(4.5 Out of 5)

 

AFI has sure come a long way over the years.  The bands began as a So-Cal skate punk staple and it wasn't until the release of The Art of Drowning that the band really started gaining national recognition.  Sing the Sorrow followed and blasted the doors open to AFI's new sound.  Fast forward to the band's most recent release Crash Love and I think it's safe to say that the band has totally shed the "punk" moniker. 

 

Crash Love picks up where Decemberunderground left off.  Davey Havok no longer barks into the mic, rather he sings with an often melancholy croon that sounds larger than life.  Couple that with arena-worthy guitar melodics and addictive pop hooks, AFI have a formula for success.

 

Every song on Crash Love has certain intricacies giving them individuality, yet make for a perfectly cohesive record.  "Too Shy to Scream" and "Veronica Sawyer Smokes" have punk rock backbones, with pop overtones, while "End Transmission" is a dark sexual track and stands out as an album favorite.

 

It's enjoyable to see AFI further their musical abilities.  From the arena-worthy guitar licks on "Torch Song" to the quick drums on "Sacrilege," AFI prove that they are heavy hitters in the musical business.  Compared to a like-minded band such as The Used, AFI have a lot more diveristy to offer.     

Suggested Listening: "End Transmission," "To Shy to Scream" and "Medicate"

By: Adam Zak III - Senior Editor / Founder