When AFI members Davey Havok and Jade Puget released their debut Blaqk Audio album ‘Cexcells’ in 2007, it was seen as a breathe of fresh air and something different. Fast-forward nearly 10 years later and many members of the punk and hardcore community have embraced electronic music. Wes Eisold of American Nightmare has gone from strength to strength with Cold Cave, Ryan George from Carry On has redefined EBM as one half of Youth Code, and earlier this year, Dillinger Escape Plan vocalist Greg Puciato unveiled his stunning new project, The Black Queen.
This meant that Blaqk Audio had to really up the ante on their third album, ‘Material’. Its predecessor, ‘Bright Black Heaven’, while peppered with moments of beauty, felt disjointed and somewhat flew under the radar as people were hungry for a new AFI album. With such strong competition in the world of alternative EDM, they had to ensure they stand out, and remain as relevant as their peers.
For the most part ‘Material’ is much stronger than ‘Bright Black Heaven’. There are still moments of Depeche Mode worship, with ‘Waiting To Be Told’ and ‘I’m A Mess’ oozing the dark sexuality of ‘Violator’, and there are subtle nods to Wax Trax Records pioneers VNV Nation on ‘Curious Friends’. However Havok and Puget have done their best to wear their love of commercial dance music on their sleeve more than on previous Blaqk Audio albums.
Uplifting key changes show off Havok’s ever-impressive vocal range on the album’s bigger tracks. Driven by thudding 808s, ‘First To Love’ is an unashamedly four-on-the-floor anthem, and ‘Graphic Violence’ is filled with euro-trance euphoria to the point you can almost see the strobe lights as it pours from the speakers.
Where ‘Material’ falls down is that it almost feels too clean-cut and even repetitive. The compressed synths and auto tune detract from Havok’s poetic lyrical content. For example, ‘Ceremonial (Burst Into Stars)’ is as well written as any AFI track but is masked by too many high-end keys. Perhaps a lyrical narrative isn’t the main point of ‘Material’, and Blaqk Audio seek to carry on the tradition of EDM; feel the beat and hit the dance floor. But this is Davey Havok of AFI, a lyricist who has a legion of adoring fans, and it’s hard not to place focus on his song writing.
That said, ‘Material’ serves its purpose well and is generally a vast improvement for Blaqk Audio. They may still be too connected to the punk scene to be able to break out to the clubs and dance festivals they clearly desire, but it’s not out of their reach. Lest we forget, EDM mogul Steve Aoki started his musical journey in hardcore punk and now he is one of the biggest names on the planet. Whether Blaqk Audio can head that way remains to be seen, but for now ‘Material’ is a step in the right direction.
GLEN BUSHELL