">
 

Alexisonfire
Alexisonfire


4.5
superb

Review

by analrightstart USER (8 Reviews)
September 1st, 2005 | 40 replies


Release Date: 2002 | Tracklist


Alexisonfire are a relatively young, fast, rocking, talented five piece from the lovely country of Canada. This self titled debut album is nothing short of brilliant; full of amazing euphoric intros/outros, brain bursting melodies, neck breaking percussion, and gigantic vocal harmonies; it's hard to say that this album lacks anything.

This album has some of the best guitar playing you will ever hear; in just about every song there are moments of brilliance on the guitars. Usually a band will have one incredible guitarist, but Alexis has two, and both Dallas and Wade are exceptional guitarists. The first song, "44. Calibre Love Letter", is a great example of the talent these two guitarists have. "Adelleda" is another good example of the great guitaring on this album, as well as the diversity this band holds; they aren't just "some good fast rock band", (I refuse to call them punk) they play well thought out music, with feeling and intent. The piano outro to "Adelleda" is one of my favourite parts of the album.

Then we come to one of the best tracks on the album "Polaroids of Polar Bears". The melodic, dream like intro to this song is like none other I have ever heard, as is the mind blowing melodic/explosive outro (the distorted voice almost isn't comprehendible). Again the guitars and vocals are the main focus.

Another one of my favourite parts of the album is the second half to the song "Where No One Knows". I can relate to the lyrics in this song much better than I can with any of the other lyrics on the album. The lines "I know there is somewhere I can go where no one knows my name" and "Do you think I would call just to hear you breathe?", hit me the hardest. The harmonies in this song are some of the best Alexis have ever made.

But this album doesn't just have melodic brilliance; it has some raw rock to it also in songs like "Water Wings", "A Dagger through the Heart of St. Angeles", "Jubella" and "The Kennedy Curse". These songs have more of a ferocious almost angst feeling to them, and are much more accessible and generally great songs, without having to be so precise and intricate. The album closer "Pulmonary Archery" is just amazing. The guitar intro is one of the best I have ever heard, not from Alexis, from any band. It's just a beautiful, dreamy, floating riff that you will never get bored of hearing. The song then explodes into craziness when George screams "Let's go!!!!"

On the whole this is an amazing album from start to finish. Nearly every song is a highlight, whether it is purely just rocking out greatness, or melodic brilliance, you find yourself looking forward to every song. This album is much rawer and genuinely awesome then "Watch Out". It has more balls.

Standout Tracks:
Adelleda
Polaroids of Polar Bears
Where No One Knows
Jubella
Pulmonary Archery



Recent reviews by this author
Mirrorline Double DotDoves (UK) Lost Souls
The Dears No Cities LeftThe Dandy Warhols Come Down
The Smashing Pumpkins Judas OThe Panics Crack In The Wall
user ratings (1601)
3.8
excellent
other reviews of this album
GhostOfSarcasticBtrd (5)
"Who could have imagined two Catholic schoolgirls in a knife fight would sound this beautiful?"...

Acre (4)
...

Understanding In a Crash (4.5)
I mean in it's time it has fueled alot of upcoming acts but it still remains one of the most diversi...

Boxes Of Cats (5)
...



Comments:Add a Comment 
Serapheus
September 1st 2005


252 Comments


Nice review. Keep it up!

Thor
September 1st 2005


10384 Comments

Album Rating: 1.5

This is a good review, but I never thought of them as a metalcore band.

analrightstart
September 1st 2005


96 Comments


thanks, but did i say they were a metalcore band?

Berserker!
September 1st 2005


73 Comments


Good review Anal right start.

pulseczar
September 1st 2005


2385 Comments


this album has amazing musician work, it's shame i don't like screamo or emocore, i dont know what you cool kids call it these days

204409
Emeritus
September 1st 2005


3998 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Your review suffers from 1/2 of what I call the 14-year old syndrome. You have a very limited musical vocabulary so you don't really end up saying anything meaningful with the review. (The other half of the syndrome is poor analytic ability so there are an inaccuracy to the review).

analrightstart
September 2nd 2005


96 Comments


DFelon, thanks for posting a useful/honest comment. I don't read enough about music, i listen to it 24/7 and play it almost as much but i never read about it. Maybe i should start reading music magazines and things like that.
Also I am only 16...

Stillborn, Alexis are much more talented than most bands right now, and are certainly better than screamo bands. These guys are not screamo or emocore or any of the other stupid names people give subgenre's these days.

204409
Emeritus
September 2nd 2005


3998 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

You speak the truth kid. Most music theory information can be found online for free. You say you "play it almost as much." I'm going to assume guitar because that's really popular, so I'll try to find you a good online resource.

analrightstart
September 3rd 2005


96 Comments


DFelon, thanks man. But you assumed wrong, i play bass and drums most, i also play guitar a bit though. That would be much appreciated if you could find me some good sources.

Mysterious no name guy, I agree, i didnt comment on jesse at all, shame on me. He is one of my favourite drummers, it must have just slipped my mind totally while writing the review.
I saw these guys live about a week or two ago, and they're new drummer is just as good. So don't worry about future rerleases, i'm sure the drumming will be just as cool.

masada
September 3rd 2005


2733 Comments


[quote=da 'Felon]Your review suffers from 1/2 of what I call the 14-year old syndrome.[/quote]

:upset:This Message Edited On 09.02.05

TheHamburgerman
February 20th 2007


1546 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

I actually like this CD. That's quite scary.

indietrash
February 20th 2007


85 Comments


the review might be a bit inadequate. but... yeah. it's ok. just tell me _why_ the guitar play is so brilliant and so on.


PS
Alexisonfire is definitely emocore. they just won't admit it. they're like Thrice, Aiden and bands like that. "we're post hardcore, not emocore!!!". translation: "we are emocore, but we deny it 'cuz emocore's kind'a gay."

Two-Headed Boy
March 10th 2007


4527 Comments

Album Rating: 2.0

I'm entering my annual "Alexisonfire suck" phase.

Confessed2005
July 14th 2007


7558 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

Yes, they do suck. This CD redeems itself with some interesting guitar work on occasions.



TheSunSleeps348
August 4th 2007


156 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

I love it when people that don't know shit about Metal or Heavy Punk comment on a band.



(I'm not saying that Alexisonfire is Metal, they are clearly Post-Hardcore.)

koecim
August 17th 2007


68 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

alright, this album is the best alexisonfire album, it completly annihilates (i have no idea if i spelled that right) Crisis, and its more raw then watch out, and im gonna make a comment that will probly piss lost of people off, but George's screaming is some of the wildest screaming you can find in emocore/post hardcore (guys its easier just to put lots of slashes in band genres so your never too wrong). Oh and The Sun Sleeps guy, some people know about metal and heavy punk, how do you just assume that these people dont know about those things, are you a mind reader, or just a crazy dawg.

SpinLightTwo
August 17th 2007


1067 Comments


uh.. what?

koecim
August 17th 2007


68 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

indeed

Otisbum
August 23rd 2007


1913 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

This is pretty good on the first listen, but I don't find anything amazing.

BroRape
February 26th 2008


803 Comments


we listen to the first track off of this cd every single day in my friend daniel's car. it fucking sucks but my scene friends love it.



You have to be logged in to post a comment. Login | Create a Profile





STAFF & CONTRIBUTORS // CONTACT US

Bands: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z


Site Copyright 2005-2023 Sputnikmusic.com
All Album Reviews Displayed With Permission of Authors | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy