Canada may be best known for its maple syrup and universal health care system, but at this pace, hardcore outfit Alexisonfire (AOF) may soon need to be added to that list. Drawing influence from a wide spectrum of music, including punk, as well as hardcore, while blending in melodic moments and acoustic portions of songs, AOF truly has a style that is unique.
The band features a three-headed beast taking on vocal duties, with guitarists Dallas Green and Wade MacNeil, as well as resident screamer George Pettit all contributing on the vocal front.
On its third album “Crisis,” Alexisonfire seems to do everything right to take the music to the next level. The screaming of MacNeil is still present, but is more audible. The transitions between the other vocalists are more seamless.
The musicianship of the band has also greatly improved. New drummer Jordan Hastings provides even tighter drumming and bassist Chris Steele continues to improve at his craft, while the guitarists add in a barrage of catchy-yet-still-heavy riffs.
The result is the definition of the word crisis, especially if you consider the word to mean an incredibly sophisticated hardcore record that hits all the right notes at all the right times.
The album kicks off with the one-two punch of the songs “Drunks, Lovers, Sinners and Saints” and””This Could Be Anywhere in the World.” The former is a brash awakening to AOF’s style on this album, and the latter is the first single from the album.
These two songs work extremely well to give the listener a good idea of how the album flows overall, with each song changing back and forth from intensely screamed verses to melodic choruses. The choruses often times feature more than one of the singers blended into a hybrid style that is pulled off with immense precision.
Just when you think Alexisonfire may be sticking to a formula, songs such as-“You Burn First,” “To a Friend” and “Rough Hands” slow up the pace of the record and offer another side of AOF that not only showcases its strong musicianship, adding in piano and keyboard elements to these songs, but also demonstrates the improvement of the lyrics with darker and much more personal themes. These slower songs feature Dallas Green taking center stage on vocals and he shines brightest on these tracks.
“Crisis” is a complete album in every sense of the word. No track is here merely for filler; each song serves a purpose to the overall feel and flow of the record. Through three albums, Alexisonfire has discovered a formula that works incredibly, and the expanded use of all three of its singers gives AOF a style that definitely sets it apart from other bands in the hardcore scene.
With “Crisis,” AOF is poised to continue to climb to the top of the hardcore genre.
Alexisonfire is touring the United States beginning in mid-October and will be playing Oct. 25 in Anaheim at the Chain Reaction and Oct. 26 in Los Angeles at yhe Troubador. For more information about Alexisonfire check out their Web site at www.theonlybandever.com.
