From starting out in basements in northern California to touring the world and playing to sold out arenas every night, AFI (A Fire Inside) has done it all.
Most bands dream of the career that AFI has had; their 18 year career is longer than the lifetimes of some of The University of Tampa freshman.
With eight studio albums to date, the band has been a pioneer for goth and punk and has even managed to make a couple of gold records along the way.
AFI’s eighth studio album “Crash Love” is a culmination of the musical progression that has been the band’s entire career.
“Crash Love” features the user-friendly sound of the bands 2006 release “Decemberunderground,” with an edge reminiscent of the band’s most critically acclaimed record “Sing the Sorrow.”
The album opens with “Torch Song,” an emotionally gripping track in which lead singer, Davey Havoc, sings, “I’d tear out my eyes for you, my dear, to see everything that you do. I do.
I’ll tear out my soul for you, my dear. Oh, my dear. To feel everything as you do. I do.”
“Torch Song” proves why AFI has managed to be so successful over the years.
Arguably depressing lyrics delivered in an uplifting and catchy way has been a trademark of their music.
Songs like “Medicate” and “End Transmission” stand out on “Crash Love” with infectious choruses and melodic guitars.
Quite possibly the best track on the album, “Darling, I Want to Destroy You,” provides a more subtle and manageable sound not found on earlier albums.
“Oh, I must confess. I’m over-dressed,” sings Havoc. “Are you not impressed? Darling I want to. I’ll confess this, too. Must you know the truth? This is for you. Darling, I want to destroy you.”
While “Crash Love” is surely one of the band’s most commercially accessible albums to date, it still possesses the problem of alienating past fans.
The signature shrieks of Havoc, which at one time were the edge that made earlier albums such as “Black Sails in the Sunset” and “The Art of Drowning” such cult classics, are nearly non-existent on this album.
“Crash Love” nearly confirms what long-time fans feared the most, that the raw punk sounds found on the band’s albums in the 90’s have been replaced with a more approachable and mainstream sound.
While the new release may find some die-hard fans sulking in their corner, “Crash Love” has opened up the band for more success and the possibility for new fans.
While bands fade in and out of the spotlight, AFI has proven yet again with “Crash Love” that their sound is as relevant as it was 10 years ago, and there’s truly something to be said about that.
Leave a Reply