AFI – Bodies

Davey Havok and Jade Puget have allowed for the coexistence of legacy punk act AFI and EDM side project Blaqk Audio for over fifteen years.  Back in 2006, the idea of an AFI side project centring around EDM was a major divergence from the moody, goth-centred atmosphere they were developing.  Today, both projects have remained distinctive, but as the years have progressed the personas feel a little more porous.  

That porousness has become more apparent than ever with the release of AFI’s eleventh full length, Bodies.  Bodies is a brooding, moody offering that’s biggest strength is its overarching atmosphere.  AFI long left their punk origins behind and have explored what might be referred to as goth-pop, or goth-rock.  To build this persona, Bodies features a peppering of synth tones, electronic production and embedded distortion against their guitar driven backbone and typically mid-tempo rhythm.  These aren’t danceable songs like Blaqk Audio, but they sure know how to get you swaying and moving.

Opener “Twisted Tongues” kicks the album off with a rolling combination of swelling ambience meets Davey Havok’s unforgettable falsetto.  It’s a combination of smooth flowing guitar work and lush targeted production enhanced by the cryptic call of repetitive choral lyrics in the line, “you talk in twisted tongues, I whisper in reverse.”  There’s a sense of scale and mystery sure to make listeners feel small in the expanse of the universe.  From here, “Far Too Near” ups the tempo, and with it, the infectious, singable choruses the band has become known for in recent years.  “I’d give my heart to you, if I could” sings Havok with a sweeping chorus of self-harmonizing vocals.  Other tracks, like “On Your Back,” get playful – even buoyant – infusing a spirited sense in lines like, “Love, show me how it’s done, with less than a fatal rush.”  Most songs have some sort of intimacy undertones, loosely centring around affection and the complexity of the human condition like thorns of a rose.

While much of the album occupies a steady and familiar sonic pallet, a few key highlights stand tall amidst the crowd.  “Begging for Trouble” pops out in particular with its quick pitter-patter drumming and consistently energizing bass work.  Havok feels particularly expressive amidst the swirl of instrumentation, maximizing vocal quivers during high points and offering an air of sophistication during the moments of symphonic soundboard strings.  “No Eyes” further magnifies the band’s guitar work between verses, with each riff carefully mimicking Havok’s quivering vocal finesse.  It’s the type of track fans will enter Bodies seeking and celebrating upon its emergense late in the track listing.  Slower tracks, like album closer “Tied To A Tree” and “Back From The Flesh” feel more like Blaqk Audio experiments adopted from the cutting room floor as they are lush with electronic ambience and an atmospheric crawl.  In some ways they weigh the album down at key choke points, but they also offer a breath in pacing.  Ultimately, this is a double edged sword that comes down to listener preference, but after a few listens I was able to metabolize the change.

As a long time AFI fan, Bodies is about what I’ve come to expect from the band at this point in their career.  The album flows well, leveraging their knack for atmosphere and subtlety with a career worth of change.  While you can hear the echoes of Blaqk Audio ebb and flow throughout, the band understands that such discrete entities co-exist best with porous boundaries.  Bodies is a solid entry into AFI’s discography that respects the band’s need to challenge themselves with each new release.