Polaris ProfileFans who saw Polaris perform on the Hellbound Cruise on Thursday (22 October) might have noticed that the band had a different vocalist.
The Australian metal outfit explained on social media that, on their flight home from an epic European tour, vocalist Jamie Hails contracted “a respiratory tract infection.”
On Wednesday, he was diagnosed “simultaneously with tonsillitis, bronchitis, pharyngitis and uvulitis.” Doctors advised the singer against performing to avoid the risk of “serious long-term vocal damage.”
Rather than pull out of Australia’s first-ever heavy metal cruise, the band decided that the show must go on, albeit with another vocalist.
Julian Latouche, vocalist of fellow Aussie heavy group Inertia, stepped up to learn “two sets worth of Polaris material with less than 24 hours’ notice.” What a legend.
Polaris’s statement reads:
Ahoy, Hellbound Cruise seafarers! As you may be aware, we have landed back in the country just in time to set sail with you all.
Unfortunately on the flight home Jamie Hails has contracted a respiratory tract infection, and was yesterday diagnosed simultaneously with tonsillitis, bronchitis, pharyngitis and uvulitis. Despite his best efforts to get back in ship-shape, he has been medically cautioned against performing lest he run the risk of serious long-term vocal damage.
As we couldn’t bear the thought of pulling out of this weekend’s performances at the last minute, we’ve had to make the difficult decision for Jamie to stay home to recover, while our good friend Julian Latouche from Inertia has bravely jumped on board, learning two sets worth of Polaris material with less than 24 hours notice so that we can deliver these shows as promised. We know that we can rely on his vocal talents and your collective energy to create some amazing memories over this weekend.
See you on the high seas 🫡
Polaris are enjoying a stacked 2026 thus far. Starting with headlining this year’s Froth & Fury Festival in Adelaide and Perth, the band then hosted their own festival in Melbourne, Life’s A Beach, which featured a mix of homegrown and international heavy bands.
Then, in March, they opened for Linkin Park on their arena tour across Australia. From mid-April to late May, they opened shows for German band Electric Callboy in the US. From mid-September to mid-October, Polaris were in Europe, supporting I Prevail on their Violent Nature World Tour.
Polaris are recognised for their explosive arrangements, phenomenal musicianship, unique vocal interplay, and relatability. They unleashed their sound on the world with 2017’s The Mortal Coil, followed by 2020’s The Death of Me and 2023’s Fatalism.
Fatalism debuted at #1 on the ARIA Charts, earned an Australian Album of the Year nomination at the 2023 J Awards, and was shortlisted for the 2023 Australian Music Prize. Earlier this year, they dropped their first new music in three years with the roaring single, Without You.
