AFI are one of those bands that polarises opinion to an incredible extent. Those who don’t ‘get it’ cannot stand the band, but those who do, get it with both barrels. And then get tattooed. Everywhere. Their fifth album on Dexter Holland’s Nitro label is another indication of how simply unclassifiable they are. The goth-hardcore-emo-anarcho-punkers (…and I’ve just offended the vast majority of people reading this) from California have managed to put out another frankly stunning album and it is one that further removes them from many of their peers. However good several of the songs on this album are, I can only say that to get the full experience it is indeed essential to see them live. The passion and volatility of punk rock are embodied thoroughly by AFI, and it remains to be seen whether some kind of mainstream acceptance will come their way. Signing to DreamWorks may help…
With one of the most evocative and powerful openings ever (‘Initiation’ melding seamlessly into ‘The Lost Souls’) the album bursts into a violent and energetic existence. This is one of my favourite things about AFI, their will and ability to create an atmosphere for a song. ‘The Lost Souls’ begins with a bass riff, followed by drums, then guitar comes in…ten seconds later it all goes mental with some punk rock of the highest order providing the backing for a love song about someone equally as lost as Davey himself. His ability to create soaring choruses is demonstrated perfectly in this song, and it is simply the perfect way to open an album: fast, furious yet with a fantastically effective lull during the middle of the song before returning to the blistering pace of before.
One of the most noticeable things about all of AFI’s music is Davey Havok (possibly not his real name)’s distinctive voice, which is put to superb use on the last track on the album ‘Morningstar’, and ‘Ever And A Day.’ These are slower songs, yet wield a power which is unchallenged by most other bands. The tenderness of the lyrics to ‘Morningstar’ cause the listener to just take a few minutes and really appreciate the song as a whole – surely the whole point of music. It could easily be a stadium sing-a-long yet still feels personal at all times, and one of the reasons that AFI have such a dedicated fanbase is the fact that each song expresses beautifully the inner feelings of so many people around the world.
Another trademark of AFI’s music is what seems like the amalgamation of about 3 different songs into one. ‘Sacrifice Theory’ and ‘A Story At Three’ demonstrate this: starting at a wholly different pace to that of the same song 30 seconds in – fast and furious to mellow and reflective or vice-versa (‘Sacrifice…’ featuring some Matt Freeman-esque bass doodlage from Hunter), and managing to maintain the same brutal urgency even when Davey is pouring his heart out with almost silence for a backing. Even though they’re changing time signature, rhythm, key etc mid-song it all sounds natural and remains anchored to their sound by Jade’s distortion-drenched guitar lines and Adam’s steady and solid drumming. ‘A Story At Three’ seems to be a frenetic song designed to be enjoyed in a moshpit, yet suddenly changes into another poetic refrain – is there anything as evocative as “I hear the morning choir sing to me their elegy. So beautifulâ€?
One of the most recognisable AFI songs is ‘Days Of The Phoenix’ – re-released on an EP and receiving rotation on MTV2 – and this is perhaps AFI’s best chance at commercial success. A catchy riff, the classic quiet-loud-quiet-bloody mental structure…certainly the most accessible song on the album yet still fitting in with the rest of the tracks. It is a summary of everything AFI do in almost 3 and a half minutes and can be considered a fitting introduction to the world of AFI to all the uninitiated souls of the world. The hardcore roots of the band are evident within the misleadingly titled ‘Smile’, and throw the listener into something akin to an aural beating. It may only be 1:31 but when someone is screaming “I’ll end the world tonight†with such passion and verve it’s hard not to take them at their word.
It’s hard to judge which is more poignant – a more violent or a more reflective AFI. And this is one of the biggest plus points about the album. It has numerous different facets yet at no point does any song seem to be unfitting with the general theme and tone of the album. This album functions as a unit, with a sound ranging from a more hardcore leaning to the typical punk-rock you’d expect from an album released on Nitro. It’s just so damn good, powerful and impassioned at the same time with an undeniable sense of belief and hope running through.
Ben