SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: ALEXISONFIRE – [LIVE] BORN & RAISED 2022, ST CATHERINES ON

ALEXISONFIRE
[LIVE] BORN & RAISED 2022, ST CATHERINES ON
DINE ALONE RECORDS

Since reforming nearly a decade ago, the last few years have made for an impressive second act from Canadian legends, Alexisonfire. Having released a string of singles – “Familiar Drugs”, “Complicit”, and “Season Of The Flood”, their comeback album Otherness, and launched their annual Born & Raised Festival, held in St. Catharines, the period from 2019 to present has been incredibly rewarding. With that, the band has released their second live album, [Live] Born & Raised 2022, St Catharines ON, recorded live at the inaugural, titular festival in 2022.

Opening with “Committed To The Con”, Alexisonfire builds a level of intensity with a drawn-out intro, something that is resolved with the guttural bark of George Pettit during the verse. The chorus is damn near anthemic with the accenting clean harmonies from Dallas Green soaring above a wave of distorted guitars and throaty growls. “Committed To The Con” is one of two tracks from Otherness on the live album with “Sweet Dreams Of Otherness” appearing mid-set.  The live context breathes a thrilling sense of life into these songs, leaving me hopeful that more of Otherness has made its way into the live rotation. The set continues with the back-to-back onslaught of “Accept Crime” and “.44 Caliber Love Letter” as the band flexes their signature bend of lush melodicism amid chaotic and punishing soundscapes.

Throughout the sprawling, 17-track performance, Alexisonfire delivers a visceral performance that captures beauty alongside raw aggression. While the band performed tight, the album, on occasion, suffers for the quality of its mix which often sees lead guitar lines buried and not the greatest balance among Pettit, Green, and Wade MacNeil, especially when all three vocalists are singing at the same time. Despite this, the energy of their performance makes [Live] Born & Raised 2022, St Catharines ON an exciting live record. Songs like “Boiled Frogs”, “Dogs Blood”, “Young Cardinals”, “We Are The Sound”, “The Northern”, “This Could Be Anywhere In The World”, and the closer, “Happiness By The Kilowatt” where MacNeil takes a moment to perform a stunning pair of verses from Prince’s “When Doves Cry” with an incredibly gravelly vocal delivery, are absolutely essential.

Where most bands would opt for a polished sound on a live record, Alexisonfire revels in a gritty tone that feels reminiscent of their roots. [Live] Born & Raised 2022, St Catharines ON is driven by a fire that is equally indebted to punk as it is modern metal – a line the band walks effortlessly – to deliver a strong live cut documenting what should most certainly be a highlight among the spectacular career of Alexisonfire.

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