AFI – Burials

Twenty seconds into the lead track from the new AFI disc, listeners may find themselves checking to see if they accidentally put on a lost Type O Negative track. Davey Havok’s voice defies his minuscule physical frame, bringing forth images of a muscular Peter Steele zombie ravaging a recording studio in hell. The Sinking Night is easily the most metal AFI track ever released, the moody depression oozing from the speakers as the gothic refrain sludges forward, creeping toward a climax that never comes. Thus, we are introduced to the new AFI, a constantly evolving band.

Burials as a whole is a step away from the glam rock that was Crash Love. They amp up the rock on I Hope You Suffer, an angst ridden arena rocker in the vein of Nine Inch Nails. They flirt with pop punk on A Deep Slow Panic, a catchy song with plenty of hooks that emphasizes Havok’s familiar soaring vocals, underscoring his impressive range. They return to gothic rock on The Embrace. Flashes of industrial anchor The Conductor, which is a rock song with plenty of attitude. Never content to settle into a single genre, they touch upon 80s influences sparingly throughout, most evidently in the dance pop of Wild. Former tourmates Tegan & Sara could comfortably cover the catchy pop anthem Heart Stops.  Straightforward punk songs like Greater Than 84 are classic AFI, with plenty of whoas in the background. The 13^th track, The Face Beneath the Waves reaches for epic levels with soaring melodies amid plenty of doom filled soundscapes. The final track is also the longest, clocking in at over 5 minutes.

Thematically, the album is dark, even when the music is not. Havok has tapped the figurative vein and bled all over this album, exposing his deepest emotions. These are not horror punk clichés, going for shock over substance. These are bare all confessions put out for the whole world to hear, fitting for a group whose fans belong to the Despair Faction.

Burials is a grandiose rock album, showcasing a talented group of individuals who continue to explore the depths of their music. Their sound contains elements of their hardcore roots, 80s Goth, horror punk and virtually every other genre they’ve been exposed to over the years. They capture the highlights of what they like and mold it into the scope of AFI, tossing the unnecessary and distilling the sounds until they create their own signature sound. The current lineup has been together for more than a decade and their comfort with each other is evident. Experimentation stops short of weighing down the music, ensuring that there is always a recognizable “AFI” sound at the root of the songs. Their sound has evolved to a place that few would have guessed back in 95, but Burials proves that they still have great music to share.