Alexisonfire is an Ontario-based Canadian outfit that, more so than any other band I've heard for a while, have created their own, unique sound. They manage to mix hard-core screams with emo-melodic vocal harmonies in a way quite unlike the hundreds of other bands falling on and off the emo wagon. On a dime they can morph from calm and mellow, to aggressive blasts that can cause your woofers to hemorrhage. I think what makes it work so amazingly is how well-thought-out and composed these songs are. Instead of being scattershot and random these changes, while complex, are carefully arranged so as to remain organic and cohesive.

Their amazing song-crafting and range are displayed well on tracks such as the punkish "Accidents" and the highly-emotional "Control." This album also shows that these guys not only write addictive tunes, but they're very skilled musicians. Songs like the strangely-titled yet powerful "It Was Fear of Myself That Made Me Odd" and "Side Walk When She Walks" showcase their amazing fretwork as well as their heart-stopping beat-change patterns. The great thing about this album is that it is so musically impressive that it could be used to make anyone who can appreciate skillful musicianship appreciate hard-core music.

They are also no slouches when it comes to writing thought-provoking lyrics, and even when they are screaming you don't need the liner notes to make out what they are saying. They also manage to employ all of the instruments in equal measure to create the overall melodies and musical themes. This is well evidenced on "No Transitory" - a song that's lyrics I can really relate to. After the last song, the amazingly-drummed "Happiness by the Kilowatt", I felt like I had experienced a breathtaking, emotional rollercoaster. This album is not only for those who love emo and hard-core, but it's also for those who are looking for an album of this ilk where the songs don't all sound the same - which is one of the biggest problems of this genre. These guys can bring the goods, and also keep the listener on their toes with a surprising amount of variety.