A.F.I.
Decemberunderground

THE REVIEW

AFI embody an unusual reality in the crowded American punk & hardcore underground. Starting from an initial punk/hc base, they have reached significant transformations, especially in the last two albums, vigorously approaching rock and increasingly allowing themselves to be influenced by new wave and gothic sounds.

Let's start by saying that "Decemberunderground" is not very different from the previous "Sing The Sorrow," although there has been a further reduction in tempo, to give even more space to melody.

The hardcore shards of songs like "Dancing through Sunday" are almost absent, and the opener (following a mournful intro) "Kill Caustic", a mix of screaming, fast tempos, and gloomy atmospheres, along with the well-executed "Affliction", are appreciated exceptions.

For the rest, we are light-years away from an album of pure punk roots, as this latest effort can be fully classified as a pure rock album.

The single "Miss Murder" shows the more commercial side of AFI, so much so that it is hard to say whether it is a great piece or a pre-constructed cardboard to climb the charts. However, it remains a fairly catchy piece, with perhaps the flaw, consider how serious, of excessive redundancy due to the constant repetitiveness of the choruses (four times in just over three minutes of song) and the final out-of-place screamed part.

In terms of catchiness and appeal, the 2' 47" of "Love like Winter" are no joke either, which, on an almost electronic framework, evokes dark autumnal scenes. Various slow moments are not lacking either, although boring episodes like "Endlessly, She Said" remain totally distant from the emotional charm that a hit like "The Leaving Song Pt. 2" could generate.

Meanwhile, the new course is aptly represented by "Summer Shudder," one of the few that stands above the others, featuring sing-along choruses and a dark shroud enveloping the album that, for a few minutes, flies away.

The rest of the tracks mark a clear departure from the past. And this is where the band shows its weak side with cold pieces like "Kiss and Control" and "37mm", which highlight a blend of genres that is often poorly amalgamated and the true weak point of the work.

A few words on singer Davey Havok as well. While I freely avoid any discussion on his dark look, doubts remain about his various vocal timbres, at times decidedly tedious and unbearable.

"Decemberunderground" follows the path opened by the previous major label release, with all the doubts involved, but those who appreciated the previous one will also like the latest arrival.

However, if a wide audience has an attitude of pure indifference towards them, this is partly understandable. After all, with various Rise Against, early Thrice, and Ignite, to name a few, AFI can comfortably dwell among their ghosts and spirits.