ALBUM REVIEW; AFI

AFI

Decemberunderground

Geffen

2.5/5

This is an album of a band trying to undo and outdo itself at the same time.

The band that brought us the angst-ridden punk song “I Wanna Get a Mohawk (But Mom Won't Let Me Get One)” is now singing about martyrdom in its new dance-rock single “Miss Murder” with lyrics such as “Hey Miss Murder can I/Make beauty stay if I take my life?”

Decemberunderground took over two years to write, record, and produce, according to the band. It is an overtly ambitious record, and an obvious ploy to increase its fan base.

The album is heavily laden with 80’s synth-rock and industrial influences, such as the Cure, New Order, and Depeche Mode.

It features a new vocal style from Davey Havok, which features him either stretching to scream, or singing falsetto. The vocals put him on equal footing with vocalists that should be his subordinates, like Gerard Way of My Chemical Romance. That band owes its existence to AFI, and should not even have the opportunity for equality.

The songs themselves are unexpected as well. The requisite intro, which AFI has done since their album Black Sails In The Sunset from 1999, called “Prelude 12/21,” sounds like a cross between a high school cheer and a Step dance routine. The lone track that owes itself to the bands history, “Affliction," features angular riffs from guitarist Jade Puget, and a vocal delivery reminiscent of The Art Of Drowning. However, after the initial four-minute musical assault, the song descends into drum-driven electronic ambience.

AFI is playing two headlining shows in NYC at Roseland Ballroom, on June 22 and 23.