Alexisonfire

When Alexisonfire released Old Crows/Young Cardinals in 2009, they demonstrated just how well they were able to balance not only the three distinct vocal styles of vocalist George Pettit and guitarists Wade MacNeil and Dallas Green, but numerous sounds as well, from '90s screamo to hardcore and scruffier post-hardcore. Meet Old Crows' dirty cousin, Dog's Blood. The band's new EP may be short, but it packs a wicked punch. The title track is built around a pounding riff, with Pettit's screaming occupying the first three minutes, until Green takes things over, adding a sense of calm to the aggression that preceded it. "Grey" stands out as a sludgy stoner rock number that trudges along for five minutes, with guitars wandering off in any number of directions. Interestingly enough, the album ends with "Vex," a six-minute instrumental that one might not think the band capable of conveying, but they do, bringing the distinct moods of the three other tracks together. Dog's Blood might not be a nice record, but it's a good one.