Alexisonfire / Moneen

Alexisonfire / Moneen: SplitSplit (2005)
Dine Alone Records

Reviewer Rating: 3

User Rating:

Contributed by: AnchorsAnchors
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Published on December 6th 2005Before the release of this split, it had been a while since I had heard anything about Alexisonfire. They'd play a short tour occasionally, but there was no word on recording of any sort until recently, when I caught wind of their split EP with Moneen. It's no normal split, however. Alexisonfire and.

Before the release of this split, it had been a while since I had heard anything about Alexisonfire. They'd play a short tour occasionally, but there was no word on recording of any sort until recently, when I caught wind of their split EP with Moneen. It's no normal split, however. Alexisonfire and Moneen have decided to each cover two songs of the opposite band, and contribute a new track of their own.

Alexisonfire is first to try their hand, and it's with Moneen's "Passing of America." Only having heard the original a few times, I'm not quite sure what liberties were taken with it, but the Canadian fivesome do a reasonably good job with it. The sing-song structure of the track lends itself pretty well to AOF's style, but the repeating of the chorus does grow a bit tiresome, seemingly never, ever ending.

Then is Moneen's rendition of one Alexisonfire's most well-known tunes, "Accidents," which sounds drastically different than it appeared on Watch Out! All of the parts that had been previously screamed are now sung, and the parts that were previously sung are still sung, but by the same person, which simplifies the track a lot, but not necessarily in a good way. Moneen then arrive at the final hook far before Alexisonfire ever did, and it's subsequently drawn out over two minutes that had never previously existed. It's an interesting take, but there's no doubt that the original is a more quality track.

The most anticipated parts of this EP aren't the covers, though, but the new songs each band offers.

Moneen's "Bleed and Blister" sees its first appearance on an album, and fares pretty well. The melodic guitar chord progression starts things off relatively well, and as the song progresses, those chords are lost in the atmosphere that slowly develops. With every passing minute, the vocals become more airy, and the instrumentation quieter and quieter, until the end where things return to normal just in time for the big chorus to carry the song out. Then it was time for the real reason I bought this, a new Alexisonfire track, "Charlie Sheen vs. Henry Rollins."

The song sure as hell does not disappoint. Anyone who's heard both of the band's albums is aware of the progression made from the self-titled to Watch Out!, and this track would fit in perfectly as the heaviest song on the latter album. The multi-layered rhythms set the stage extremely well for singer George Petitt's manic scream, which is really brought back to the forefront here. Not to be forgotten however, guitarist Dallas Green belts out a good portion of this song, and his voice has never sounded better. It's Green that's always set this band apart from their peers. Most bands with two vocalists ignore the second singer, while Alexisonfire utilize his immense vocal talents to the fullest. While the song is great all around, I wouldn't mind the guitars being turned up a bit louder, as they seem to get lost in things while George is screaming, only to reappear under Dallas' vocals.

I was kind of let down by this effort as a whole. Neither Moneen nor Alexisonfire brough their 'A' game when it came to the other band's songs. And while the new Moneen song was impressive, it was definitely outshone by undoubtedly one of the best Alexisonfire songs to date. Fuck the haters, this band isn't going anywhere.

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

Anonymous (March 31, 2006)

it's alexis on fire. They named themselves after a lactating stripper contortionist.

Anonymous (March 24, 2006)

Hawthorne Heights sucks balls

Anonymous (December 19, 2005)

there are tons of bands named after minor threat songs already, like look back and laugh, and rites of spring songs too, end on end, their all great.

moneenerd (December 12, 2005)

"Hmmm, Moneen is by far one of the best bands to come out of Canada, along with Propagandhi, Billy Talent and Alexisonfire. I've yet to hear The Cancer Bats yet I've been dying to hear them."

You probably won't like the Bats if you honestly think that Billy Talent is one of the best bands to come out of Canada. Gross.

moneenerd (December 12, 2005)

I love both bands a lot, but this split is weak.

Anonymous (December 11, 2005)

could INXS be considered canadian now?
thier new lead singer is canadian
if so the greatest canadian band is still corky & the juicepigs

Anonymous (December 11, 2005)

Did somebody say something about Luke Skawalker?

Anonymous (December 11, 2005)

is it alex is on fire or alexis on fire, or a lexis on fire?

cherrycolarain (December 11, 2005)

Hmmm, Moneen is by far one of the best bands to come out of Canada, along with Propagandhi, Billy Talent and Alexisonfire. I've yet to hear The Cancer Bats yet I've been dying to hear them.

givemeamuseumandillfillit (December 9, 2005)

Splits are sometimes awesome just because of the bands lined up. i mean, i got the less than jake/slayer split, but i don't really remember listening to it, becuase i just get stuck everytime i take it out, going "...whoooaa......slayer........."

The score is for kaospilot in general.

Anonymous (December 9, 2005)

best canadian bands are either
cancer bats
or
moneen

Anonymous (December 9, 2005)

dont fucking hate on luke asshole

tylerdurden8136 (December 8, 2005)

fuck these douche bags, their luke skywalker heaircuts, ohio is for lovers slogan t-shirts, and american eagle ripped jeans. fuck their shitty inane lyrics and boring music.

what the fuck is wrong with luke skywalker?

Anchors (December 8, 2005)

I saw Coffin Dancer over the summer at The Alley while I was down there, and they were tremendous. Ex Tryanny Of Shaw singer I believe. Anyhow, great band, and I'll check the others out.

Anonymous (December 8, 2005)

anchors check out these bands from miami on myspace: capsule, devices, dead lions, coffin dancer, and i love you.....youll probably dig them

BrandonSideleau (December 8, 2005)

Best band from Canada= either DOA or the Subhumans (yes, there is a Canadian Subhumans formed at the same time.....and they are just as good, if not better, than their UK twins)

Anchors (December 8, 2005)

And Kaospilot. I actually just got a Van Johnson/Kaospilot 7" in the mail today that I can't wait to listen to. I just don't have a record player at school.

Anonymous (December 8, 2005)

check out Dallas Green's solo shit.

also, with all those screamo bands listed, i gotta add Ghost Stories and Van Johnson

Anchors (December 8, 2005)

Thanks dude, and good call on the ones I forgot. I forgot two more as well;

Kite Flying Society
Palatka

fritobandito (December 8, 2005)

ANCHORS! You listed a SHITLOAD of awesome screamo bands down there. maaaad props. It made me happy.

I'd like to add I Hate Myself, The Saddest Landscape, The Kodan Armada, The Khayembii Communique, The Assistant, and Dispensing Of False Halos to round out that list. :D

sickboi (December 8, 2005)

Its "Virginia is for Lovers" you misinformed twat.

Anonymous (December 8, 2005)

Propagandhi is the best band from canada, you stupid fucks.

fuck these douche bags, their luke skywalker heaircuts, ohio is for lovers slogan t-shirts, and american eagle ripped jeans. fuck their shitty inane lyrics and boring music.

Anonymous (December 8, 2005)

Alexisonfire is NOT one of the best bands out there. Are you fucking retarded?! This is the same goddamn band that wrote that song '44. calibre love letter to your heart' or some shit..yep, that's really reeking of "greatness'. Thier last album wasn't anything great either. next!

Anonymous (December 7, 2005)

I liked this split alot better when Coalesce and The Get up Kids did it.

just saying.

Anonymous (December 7, 2005)

Alexisonfire is one of the best bands out there. their new track on the switch is definitely one of their best

Anonymous (December 7, 2005)

god knows no band has ever done a split and covered each others songs before...

oh wait. a shit ton of bands have done that. way to start off your review by showing how little you know about music. alriiiiiiiiiight.

BlaquacadetZstyles (December 7, 2005)

And is the story about the porn site really true? I don't see how that does anything but bring her more publicity and shit. I can't imagine why she would think its a bad thing.

Anonymous (December 7, 2005)

"Alexisonfire are the worst live band i have ever seen`

you have obviously never seen tripping daisy

BlaquacadetZstyles (December 7, 2005)

The only thing worse than kids who hate music just because it doesn't fit into their scene are kids who hate music just because it does fit into a scene.

ALEXISONFIRE is a very scene band...coincidentally, they're also a very good band, so who gives a shit.

fox82 (December 7, 2005)

Meh, I saw "AOF" and thought "Whoa! Articles Of Faith covers? Sweet". Then I realised it's this scene bullshit drivel. And fuck Henry Rollins while you're at it, Charlie Sheen was in Platoon.

tylerdurden8136 (December 7, 2005)

woah anchors is staff now!? when the fuck did this happen!? congrats on that...but seriously, this split is some good shit.

BrandonSideleau (December 7, 2005)

I assume the title is a "Chase" reference. These guys aren't anything special....no screamo is that I have heard. Maybe if they tried to rock like Hank rather than use his name in a song, they might get somewhere.