Track By Tracks: Lodestar - Polaris (2024)

1. Shooting Star:

The opening track was released as our second single with an animated music video. When writing for this track, we knew that this had something special just by the riff alone. It set up a great sound bed, and the main riff Kate just decided to make it the chorus riff because it was such a great foundation for an awesome chorus. It's a song we highly recommend to anyone getting into our band.

2. Never Die:

We found this was a great follow-up track to Shooting Star. Due to the fact that we wanted to keep the energy the first song had. Another very easy song to play, but a very fun riff to play as well. The intro and bridge riff, have string skipping. Playing the riff melody on a single string but also hitting the bass note on every down beat, while the chorus has the nice heavy power chords. The song is about, making your mark on this world by leaving a legacy behind.

3. Save Me From Fate:

Another heavy power chord-based song, this song expands on the song structures more. Compared to the last two songs, they were short and sweet. This song takes its time. This song is very stationary by making the most of a few power chords. Things change up when the bridge comes in, which provides the hardest part to play in the song, in my opinion. This track adds a darker dynamic to the album, it's mysterious and heavy. A needed change in atmosphere from the last two songs.

4. In This Life:

One of our personal favorites on the album. This song is progressive when compared to other songs we have done before. A very different song in many ways. The song structure has the listener guessing, but once you hear the chorus come in it's unforgettable, when Kate takes her vocals and starts belting out "I know nothing lasts forever!". Guitars provide a cleaner sound, using fingerpicking. At the end of the song, what people might think to be lead guitar is the distorted piano. This song has been taken apart a few times, but we are happy we found the right arrangement, and I’m sure fans will agree.

5. In Your Shadow:

The first doom-style song on the album to appear. Very easy song to play on guitar. A great song to contrast the epic, airy vibe of In This Life. Simple but effective. This song was released as our third single, presented with an AI-generated video.

6. Distance To Your Light:

Experimental is a good word to describe this track. For the first few minutes, this song is very slow, doomy, and atmospheric. Kate performing in her darker lower vocal register, will send chills down your spine. Once it hits the mid-way point and goes into the bridge. The song picks up intensity and becomes groovier. Reaching the climax and suddenly taking an open, semi-clean break with Kate’s vocals filling in the ambient space, made by the instrumental.

7. War Of The Mind:

The heaviest track on the album. This song marks the end of the darker middle section of this album. The vocals alone, provide the listener with an angry, bitter, defiant setting. It will surely please the metalheads.

8. Light Of My Life:

Another curve ball, probably the lightest most positive song we have done as a band, besides the title track Polaris. The song opens with beautiful piano and string work done by Kate. Showing fans that this track will be something different. Guitar influences of Mark Tremonti of Alter Bridge shine through on the guitar parts. Mostly during the verses, where it plays clean finger-picked guitar patterns, it gives off this Alter Bridge vibe,

9. World Of Change:

The only song we have done that features a guest guitar player. In the first solo about mid-way through. the guest guitar player Irina takes front and center stage. She provides this melodic, bluesy solo, while in the last two minutes of the song guitar player Jensen returns and does his own solo. This is the longest song in Lodestar's catalog. It's a 10 min epic journey.

10. Polaris:

The first single to be released and the title track for this album. This song concludes the entire 50+ album, sending listeners on a journey to get lost. This song is very vocally focused, and message-driven, dealing with the theme of trying to spread your wisdom someone gains from their mistakes in the past. Trying to teach others to not make the same mistakes and save them from the pain. The song concludes with a chorus repeated but with a choir. This is another personal favorite of ours.