Alexisonfire (from left) Jordan Hastings, Dallas Green, George Pettit, Chris Steele, Wade MacNeil. (HO)

Alexisonfire has been extinguished.

After 10 years, four albums and the recent defection of both its guitarists, the St. Catharines post-hardcore outfit has decided to call it a day, vocalist George Pettit wrote in a post on the band’s website.

“Was the breakup amicable? Not really,” he admitted. “Was it necessary? Probably.”

Singer-guitarist Dallas Green told his bandmates last year he planned to leave the group to concentrate on his successful solo project City and Colour, Pettit wrote. The band had intended to replace Green and carry on, but personal issues — followed by the subsequent departure of Wade MacNeil for an unnamed group — put the final nails in the coffin.

“Replacing one guitar player/singer/writer was something we thought was possible, but replacing two would run the serious risk of perverting the legacy of what we had achieved,” Pettit wrote. “So we all took a good hard swallow and decided to end it so it would never get old and ugly.”

Pettit wrote that he, bassist Chris Steele and Jordan Hastings have no firm plans for the future, and the bandmembers have talked about staging a Canadian farewell tour and issuing several special releases to mark their 10 years together.

The Juno-nominated quintet formed in 2001 and released their self-titled debut album the same year. Watch Out! followed in 2004, Crisis came in 2006 and Old Crows/Young Cardinals was released in 2009. The band had reportedly been working on a fifth full-length.

Green has released three albums with his City and Colour project, including this year’s acclaimed Little Hell.

The full text of Pettit’s statement can be found on the band’s website: www.theonlybandever.com.

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