GET TO KNOW: Alexisonfire (Ahead of Outbreak Festival)
- Laura Davies
- May 14
- 4 min read
If you are a fan of post hardcore, you would be amiss to have not heard of the band ALEXISONFIRE. Having been around the scene since 2001, these musical legends have not only grown a fierce, loyal following, but have made record after record of hit songs that have been the soundtrack of rebellion, teenage angst, and all-around fun.
Born out of St Catherine’s, Ontario, Canada in 2001, the lineup brought together musicians from different local bands, creating a unique blend of influences right from the start. From the beginning, the band’s identity revolved around contrast: beauty and aggression, melody and dissonance, structure and unpredictability. Teaming three vocalists with three different styles in one band created something rather spectacular. From George Pettit’s harsh screams to Dallas Green’s serenading singing and Wade MacNeil tying things together with his brash vocals, things just seemed to fit perfectly into place.
Their self-titled debut album dropped in 2002 and immediately set them apart. It wasn’t just heavy—it was chaotic, melodic, and deeply expressive. Having to give themselves a brief description on flyers, they settled on “Two Catholic School Girls in a Knife Fight”, which was then captured on their album cover. A true sentiment of the absurd that this band may seem on the surface, layered with the technicalities of brilliant musicians working together. Their first notable single was Pulmonary Archery, a song that still had them question whether this band was one for the ages, or just a one-hit wonder.
By the time their sophomore album, Watch Out was released in 2004, a buzz surrounded the band, and they were well and truly on the radar of those in America and beyond. The opening riffs of Accidents was an iconic sound for 2000’s teens, and it brought auditory chaos that juxtaposed the softness of vocals in songs such as No Transitory. Ending with Happiness By The Kilowatt left audiences knowing that this band was something quite special.
Twenty years ago, their next album Crisis, allowed them to solidify their status as the most unique post hardcore band out there. Blending more clean vocals from Dallas Green with George Pettit’s iconic screams meant that they could flex and lean into what they knew the audience loved. The mix of vocals that the fans could sing along to alongside the screams allowed them to create something truly unique that modern bands still look to replicate even to this day. By bringing in Jordan “Ratbeard” Hastings on drums, their unique style was able to develop even more to create hits such as This Could Be Anywhere In The World and Boiled Frogs.
From the embers of Crisis rose Old Crows/Young Cardinals, a tribute to punk and blues and everything in between. The soundtrack of maturity and the band developing their sound into something that felt more grown-up both musically and within their songwriting. Wade MacNeal stepped into vocals more, and the themes of the songs were unapologetically both political and honest. Singing the lyrics “We are not the kids we used to be” was a fitting lyric to show the development of the band and proving to audiences that they were not a one-trick pony.
Throughout the 2000’s, the band could be dubbed the hardest working band in the post hardcore genre. That was until 2012 when the weight of family commitments and the popularity of side projects pushed the band to the breaking point, and they all felt it was right to walk away. A farewell tour saw emotions run high as their most iconic songs were sung by fans across the world, and this was seemingly the end of a band that had more highs than lows and won the hearts of a generation. Dallas Green took to his own solo endeavours under the popular name of CITY AND COLOUR, whilst Wade MacNeil took to the UK to become the new frontman of popular punk outfit GALLOWS. For a while, it felt like ALEXISONFIRE were done. That they had quietly closed one door to make way for whatever the future held.
After playing a handful of one-off reunion shows, the band announced their return in 2015, it took until 2019 for new material to be released. Familiar Drugs, Complicit and Season Of The Flood showed fans that whilst the band may have taken a break, their sound was still unapologetically ALEXISONFIRE. Whilst the post hardcore was still there, woven throughout the tracks were touches of doom rock blended with Dallas Green’s even more sublime vocals to give a completely unique yet classic sound.
Thirteen years after releasing their previous album, Otherness was released in 2022. A blend of scuzzy riffs, psychedelic sounds, and three vocals that harmonise together in a way only ALEXISONFIRE could, this album solidified the fact that the band could do no wrong when it came to music. Whilst the band went off to discover themselves, this album felt like they had brought back all they had learnt and created something rather special. A look at what the future of the band may look like.
ALEXISONFIRE embody post hardcore through their fusion of melody and chaos. Their dynamic as a band plays on both aggression and vulnerability, capturing their emotional core whilst allowing themselves to push boundaries and challenge what it means to be a post hardcore band. They may have jokingly dubbed themselves “The Only Band Ever”, this sentiment has cemented their status as defining a sound and spirit for generations of listeners.
Words: Laura Davies
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