AFI (A Fire Inside) is an American punk band from Ukiah, California, formed in 1991. They have consisted of the same lineup since 1998, lead vocalist Davey Havok, drummer and backup vocalist Adam Carson, with bassist Hunter Burgan and guitarist Jade Puget, who both play keyboard and contribute backing vocals.

AFI has released eight studio albums over 18 years as a band, the first being NASWER THAT and STAY FASHIONABLE in 1995. The band then went on to release VERY PROUD OF YA the next year, followed up by a third in three years, SHUIT YOUR MOUTH and OPEN YOUR EYES. Over the years, AFI has changed its style from the earlier days of hardcore punk, to the horror punk-influenced sound of 1999’s Black Sails in the Sunset and 2000’s The Art of Drowning. It wasn’t until this, the band’s fifth album, that the band first featured on the charts, as The Art of Drowning peaked at #172 on the Billboard 200.

The band had its first major success 12 years after it formed, in 2003, with SING THE SORROW reaching #5 on the Billboard 200. The album was supported by singles ‘Girl’s Not Grey’ and ‘The Leaving Song, Pt. II,’ both featured in the top 20 of America’s Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart in 2003. It went onto receive Platinum certification with over one million units sold in the US.

The band returned in 2006 with DECEMBERUNDERGROUND, which featured the hit single ‘Miss Murder.’ Both achieved #1 in their respective charts, the Billboard 200 and Hot Modern Rock Tracks. The album also featured ‘Love Like Winter,’ which attained #4 on the Modern Rock charts. It reached as far as Australia, where it grasped Gold certification, and also achieved this in the United States, where it has sold in excess of 900,000 copies. AFI’s eighth studio album is titled CRASH LOVE and was released on September 29, 2009.

‘Torch Song’ opens the album with a distant guitar that builds quickly to a thunderous drum rhythm followed by incendiary, wandering guitar riffs. It’s an exciting opening and typical of the songs on this album. What follows here is swaying vocal, strong melody and arguably the best song on the album. ‘Beautiful Thieves’ has another distinctive intro to a classically styled heavy rocker with powerful choruses (including stunning backing vocals) punctuating a relatively quiet and thoughtful solo vocal. Driven by a magical melody, it’s another great song. ‘End Transmission’ has an even more adventurous opening passage that leads to a more conventional rock tune. It’s good but not great. Boy, do these guys know how to introduce a song… Yup, it’s another stunning opening segment to a song whose main feature is its fabulous machine-gun drum rhythm. However, ‘Too Shy To Scream’ is ultimately pretty ordinary.

I had to wait till Track 9, ‘Sacrilege’, to find inspiration again in this traditional rocker. But, it’s still some distance from the quality of the opening songs. And that’s the problem with this album - it promises much initially but fails to deliver. Later, ‘Darling, I Want To Destroy You’ offers a darker, slower-moving ambience and adds a touch of sonic diversity. Final track, ‘I Was Mine’ comes closest to matching the quality of earlier songs with its moodier, contemplative vibe and expressive vocal. The stronger melody underpins a fabulous instrumental arrangement.

So, it’s mixed blessings and there’s just not enough here to warrant an unconditional recommendation. Existing AFI fans will love it, but I wonder how effective it will be in inspiring new members to the ranks…

3/5