Alexisonfire- 'Counterparts And Number Them'
It's all Frank Carter's fault. He started this whole chain of events. Unsatisfied with the music Gallows were planning for their third album, frontman Frank decided to leave the band and start his Brooklyn side project Pure Love. That's bad enough news for me. I think Gallows are great and that Frank was their USP, their key identifiable figure, their personality. Nevertheless the band started a search for a new frontman, one that could both Fill Frank's shoes and push the band forward in to their new sound.
In the end the band settled on Wade Macneil, Black Lung vocalist and Alexisonfire guitarist. Incorrectly I thought this was great news; that 2 of my favourite bands were, in a way, joining forces, combining elements. Then came the follow-up that, because of Wade's decision to join Gallows and Dallas Green's growing commitments to his solo side project City And Colour, the remaining members of Alexis had decided to call it a day. After 10 years and 4 great post-hardcore albums (plus a split EP with .Moneen. which I think is pretty wonderful) it's a real shame to see them go.
I got in to Alexisonfire just before I went to uni 2 years ago. I started with 'Crisis' and worked my way back through their discography, through the ambient noise and darker tones of 'Watch Out!', to the thrashy scream-heavy anthems of the debut, then back to their latest release 'Old Crows/Young Cardinals', with their core sound changed but still distinctly Alexis. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure the decision was for the best. I love C&C and Gallows and I'm certain I will enjoy their music in the future, and I definitely didn't want to see Alexis make a bad album and ruin all their hard work. But it is a shame.
So instead of looking to the future, where all kinds of shit could happen, I prefer to look back at when the band were first starting out, all fresh-faced and such, before the drama of the split. At least they leave some great music in their wake for their fans to remember them by. I am going to miss them though.
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