It was announced this weekend that Alexisonfire will be officially parting their ways. Sure, I know that bands split up all the time, many just to get back together, but this was a truly sad day for me. Alexisonfire have been pretty much my favourite band for the last 8 years or so, since my early teens. And though they were never going to achieve mainstream success with their style of music, they still had millions of fans around the world and had a huge influence on many bands today.
I remember the first song I heard of theirs was 44 Caliber Love Letter, the combination of the simple, yet inducing, guitar riffs, the passion of George's screams and the sheer amount of energy that they brought to their songs. You could truly become involved in their songs, sing your heart out to Dallas' soaring lyrics and then instantly band your head to the screams and riffs. A friend then gave me their first two albums on a CD, and as I began to really understand what Alexisonfire were about, I discovered that this was the band for me.
Whilst you could see and hear the roots of what was to come from the band in their debut self-titled album, it was their second, Watch Out! where the band really came into their own. Dallas had really begin to find his voice and I just couldn't get enough of the contrast between him and George, they had perfected the twin front man show. This was a collection of soaring and powerful emo anthems, and for me and many other teenagers, it was just want you needed. Alexis were my go to band. When I felt stressed, frustrated or angry, the default emotions for a teen, Alexis were there. I'd crank them up and just let myself get lost in the power and emotion of their songs.
At the grand age of 22, when my music taste is much more varied and diverse than my teen years, I can really see how important and how much of an impact Alexisonfire had on my music taste. Whilst I listen to just as much Kanye West, as I do Bon Iver, as I do Bonobo, as I do Nero, Alexisonfire are still holding their old in my iTunes play count. It was their third album, Crisis, where the band peaked, fully realising their potential. With tracks like This Could Be Anywhere In The World, Boiled Frogs and Rough Hands, Alexis showed the diversity of their songwriting ability and became much tighter as a band.
And although no one knew it at the time, Young Crows/Old Cardinals was to be their last album. Perhaps the writing was on the wall as the album starts with a barrage of shouts "we are not the kids we used to be". Though perhaps not as strong as Crisis, YCOC was still a really solid album and was perhaps as mainstream as the band were ever going to get. It provided listeners with a much more mature sound, yet showing that the boys could still rock like the good old days.
It wasn't until I was 18 that I first got to see Alexisonfire, and I've only seen them once again since. But I was seriously impressed. All too often, screamo and emo rock bands sound seriously dodgy live, Alexisonfire were tight yet energetic, George and Dallas' voices bouncing off each other was a wondering thing to watch.
So needless Alexisonfire has had a profound impact on my life and music taste, and been a massive influence on bands such as Gallows, Bring Me The Horizon, You Me At Six, the list continues. Throughout all their albums the carried the same power, energy and passion, with the beautiful voice of Dallas set against the ferociousness of George's screams, Dallas and Wade's riffs backed by Steeley's consistently awesome drumming. This band will also live on in the form of the side-projects that eventually caused the end of the band, City and Colour, Cunter and other projects on the horizon, but it will never be the same. The only good thing is when a band splits, you still have a living memory in the form of their albums and videos. Alexis will always be on fire.
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