While many bands today burst onto the scene riding a wave of manufactured hype that precedes them, others seem to find their stride and successfully tweak their sound as they go along. With seven albums and numerous EPs under their belt, Ukiah, Calif.-based AFI definitely falls into the latter category. After 15 years of writing music and performing with the band as well as side projects, the members of AFI have refined their sound to the point that their latest album, “Decemberunderground,” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 album charts.
After cutting their teeth progressing their own brand of rock, AFI’s gradually changing musical styles always seemed to be just ahead of the flavor-of-the-month curve. Their early aggressive punk sound gave way, album by album, to embracing more slightly Gothic influences, while also providing hints of electronic, pop, New Wave and, lately, emo elements. Along the way, they covered a spectacular version of “Last Caress” by the Misfits, but it was “Days of the Phoenix” in 2000 that got the mainstream world listening. That, along with “Girl’s Not Grey” and “Silver and Cold,” from the platinum-selling album “Sing the Sorrow,” and their current single, “Ms. Murder,” can often be heard locally on radio stations 91X and 94.9.
Though lyrics involving love, loss, death and the macabre are frontman Davey Havok’s stock in trade “” no doubt to the delight of neo-Goth fans “” guitarist Jade Puget as well as bassist Hunter Burgan and drummer Adam Carson provide rhythm and melodies that are often adrenaline-fueled and at times even uplifting. Though his phrasing is as awkward nearly as often as it works, Havok paints visceral pictures that verge on poetic.
The new album, Havok said, “should break us out of any preconceived genres.” To produce, they turned back to Jerry Finn, who also co-produced “Sing the Sorrow” and its breakout hits, in addition to producing for Green Day and Blink-182 as well (Butch Vig, who has worked with Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins and others, in addition to being a member of Garbage, was the other co-producer).
Never one to shy away from the dramatic, here is Havok’s, um, explanation of the new record.
˜Decemberunderground’ is a time and a place. It is where the cold can huddle together in darkness and isolation. It is a community of those detached and disillusioned who flee to love, like winter, in the recesses below the rest of the world.”
AFI will be headlining this year’s Street Scene located again in the Qualcomm Stadium parking lot, on Friday, Aug. 4. For tickets, visit www.street-scene.com, or call (877) 840-0457.
