And here we have Alexisonfire with a CD that I feel we have waited far too long to get our hands on. Crisis is everything that I expected and ached for this CD to be, and then some. There was none of that let-down that people often times feel after their favorite band puts out an incredible album, but then the next one they release makes you want to reevaluate your life in a very, very terrible way.


Since their previous release, Watch Out!, AOF’s lead guitarist Dallas Green has released a solo album under the name City & Colour, helping to increase the anticipation for more Alexisonfire, while still satisfying the needs of people who maybe aren’t so fond of the soothing screams of George Pettit. Thankfully, AOF stuck to their strategy that has gotten them this far in the first place. As a result, there isn’t a substantial increase of Dallas’ singing, even after all the positive feedback his solo album received. The balance is yet again perfect between him, George, and Wade MacNeil (the other guitarist), who sings a great deal more this time around. (Wade has also started a side project, which goes by the name of The Black Lungs.)


Also since the release of Watch Out!, Alexisonfire has added a new drummer to their arsenal. Jordan “Ratbeard” Hastings has the pleasure of filling the size 27 shoes (that’s a metaphor) of former member Jesse Ingelevics, who left the band in June of 2005. Although Jordan is still a worthy drummer for AOF, his percussion stylings aren’t quite as creative as Jesse’s, which is slightly disappointing to say the least.


Aside from the drumming aspect, every song off of Crisis has its strong features and the only track that really stands out as “weird” is titled “You Burn First,” which features an undistinguishable vocalist. It sounds like it could be Wade, but after further investigation, the man singing is Gared O'Donnell of Planes Mistaken for Stars. This song bears no resemblance to anything Alexisonfire has ever done. I don’t even know how to describe it. Just imagine eerie instrumentals with a man who is near his last breath trying to force out lyrics to a song. Then multiply that by seventeen and find the square root; it’s really that bizarre.


A song that doesn’t have me grasping for my iPod trying to see what sort of monstrosity I have unleashed is “This Could Be Anywhere in the World”. Aside from being a phenomenal song in general, the video is genius to say the least. Boiled Frogs, which was the first song to be unveiled from Crisis, features Dallas and Wade, who take the reins and never cease to amaze with perfect harmonies and superb guitar slaughtering… But to avoid beating around the bush, there is one statement that is true of the entire album (aside from You Burn First maybe). Picking out a couple of key tracks is pointless. Every song on Crisis succeeds in making me yearn for more, and I couldn’t have imagined it being any other way.