Punk goes synth and sad
By STEVE HOEPLINGER
Scene Music Critic
AFI is the perfect band for people who are in a good mood and don't want to be. Equal parts punk, hardcore and nü metal, their latest album, Sing the Sorrow, explores the darkest and most miserable aspects of human existence possible, with a drum machine and synthesizer thrown in to give it a little techno flavoring.
To call this record the most depressing thing anyone is ever likely to hear would not be too far off the mark. With titles like "The Leaving Song," "Bleed Black,"
"Death of Seasons," "The Great Disappointment" and "… but home is nowhere," the songs' tones range from "bleak" to "I have completely and utterly lost the last vestiges of my will to live." On previous albums, the band produced spooky as well as depressed material, but on Sing the Sorrow, they stop trying to scare people and allow their darkest feelings to come out; the music is not so much eerie as sad, not so much sinister as melancholy.
Lead vocalist and goth-punk poster child Davey Havok makes Trent Reznor seem like a sweet, happy Prozac milkshake. His lyrics brutally and raucously express his personal anguish and depression. There is a beautifully mournful quality to his poetry that is sometimes hidden by the layers of cutting guitars. Though it is sometimes hard to understand what exactly the words are, a quick glance at the liner notes reveals the depth and emotional scars that lie in every syllable.
The band's musical style has always been unique, and Sing the Sorrow is no exception. It features the nuanced, punchy bass lines, alternating virtuoso and buzzsaw guitars and free-form melodies that have marked previous albums and give the band its distinctive sound.
There are, however, a few new aspects. The band employs techno beats from time to time to boost the album to a level it hasn't been before. Also, the hooks dangle a little closer to the listeners' ears than they ever have before. This and the fact that Sorrow is the band's first major label release have had some punk purists decrying the album as a sign that AFI have sold out. But the music has an honesty to it that indicates that the band is just refining its sound and making an album the way they wanted.
The album's one and only flaw is that there isn't a whole lot of diversity. The songs blend together well, but almost all of them cover the same material and have the same "feel" to them.
There are a few exceptions. "The Leaving Song" is a subtle guitar and vocals only piece that lacks the other songs' aggressive fury. "Miseria Cantare — The Beginning" has a drum beat straight out of the theme music from Terminator 2: Judgment Day. The most surprising song on the album is the final, unlisted track, "This Time Imperfect," which features a haunting, melancholy piano playing against a spoken-word poem recited first by a young boy and later by an old man. It is completely different from anything else on the record and adds a nice finishing touch.
Overall, Sing the Sorrow is a solid album by one of the most original underground bands today, but it isn't for everyone. It's a quality piece of music, but definitely not something to put on at a party. The listener consumes at his own risk.
Contact Steve Hoeplinger at shoeplin@nd.edu
All Scene Stories for Tuesday, April 15, 2003
