Alexisonfire (album)

Alexisonfire is the debut studio album from Canadian post-hardcore band Alexisonfire, released on October 31, 2002.

Background

The first version of the album comes from the math sheets demo, which included early versions of the songs "Counterparts and Number Them" and "Little Girls Pointing and Laughing" It was recorded at Burning Sound recording studio in Niagara Falls. The album itself was recorded at many different studios across Toronto, with the band eager to finish recording and perform shows. ^[6]

Release

Alexisonfire was released on October 31, 2002.^[7] The cover art was photographed by lead singer George Pettit at Ferndale Public School in St. Catharines, Ontario. It is based on the lyrics from "A Dagger Through the Heart of St. Angeles". There was also an alternative cover art released, which just depicts the band's logo and name. In June 2003, the band embarked on short tour of Canada with From Autumn to Ashes, A Static Lullaby, and Boys Night Out.^[8] The following month, the band performed at Hellfest.^[9] In September and October, the band went on a tour of Canada with Billy Talent, Spitalfield and Death from Above.^[10] Following this, the band played with Spitalfield on their tour of the US.^[11] In December 2003, the band went on an eastern Canadian tour, with Jersey and At the Mercy of Inspiration.^[12]

On January 14, 2014, a remixed and remastered version of the album by Dine Alone Records was released.

In 2017, Dine Alone Records released a playlist curated by the band of the twenty songs that influences the album. It included Pg.99's "In Love with an Apparition", Joshua Fit for Battle's "To Bring our Own End", Saetia's "Venus and Bacchus", Majority Rule's "The Sin in Grey", Love Lost But Not Forgotten's "Loathing", the Appleseed Cast's "On Reflection", Owl's "Everyone is my Friend", Chore's "Superville", Don Caballero's "For Respect", Shiner's "Glass Jaw Test", Faraquet's "Cut Self Not", Sunny Day Real Estate's "The Ocean", Saves the Day's "At Your Funeral", the Get-Up Kids' "Ten Minutes", Mogwai's "Take Me Somewhere Nice", Moneen's "Wrath of the Donkey", At the Drive-in's "Arcarsenel" Snapcase's "Disconnector" and Bane's "Struck Down by Me".^[13]

Reception

In 2015, NME listed the album as one of "20 Emo Albums That Have Resolutely Stood The Test Of Time".^[14] In 2022, Andrew Sacher of BrooklynVegan wrote that the album defined typical emo characteristics such as "Two singers, one who screams and one who whine-sings... Chaotic song structures... Bright melodies even at the most aggressive moments... Verbose teenage poetry, sometimes delivered as tense spoken word... [and an] overwhelming amount of melodrama..." Sacher said that the album "helped establish [the foregoing traits] as dominant traits of the early 2000s emo/post-hardcore boom."^[15]

In December 2018, the album was given a platinum certification by Music Canada as it sold over 100,000 units in Canada.^[16]

Personnel

• George Pettit – unclean vocals, photography
• Dallas Green – rhythm guitar, clean vocals
• Wade MacNeil – lead guitar, vocals
• Chris Steele – bass guitar
• Jesse Ingelevics – drums

• Greg Below – producer, engineer, mixer
• D. Sandshaw – A&R for Equal Vision Records
• George Kotsopoulos – drum editor
• Bed Kaplan – drum editor
• Bill Scoville – album layout

Charts

Release history

Videos

• "Pulmonary Archery"
• "Counterparts and Number Them"
• "Waterwings (And Other Poolside Fashion Faux Pas)"

External links

• Alexisonfire official site
• Distort Entertainment Archived 2002-11-23 at the Wayback Machine
• Equal Vision Records
• Sore Point Records Archived 2006-10-20 at the Wayback Machine

References

1. ^ "Distort Entertainment". 2002. Archived November 23, 2002 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 1, 2013.
2. ^ JR (December 23, 2004). "Watch Out!". IGN. Archived from the original on December 17, 2005. Retrieved July 21, 2017.
3. ^ "20 Emo Albums That Have Resolutely Stood The Test Of Time". NME.com. January 14, 2015. Retrieved July 29, 2015.
4. ^ https://www.brooklynvegan.com/15-albums-that-defined-the-2000s-post-hardcore-boom/
5. ^ "20 Emo Albums That Have Resolutely Stood The Test Of Time". NME.com. January 14, 2015. Retrieved July 29, 2015.
6. ^ Dine Alone Records (2013-12-10). Alexisonfire - Episode 1 - Alexisonfire. Retrieved 2026-03-03. – via YouTube.
7. ^ White, Adam (October 25, 2002). "Alexisonfire to release debut album on Halloween". Punknews.org. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
8. ^ Heisel, Scott (June 9, 2003). "Alexisonarecordlabel". Punknews.org. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
9. ^ Heisel, Scott (April 25, 2003). "Hellfest lineup announced". Punknews.org. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
10. ^ White, Adam (September 11, 2003). "Alexisonfire Canadian Dates With Billy Talent". Punknews.org. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
11. ^ Heisel, Scott (September 16, 2003). "Spitalfield US Dates". Punknews.org. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
12. ^ White, Adam (November 30, 2003). "Jersey & Alexisonfire touring, minus one guitar". Punknews.org. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
13. ^ "Spotify – Web Player". Spotify. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
14. ^ "20 Emo Albums That Have Resolutely Stood The Test Of Time". NME.com. January 14, 2015. Retrieved July 29, 2015.
15. ^ Sacher, Andrew (August 10, 2022). "35 Best Emo & Post-Hardcore Albums of 2002". BrooklynVegan. Archived August 10, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 10, 2022.
16. ^ MC
17. ^ "Albums : Top 100". Jam!. August 7, 2003. Archived from the original on November 6, 2003. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
18. ^ "Distort Entertainment". 2002. Archived 2002-11-23 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 1, 2013.
19. ^ "Alexisonfire: Equal Vision Records". Archived from the original on January 16, 2012. Retrieved February 1, 2013.
20. ^ "Sorepoint Records: Alexisonfire". August 16, 2004. Archived August 16, 2004 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 1, 2013.