AFI Announce New Album Coming

Really excited for this.

 

I know it was finished in early 2020 so I was hoping to hear something soon. Seeing this the other day made me stoked!

 

Also, quite the catch for Rise Records.

 

Burials was really good and then I lost it again at the Blood album. Hoping this finds a balance. I trust the guys.

They remain undefeated live. Saw them with Rose Against and Anti-Flag last year in an arena show and they absolutely owned the stage. So if they tour more when it’s safe because of a new record, I’m all for it.

AND GIVE US A GODDAMN SING THE SORROW VINYL

 

Haven’t really listened to AFI since DU, any of the newer records you would recommend?

 

...boy, not really beyond Burials, which I think is behind DU quite a ways but very much in that vein, can be heard front to back and definitely has some bangers (A Deep Slow Panic, The Conductor, Rewind, I Hope You Suffer, 17 Crimes, and Greater than 84 are all good to great).

I think there are some real gems on the other records ("End Transmission," "Beautiful Thieves" on Crash Love, "Hidden Knives," "Snow Cats" on Blood), though both them suffer from absolutely fatal flaws - no real massive hooks on Blood and piss-poor production on Crash Love. I actually would love to hear CL re-recorded. There are some songs begging for a Jerry-Finn touch (but what ISN'T) that would give the instrumentals a bit more bang.

For example, "End Transmission" should crash like a fucking hurricane when the intro gets into the full instrumental, but it sounds hollowed out to my ears. Instead of a wall of sound, it's a goddamn plywood door that you fell through drunk on your way home. And still, the hook is good enough that you can hear the potential - and when you hear that song LIVE, it DOES sound like Sing the Sorrow 2.0. I have no idea how that got lost in recording, but it sure as hell did, and it's such a shame.

So! Yes, check out those, and Burials all the way through.

 

I dislike Crash Love but it has some interesting songs. "Veronica Sawyer Smokes" is AFI doing their best Smiths impression, and it's a real nice sugary sweet track of 80's nostalgia. I think "Beautiful Thieves" is great. Like the above poster said, "End Transmission" should be good, but the production is too pop, too clean.

One track to definitely check out from this era is the bonus disc from the deluxe edition, which includes "100 Words" from the Sing the Sorrow sessions. It's excellent, as you might expect.

Burials is legitimately good. There's a stretch on the back half that is stellar (from "Rewind" through "Wild," "Greater Than 84," and "Anxious"). The first half is super aggressive industrial-inspired arena rock. I'm honestly surprised it's not more popular.

The Blood Album is not quite as good, but I love some of these songs. The problem is the record is all over the place thematically. "White Offerings," "Snow Cats" and "Pink Eyes" are all basically STS -esque. "Aurelia," "The Bridge," and "Feed From the Floor" are emblematic of the Cure-inspired sound they're going for most of the time now. "So Above You" actually is the closest they've sounded to Very Proud of Ya (musically at least). Something about the album lacks energy though.

The Missing Man ep basically picks up where TBA left off. "Break Angels" is probably the best track on there. But I also like the track after that (something about Falling into the Sun? I'm too lazy to look up the title).

Hope the new record is equal parts aggressive, experimental, and catchy.

 

I have no problems with the production on Crash Love at all. Not my favorite AFI record, but I think it sounds fine, and it’s super underrated.

The Blood Album, on the other hand, doesn’t sound good at all. There’s some very good tracks on there, but the production is a huge swing and a miss.

Burials is pretty great.

 

This times a million

 

Does anyone know if there will be a chance for more Dreamcar? Would love to see that happen.

 

Agreed. I think there were moments on CL that could have been fine-tuned more in production, but I still think it sounds good overall. Blood album, as much as I love it, really suffers in the production area

 

It's funny because that was my first thought when I heard that new Gwen Stefani track yesterday.

 

Loved their last, looking forward to this!

 

Burials is an amazing record. 17 Crimes, Heart Stops, and Greater Than 84 get me all jacked up on mountain dew.

 

I loved Blood and I guess I'm in the minority that think the production on Burials is the worst of the last three. It doesn't sound good to me at all.

 

I'm with you as well - loved the Blood Album.

 

seeing I hope you suffer live took that song from "meh" to absolute banger for me

edit: I'll also be forever grateful for the Burials tour for introducing me to Touche Amore

 

Burials has some great songs but also has some duds. Overall I think the Blood album is better. Quite excited for this new one, whatever it may sound like. Sing The Sorrow is still their GOAT.

 

Twisted Tongues and Escape From Los Angeles are the first 2 singles being released and they come out Friday

 

Did not realized they signed with Rise. Hmm.