Alexisonfire Albums- Fun in Hardcore Scream

There is no doubt that Alexisonfire merch and albums are a treat to have. It is a fact that musically inclined individuals often have a knack for crafting catchy lyrics. This band however is one of the very few that can exhibit a funnily acidic wit that is both entertaining and winning. You’d easily notice this in composition titles like Boiled Frogs and Pulmonary Archery.

The band’s funny side was already clearly in place when they first started out. Their name was lifted from a real person named Alexis Fire. She is a pornographic exhibitionist who has been identified as the only lactating stripper. There was an attempt by Fire to seek legal redress against the group for using her name but no legal actions were taken after it had been determined that the name hadn’t been copyrighted.

The members of the band officially came together in 2001. The original members were members of other musical groups that eventually fell apart. Vocalist George Pettit was originally from Condemning Salemn while multi talented pianist and guitarist Dallas Green was from Helicon Blue. Guitarist Wade MacNeil and bassist Chris Steel both hailed from Plan 9. The new band was then joined by drummer Jesse Ingelevics.

The group’s wit became apparent again in their first 2002 EP Math Sheet Demos. They reportedly settled on this name because the disc was covered in math sheets. The debut Alexisonfire album was even funnier featuring a pair of Catholic school girls in the middle of a knife fight. Appropriately enough, this is the image the group thinks best describes their music.

The group’s attractive self-packaging is probably the reason why the members were immediately able to draw attention to themselves. Shortly after they formed, they were able to get a deal from Distort Entertainment and a distribution agreement with EMI. Despite the obvious potential of being able to grab the attention of bigger labels, the group chose to remain largely independent. This didn’t seem disadvantageous for the group at all since they have been able to sell their work relying on fan support and touring.

The band moved on closer to more success with their second release, Watch Out! which started selling in 2004. In as short as three months, the musical work garnered a gold status in Canadian soil. It was clear from the very start that this second work was even more of a
bang than its predecessor. Band member Pettit says this is most likely because bands do get better the longer they play. Some fans add that the improved sound is most likely the result of a better show of emotions. This successful second album was followed by Crisis in 2008 and then by Old Crows/Cardinals in 2009.

The only sour mark on the band’s history seems to have been the departure of Ingelevics in 2005. He was an original member but clashed with the other members. Currently on the drummer’s seat is Jordan Hastings.

There is no doubt that Alexisonfire albums are making a mark on the scream sub genre. Surprisingly though, even people who don’t like listening to all that screaming can still definitely appreciate the band’s work if only because of their humorous wit. Listen long enough to this group and you might just become a convert and begin sporting their music fashion.