Since emerging in the early 2000s, Alexisonfire and Billy Talent have remained two of the most vital forces in Canadian rock. With Alexisonfire’s self-titled debut arriving in 2002 and Billy Talent’s debut following in 2003, the bands effectively grew up together, from club shows across Canada to arenas and festivals worldwide, forging a long-standing friendship and shared history on the road. Listen to Crisis via Dine Alone Records here and Billy Talent II via Warner Music Canada here. With songs ranging in subject matter from the Blizzard of ’77 (“Crisis”) to disenfranchised workers (“Boiled Frogs”), Crisis embodied a much darker theme than previous Alexisonfire recordings, which the group attributed to returning home from traveling around the world with a fresh perspective. The gravity of Crisis is underscored by its cover art, which features Erno Rossi’s haunting photographs of the Niagara region during the Blizzard of ’77, including an image of a victim with frostbitten hands. The title track itself contains multiple lyrical references to the storm, including the repeated refrain, “one nine seven seven”. The album also marked a much more “rhythmically liberal” process in the studio, with AOF stripping everything down to write and record an album that captured the essence of the band’s live sound, without looping, overdubs, or layered production. Released in 2006, Billy Talent II stands not only as a defining moment in rock music, but also as Billy Talent’s most commercially successful album to date. Upon its release, it debuted at #1 on the Canadian Albums Chart and #1 on the German Albums Chart, showcasing the band’s status as a true force in global rock music. The album was certified 4x Platinum in Canada and 2x Platinum in Germany, selling over one million copies worldwide. Along with the certifications, the album produced a non-stop string of smash hits including “Devil in a Midnight Mass,” “Fallen Leaves,” “Surrender,” and “This Suffering” that remain rock radio staples to this day. The track “Red Flag” not only was featured on the soundtrack to several video games, but also brought the band their American television debut with a Late Night with Conan O’Brien performance. Billy Talent II garnered critical acclaim and major award wins, including the JUNO Award for Rock Album of the Year and multiple MuchMusic Video Awards. “It feels like you blink and all of a sudden your album is almost old enough to drink in the United States,” jokes Alexisonfire frontman George Pettit. “So many incredible memories of making this record. It felt like we were really coming into our own as a band. We discovered another level of potential that we didn’t have at the start. I’m happy we get to relive it this summer with all of you.” | 
