Emotionalpunk.com
Media Review
Music Quality: 9.0
Production: 9.0
Originality: 8.5
Tracklisting
2. This Could Be Anywhere in the World
3. Mailbox Arson
4. Boiled Frogs
5. We Are the Sound
6. You Burn First
7. We Are the End
8. Crisis
9. Keep It on Wax
10. To a Friend
11. Rough Hands
Expectation (n) - the act or state of looking forward or anticipating.
Chalk up a two MMVA awards and Best New Artist Award at the 2005 Junos, countless tours spanning to all points of the world and suddenly expectations of Alexisonfire's debut Vagrant release, "Crisis" begin to swell.
Disappointment (n) - the state or feeling of being disappointed.
Obviously, disappointment is going to be inevitable. With their debut 2002 self-titled release, Alexisonfire forged into everyone's skulls what playing loud, fast and angry was all about, or as the band likes to say, "the sound of two Catholic high-school girls in mid-knife-fight.” "Crisis" isn't their self-titled debut or their 2004 release, "Watch Out!" So for every fan who was expecting Alexisonfire to spit out another release in the vein of either of these two albums, prepare to be disappointed.
For everyone else, hold on tight because this album is going to give sonic assault a brand new definition. "Crisis" is above all things, dark and heavy. It is matured, much like a fine wine waiting in dusty cellar for that one day of celebration. And while "Crisis" fails to call for a celebration with its somber lyrics and haunting melodies, the boys in Alexisonfire should take a moment to celebrate their latest release.
We've all heard of the junior curse. You know, the one where a band releases two solid albums and then either implodes or releases a luke-warm album, shortly thereafter fading into obscurity. Alexisonfire has avoided the curse, and in turn they have released an album that will define their career.
With their first single "This Could Be Anywhere in the World," which happens to be one of the strongest songs on this album, it would not be surprising if "Crisis" began to attract an even larger audience that they already have. "Crisis" isn't just for hardcore kids or scenster kids or metal kids. This album will invoke any ear craving an honest dose of rock n roll.
Stand-out tracks include, "This Could Be Anywhere in the World," "Mailbox Arson" and "Crisis." The only track that isn't worth listening to on repeat is "You Burn First." It kills the flow of the album. Erase this blunder and you would find yourself with an almost perfect post-hardcore, post-metal, post-rock, post-whatever album.
If you're looking for an album to prepare yourself for the fall semester, work week, or school year pick up "Crisis" and let Alexisonfire guide you into winter. Hopefully this one will be much more forgiving than the Blizzard of 1977.