Otherness by Alexisonfire - 359

We've been a bit of a post-hardcore kick this year, so we thought we'd swing to the commercial end of the spectrum and talk about Alexisonfire. Specifically, Mark has chosen their 2022 comeback album 'Otherness' and we have a bit of a barney about it, as Chris and Mark's opinions on the band couldn't be more different.

We spend time exploring how this Canadian quintet revolutionised post-hardcore with their three-vocalist approach, and track their evolution from their raw 2002 debut to their thirteen-year recording gap. Mark argues that their latest album is actually their best, while Chris starts off "begging to be hit by a bus" before gradually warming to their more mature sound.

Poor old George Pettit (vocals) ranks the band's debut dead last himself, which Chris heartily agrees with. We chat about the Southern Ontario scene that birthed them, the pornstar who (unsuccessfully) tried to sue them over their name, and how their sound evolved over their career.

This episode also features a fairly comprehensive look at the band members' various side projects, from Dallas Green's City and Colour (and his random collab with Pink) to Wade McNeil joining Gallows after Frank Carter's departure.

Next week we're doing something a bit special - we'll be interviewing Arno Michaelis, former singer of neo-Nazi band Centurion, about music's role in radicalisation. We've been doing loads of prep for this one, and we'll hopefully bring you something thought-provoking. We're also moving to a new underground studio soon (literally underground), so stay tuned for that!

Episode Highlights:

[02:10] - Teaser for next week's interview with ex-neo-Nazi band Centurion's singer Arno Michaelis

[10:00] - Chris confesses he thought Alexisonfire were Scandinavian in some bizarre Mandela effect

[11:50] - The story of how Alexisonfire took their name from pornstar Alexis Fire, who then tried to sue them

[14:50] - Mark explains how the geography of Southern Ontario created the perfect breeding ground for bands

[29:10] - The three-vocalist dynamic that set Alexisonfire apart: Dallas's angelic voice, George's screams, and Wade's "gargling nails" vocals

[36:00] - George Pettit ranks the band's self-titled debut dead last in their discography

[41:00] - The pivotal role of their 2006 album "Crisis" going Platinum in Canada

[50:27] - "I wanted to put the knife in Screamo" - George's controversial statement about moving their sound forward

[1:09:00] - The shift to 70s rock influences and the addition of keyboards on "Otherness"

[1:30:00] - Chris admits he "started off begging to be hit by a bus" before gradually warming to their later work

[1:33:45] - The announcement of our upcoming move to a new underground studio