Copies of Old Masters: Volume 1

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Years before they became the leading lights of the post-Y2K Southern Ontario post-hardcore scene, Alexisonfire were partaking in a daily ritual for misfit ’90s kids across Canada: They rushed home after school to catch MuchMusic’s afternoon alternative-video show <i>The Wedge</i>, which put homegrown acts on the same heavily rotated pedestal as the US and UK buzz bands. The first installment in Alexis’ <i>Copies of Old Masters</i> EP series pays tribute to the Canadian noisemakers who served as their gateways into alt-rock culture, with faithfully grungy but extra-nasty renditions of Rusty radio hits (“Misogyny”) and Doughboys deep cuts (“Neighbourhood Villain”). Of course, when you grow up in Canada in the ’90s, there’s no escaping the influence of The Tragically Hip, whose propulsive “Fully Completely” is pushed to new levels of white-knuckled intensity through Dallas Green’s dramatic delivery, George Pettit’s Gollum-esque growls, and a sidewinding sax solo. But beyond the familiar favorites, Alexisonfire also honors an unsung underground trailblazer with a sledgehammering cover of “Cuz” by Hamilton sludge-punk legends Shallow North Dakota.

via Apple Music