without him.
Siew died at 26 in June 2023, shortly before Polaris released their third studio album, “Fatalism.” The album became the band’s first No. 1 on the ARIA Albums Chart, while “Without You” now serves as the first new song from the remaining members since that record.
In an interview surrounding the release, guitarist Rick Schneider said the band wanted to acknowledge Siew’s importance without attempting to replace him. Schneider described his late bandmate as irreplaceable and said the years following his death allowed the members to understand his significance not only as a musician but also as a friend.
Drummer Daniel Furnari said recording the song was bittersweet and cathartic for the band. He explained that the members had spent considerable time thinking about what their first new song should communicate, particularly because they were trying to express grief that could not easily be captured in a single track.
“Without You” combines Polaris’ metalcore sound with soaring melodic sections, a prominent guitar solo and a heavy breakdown. The lyrics directly address the loss and the experience of continuing without someone who had been central to the band.
Schneider said Siew’s absence was particularly noticeable during the writing process, when the members would instinctively want his opinion or musical contribution. The song began taking shape from a heavy guitar riff and lyrics Furnari had written following the loss.
Furnari also recalled difficulty recording the vocals because of the emotional weight of the lyrics. An early attempt became too difficult to complete, forcing him to return to the song later. The finished recording ultimately became the band’s first public musical response to Siew’s death.
Polaris have indicated that more music is in progress, although the group is not rushing toward an immediate album release. Schneider said “Without You” needs time to settle before the band moves directly into another release, while Furnari said additional music would arrive in the not-too-distant future.
The band is also preparing for a major appearance at Australia’s Good Things Festival in December. Polaris are the highest-billed Australian act on the 2026 lineup, which is headlined by Limp Bizkit and also includes Simple Plan and Spiritbox. The festival is scheduled for Dec. 4 in Melbourne, Dec. 5 in Sydney and Dec. 6 in Brisbane.
The upcoming festival dates follow a period of major international activity for Polaris, including a 2025 Knotfest Australia appearance, an Australian arena run supporting Linkin Park in March and a North American tour with Electric Callboy. The band is also scheduled to return to the UK and Europe in September and October as support for I Prevail.
