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Artist...: Alexisonfire
Album....: Alexisonfire
Genre....: Hardcore
Label....: Equal Vision Records
Lang.....: English
Year.....: 2002
Source...: CDDA
Rip.date.: 02-13-2018
St.date..: 09-09-2002
Encoder..: FLAC 1.3.1
Quality..: 946 kbps Avg 44.1kHz 2 channels
▀▀▀▀ + TRACK LiST + ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀
01 44. Caliber Love Letter 4:32
02 Counterparts And Number Them 2:18
03 Adelleda 5:47
04 A Dagger Through The Heart Of St. Angeles 4:12
05 Polaroids Of Polar Bears 5:08
06 Waterwings (And Other Pool Side Fashion Faux 2:41
Pas)
07 Where No One Knows 3:12
08 The Kennedy Curse 3:38
09 Jubella 2:29
10 Little Girls Pointing And Laughing 4:54
11 Pulmonary Archery 3:24
Total Size.: 11 Files/298.8MB/42:15 min
▀▀▀▀ + RELEASE NOTE + ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀
Alexisonfire began booking shows with other little known acts at
a time when event flyers often had descriptions in brackets
underneath the band names. This was done in an effort to drum up
interest among potential listeners who had never heard their
music before, leading to such gems as "Whisky-tinged metalcore
from upstate NY" and "Gasoline-soaked Texas hardcore."
Evidencing a desire among the band to always forge their own
path, unconcerned by the opinions of their peers and
predecessors alike, vocalist George Pettit had just the solution
to the practice that they found clichTd and banal: "Say 'Two
Catholic schoolgirls in a knife fight.'" "Which, I don't know
what that sounds like... I don't think anybody really does. But
you can imagine. And that's sorta kind of what I think we
sounded like to be honest. A bunch of... shrieking," reflects
guitarist/vocalist Dallas Green.
As most of the band was still attending high school when
Alexisonfire was written, the young quintet understandably had
very little money to apply towards the creation of their debut.
Consequently, the process saw them recording at nine or ten
studios all around Toronto, primarily chasing free studio time
offered by friends. Guitars, e.g., were often tracked from 3
a.m. to 4 a.m. or in other small increments during obscure hours
of the night. Simply put, this was a group of kids doing
whatever was within their means to get a first record out on the
streets. The resultant finished product certainly is less
polished than was to be expected from the band's more
high-profile contemporaries, yet not so rough as to reach a
level where it genuinely detracts from the overall listening
experience. Nevertheless, it proved the loudest and most
enduring criticism of a record that went on to launch Alexis'
decade-long career as Canada's premier heavy musical act.
In stark contrast to the amateurish approach toward recording
the album, Alexisonfire's collective songwriting abilities were
anything but. Opener ".44 Caliber Love Letter" begins with a
two-minute-long instrumental composition featuring dueling lead
guitar work and an intricate tapping riff that makes it
abundantly clear from the onset that the band's skilled
guitarists can establish a scenic mood. Within twenty seconds
thereafter the listener is already hearing three distinct
vocalists using screamed, sung, and shouted styles. Before long
a spoken voice is added to the mix and you have all elements
simultaneously warring for sonic space, yet diligently
complimenting one another in a way that doesn't make the
abundance of pieces seem overwhelming. This is especially true
upon repeat listens; an absolute must for this album, as the
songs are all very dense and prone to moving forward at all
times.
Choruses are nonexistent, hooks to sink your teeth into all but
absent, and riffs come and go one after the other. That is not
to suggest that these parts are not infinitely memorable and
noteworthy, they wholeheartedly are, it's just that they will
only be with the listener for a brief moment before being
discarded in favor of yet another novel vocal or guitar
arrangement. Therefore, it is likely common to listen through a
full song for the first time and know that you enjoyed it
greatly, but not be able to specifically recall individual
moments in your mind. Accessibility seemed to be of little to no
concern for the band, seemingly prioritizing focusing on the
longevity of the album and crafting something that would not
only withstand additional listens, but actually continue to grow
and expand with each time it's revisited.
Unlike most other bands in the genre Alexis has no regard for
traditional song structures, and the familiar sing/scream style
is utilized in inventive ways so as to distinguish them from the
herd. Rather than screamed verses and sung choruses or any
variant of a formula to the division in vocal duties, it is
almost completely unpredictable which vocals will be used at any
given time, with both frequently interweaving or even occurring
in unison. The quality of the vocal delivery itself is always of
the highest caliber, with a superb amount of variety displayed
by both Pettit and Green. Pettit's screams are performed by
someone who clearly had no vocal training or hesitation about
the prospect of destroying his larynx in the future, and the
resulting onslaught is never monotone nor mundane. His energy
and passion are never in doubt and everything he does, from
wailing frenetically to dabbling in low growls on "The Kennedy
Curse," is brimming with life. Green, meanwhile, has a knack for
writing pleasing clean vocal lines and the natural gift to
perform them precisely as envisioned. His parts on the album
range from near yelling in volume to barely a whisper, his tone
near unmatched in the genre and his delivery incredibly smooth.
The most unique feature of Alexisonfire, however, is Wade
MacNeil and Green's twin guitar attack that proves equally adept
at crafting brisk, heavy sections and the contrasting subdued,
calming, even comforting passages that are present throughout
many of the album's songs as intros, outros, and randomly timed
interludes. The latter moments are particularly impressive, such
as the stunning intro to album closer "Pulmonary Archery" or the
serene, tranquil, almost sedated extended instrumental that
opens "Polaroids Of Polar Bears." These segments, of which there
are many, truly ground the chaos that surrounds them and bring a
vivid sense of atmosphere that most bands scarcely, if ever,
achieve. Even the ending of "Adelleda", with the instruments
individually fading out and slowly giving way to piano, manages
to avoid sounding sappy and instead comes across as genuinely
moving. The interludes are also where the bass manages to shine,
with Chris Steele providing an uplifting sense of warmth to
songs like "A Dagger Through The Heart Of St. Angels" that feels
equal parts nostalgic and soothing. In a sea of music where bass
players usually range from invisible to a mere afterthought, it
is most welcome to hear prominent basslines and be made to take
notice of Steele's presence ample times throughout the record.
Drummer Jesse Ingelevics is formidable in his own right,
showcasing his ability with varied and inventive playing at all
times. One need not look further than the blistering drum fills
on "Jubella" as confirmation of his skill behind the kit, and as
the final piece of the puzzle he keeps everything tight and
holds it all together.
Clocking in at 42 minutes, this record is entirely devoid of
filler. There is not a weaker song on here and the level of
consistency from start to finish is rare to find. While Green
and company may have been bewildered to learn that their brand
of "shrieking" about led to mass legions of fans flocking to
their shows, listeners should experience no such puzzlement.
Alexisonfire is an achievement; one that has not only stood the
test of time, but stands stronger today than it did nearly a
decade-and-a-half ago.
Who could have imagined two Catholic schoolgirls in a knife
fight would sound this beautiful?
Url: http://www.theonlybandever.com/
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