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One minute and fifteen seconds into the first track of ‘Old Crows/Young Cardinals’ and you’re already convinced that this is not just any new record. This is like nothing you’ve ever heard, but like something you’ve heard before and can’t get enough of. Two seconds into the first track and you already love it, but it is at the one minute, fifteen second mark when George Pettit screams ‘We are not the kids we used to be’ that you are literally pinned down and told that this is their comeback, and you better sit down, shut up and listen. Alexisonfire take centre stage.

2006 saw the release of the band’s third studio album, ‘Crisis’ which was deemed their most popular record, debuting at Number One in the Canadian charts. For Alexis to release a follow up that could rival the success of ‘Crisis’ they were going to have to pull something huge out of the bag. And we were given ‘Old Crows/Young Cardinals’. On the first listen, you’re blown away, but there’s something you can’t place. It’s Alexisonfire as you know and love them, but similarly it’s Alexisonfire as you’ve never heard them before.

‘Old Crows’ is the opening track, and the one that pins you to your chair, the killer point being the combination of George Pettit’s throat-catching tones, and Dallas Green’s soulful pitch. This song assaults your senses in a way that makes you want to lose control, in short, it is a song built for opening a show, and causing one hell of pit to start up. Next track up is the first single to be released from the album, ‘Young Cardinals’ which is a dirty ride through on George Pettit’s vocals and the shredding guitar of Wade MacNeil and thumping rhythm section of Chris Steele and Jordan Hastings. This song is frantic, full and you just completely lose yourself in it ... the only thing that can you pull you out is Dallas’ voice, which soars in a beautiful way; contrasting completely to the punch of the song .... yet it works.

‘Old Crows’ and ‘Young Cardinals’ are not the only diamonds hidden in a pile of pebbles ... all of the tracks have some sparkle about them. Highlights include, ‘Sons of Priviledge’ which screams the pride Alexis have for being Canadian, a fact often forgotten about the five-piece, ‘No Rest’ and ‘Emerald Street’ provide everything you expect from an Alexis anthem; they’re reminiscent of ‘Boiled Frogs’ from ‘Crisis’ and even have a slight echo of ‘Get Fighted’ from 2004’s ‘Watch Out!’ Softer offerings include ‘The Northern’ and ‘Burial’ and these songs belong to Dallas alone, reminding the Alexis fans of City and Colour, that really, the two aren’t that far apart, despite one act being post-hardcore/screamo and the other being an acoustic folk project.

The puzzle with this album, is trying to figure out what exactly is different, and after a couple of listens you realise that the answer is at the one minute fifteen second mark of the track .... ‘We are not the kids we used to be’ ... Alexisonfire were never children to us, but their sound has matured, and their fans along with it.