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Alexisonfire: Severing Post-Hardcore’s ‘Pulmonary Archery’

Alexisonfire extended the post-hardcore world.

Posted 7th August 2011, 2:34pm in Blogs by Charlie Ralph
Charlie Ralph

Charlie Ralph

Alexisonfire: Severing Post-Hardcore’s ‘Pulmonary Archery’ This weekend Alexisonfire ended a ten-year run as one of the most creative and musically diverse post-hardcore bands in the world. For the past four years, ever since the release of 2007’s 'Crisis', they played the part of one of the biggest bands in the scene. There's many reasons for their elevated status amongst the post-hardcore community: for one, they reached an audience not previously attained by the genre by being entirely inclusive. Whilst a lot of ‘screamo’ outfits give out an air of hostility towards people not part of that particular fanbase, Alexisonfire seemed to open themselves up through their side-projects such as Wade MacNeil’s punk supergroup Black Lungs and Dallas Green’s increasingly popular solo outfit City & Colour. So, upon hearing the news of the band’s unfortunate, and not entirely amicable break-up, it’s important to look back on how Alexisonfire extended the post-hardcore world and broke it’s boundaries by constantly changing their style.

Alexisonfire formed in 2001, and whilst their self-titled debut record could initially be thought of as a typical post-hardcore record, this is not the case, despite the differences are slightly more subtle than those on later releases. For instance, take album closer 'Pulmonary Archery', its surprisingly soulful introduction shows more diverse influence and range than any other band of their ilk around the turn of the century. Combine moments like this with light-hearted videos such as those for 'Waterwings' & 'Counterparts And Number Them', and the makings of a revolutionary band were definitely there.

Whilst the band stayed relatively small-time and toured the Canadian and American club scene for the next few years, they used this time to work towards their next album, 2004’s ‘Watch Out!’, an album that stayed true to the band’s angry roots but also expanded more on their fun nature. Interviews showed the quintet to be the kind of fun-loving people you’d expect to be performing music akin to All Time Low or You Me At Six. Indeed, the band let their good nature out of the bag with this record’s videos and press reports; however, the album’s more serious moments were converted into two of the finest singles they made, namely 'Accidents' and 'No Transitory'. 'Watch Out!' proved that Alexisonfire weren’t a niche outfit, they could play a variety of styles to an excellent degree, performing songs have real emotion, without falling into the trap of becoming “emo”, whilst simultaneously remaining good-natured and upbeat behind those beards and that mountain of tattoos.

It was here that the band started to pick up momentum. Lest we forget that it was around 2006 that anger and angst started to be the “in” thing, what with bands like My Chemical Romance, Fall Out Boy and Panic! At The Disco receiving great success. A bandwagon was formed and started to build steam, and it wasn’t long before Alexisonfire were thrown on that heap. They took advantage of this craze, and it propelled them to good festival slots in 2006 and 2007, all in preparation for the release of their third record, ‘Crisis’. Arguably their greatest record, this snowstorm-influenced album was not one to be regarded as “just another late-noughties emo album.” Chosing to avoid the theatrics and fancy stage shows put on by many of their peers, 'Crisis' rocketed Alexisonfire to a major name in the rock circuit.

Then came 'Old Crows/Young Cardinals'. It had been three years since 'Crisis' and a lot had changed. The emo craze had fizzled and been cast aside by it’s champions, with aggressive music being shunned to the side. It was very telling then when the song ‘Young Cardinals’ (the debut release from the band’s fourth (and what would be final) album) was released and was met with a slightly muted response. It wasn’t Alexisonfire. It didn’t sound like their eponymous debut, or 'Watch Out!', or even the hugely popular 'Crisis'. The screaming was all but gone, and George Pettit, the band’s main vocalist had adopted a curious growl in his voice which took some getting used to. Vdeos had become sober and serious, a far cry from the band's tryout comedy of ‘This Is Your Funeral Mama’; however, a few months later, the album was released and fans could see clearly that this band wasn’t about living in the past. The world had changed since the band first came about 10 years ago, and music had changed with it. Sure, 'Old Crows/Young Cardinals' may not have felt like an Alexisonfire record as the fans knew it, but it was evident of a changing of style.

It is tragic then, that that would be the band’s final full length outing. They toured the album, playing some of their biggest shows to date, and their solo outfits started to take off. Indeed this peaked when just a few months ago Dallas Green, the band’s guitarist and second vocalist, sold out the Royal Albert Hall in minutes, something Alexisonfire had never achieved. Alexisonfire ended, not with a bang but with a whimper. It is unfortunate but it’s the truth, and all the fans can do now is look back at what once was.

Check out our Alexisonfire ‘Greatest Hits’ Spotify Playlist to celebrate those moments.
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