AFI

This first major-label release finds AFI to be brainier and more inventive than their Bay Area brethren, locating that intersection of prog rock and punk. Davey Havoc's vocals are as pristine as they are lethal, whether he's leading a disembodied zombie chorus on "Miseria Cantare (The Beginning)," pushing the hardcore into a mental mosh pit on "Dancing Through Sunday," or doing the clever, athletic yet anthemic "Silver and Cold." This album captures the band on the cusp of fame, sharpening their considerable talents without turning their backs on their punky spunky past.

AFI have been making breakneck-tempo gallows punk in the Bay Area since 1991, but up to
now, the band's goth bent has been mostly cosmetic, literally: Lead singer Davey Havok
wore heavy makeup, but his band sounded more like early Offspring than anything else.
With its sixth album, Sing the Sorrow, the goth-core quartet finally has both musical
command as well as the budget to realize its sad-eyed vision. The jumble of influ... More >