Scarlet Fever
Jun 5, 2006, 09:42 AM
PRENOTE: All comments made here are personal opinion, unless otherwise noted. Please express opinion, but not flame others; music is a very personal subject. If its not constructive, dont say it. Sorry about the slightly hipocritical title :p
I got a copy of AFIs new album, DecemberUnderground the other day.
ive heard the Davey Havok said he wants each album to be different to the last. this one sure is different.
It starts off with what i think is the least AFI-style intro. Initiation on the Art Of Drowning was an intro; Prelude 12 21 isn't. The notes at the start sound almost like something from Harry Potter. Then the drums come in, ever so slightly reminicent of STS - Miseria Canteri. The strings in the background sound like something from a modern R&B/Rap song. As you can tell, its not my favourite intro ive heard.
Kill Caustic starts off sounding like slipknot, then moves to the distinctive modern AFI song. This is probably my favourite song on the album. Hunter put distortion on his bass! :eek: Davey seems to have learnt how to scream every organ in his body out in this song :p
You can feel a bit of the band we love in Miss Murder, but its very deeply hidden. The giveaway is in the bridge. It starts off sounding something like Green Day, then moves onto something which resembles AFI. Davey shows that he has matured a lot in the recording of this album; his voice is almost unrecognisable from the old-school AFI songs. This song has its peaks and pitfalls. To me, this song is good, but its not what i thought the band was. More screaming and a definative, rocky chorus, makes this song is a memorable one.
Summer Shudder has a heavy use of electronics in the intro, and a sound similar to P.O.D. The chorus is addictive, but not AFI. Jade seems to remain the simple guitarist, not showing off like some other bands of the same genre. Its a good song overall, but i can't seem to bring myself to say i like it.
In the time between records, Davey's voice has changed dramatically. The Interview starts off with his voice with that same kind of nasal tone as Placebo. The verses are relatively quiet, but picks up in the choruses. It ends with a sound like something you would hear at a church, ironically enough.
As the album progresses to Love Like Winter, i was wondering what band i was listening to; a modern disco band or the same people who wrote the shortfastloud music of Very Proud of Ya. It sounds like something played at a school formal, not its afterparty by underground bands. They have changed so much in their decade-and-a-half in the music industry. Its an alright song, not the worst. I think it would be great in a dark room with lighting effects and a smoke machine, but not on the same set as File 13.
Affliction is probably the most rocky song on the album, with a definate AFI vibe at the start. The chorus isn't, though. A good song, but not the highlight of the album.
The Missing Frame starts off with a drum beat similar to the Grates Trampoline. Then Jade comes in with a distorted guitar and a wah pedal. Davey sings his stuff, and takes it into the chorus. Adam does the standard disco drum beat, which is a step in a different direction for him. Overall, a good song, which i can find a lot to like about.
Kiss And Control starts with the new typical AFI style; electric drums, davey singing softly. In some parts of the start, it sounds a bit like a folk song. Very slow and dark.
The Killing Light has a catchy chorus, which i enjoi. Hunter has another (failed) go at a bass solo. There is more effects than skill in him now, which is sad.
The album continues on to 37mm, which shows just how much each member really has changed; the drum rythm is nothing like anything else the band has released before. The guitars are full of effects. The vocals have reverb all over the place. And Hunter had a day off from his deathly quick bass work.
Endlessly She Said has a nice mix of guitar and bass in the intro, and the bass continues into the verse, and to an extent in the chorus. Not a great song, but not bad. If it came on while i was gaming, i would leave it on.
The last song on the album leaves me with a sense of emptyness, wanting, or maybe expecting more from the band i love. Like the intro, and most of the album, its just not AFI. I think the best intro/outro they have done is on the Art Of Drowning. Morningstar was an awesome close to an awesome album.
Overall, it is definately a change. If you liked STS, you will probably like this album as well. For people like me, who love their older, teen garage rawk style, this album will leave you disappointed. I can't bring myself to say i don't like it, but i think it is their least talented release ever.
I hope for the bands sake that it does well, because they are living their dream. This is what they have always wanted, and its right at their fingertips. They have it set.
I give it 2.5/5, plus half a mark for daveys awesome tat on his back and Hunters awesome Fender Jazz Bass :p
I got a copy of AFIs new album, DecemberUnderground the other day.
ive heard the Davey Havok said he wants each album to be different to the last. this one sure is different.
It starts off with what i think is the least AFI-style intro. Initiation on the Art Of Drowning was an intro; Prelude 12 21 isn't. The notes at the start sound almost like something from Harry Potter. Then the drums come in, ever so slightly reminicent of STS - Miseria Canteri. The strings in the background sound like something from a modern R&B/Rap song. As you can tell, its not my favourite intro ive heard.
Kill Caustic starts off sounding like slipknot, then moves to the distinctive modern AFI song. This is probably my favourite song on the album. Hunter put distortion on his bass! :eek: Davey seems to have learnt how to scream every organ in his body out in this song :p
You can feel a bit of the band we love in Miss Murder, but its very deeply hidden. The giveaway is in the bridge. It starts off sounding something like Green Day, then moves onto something which resembles AFI. Davey shows that he has matured a lot in the recording of this album; his voice is almost unrecognisable from the old-school AFI songs. This song has its peaks and pitfalls. To me, this song is good, but its not what i thought the band was. More screaming and a definative, rocky chorus, makes this song is a memorable one.
Summer Shudder has a heavy use of electronics in the intro, and a sound similar to P.O.D. The chorus is addictive, but not AFI. Jade seems to remain the simple guitarist, not showing off like some other bands of the same genre. Its a good song overall, but i can't seem to bring myself to say i like it.
In the time between records, Davey's voice has changed dramatically. The Interview starts off with his voice with that same kind of nasal tone as Placebo. The verses are relatively quiet, but picks up in the choruses. It ends with a sound like something you would hear at a church, ironically enough.
As the album progresses to Love Like Winter, i was wondering what band i was listening to; a modern disco band or the same people who wrote the shortfastloud music of Very Proud of Ya. It sounds like something played at a school formal, not its afterparty by underground bands. They have changed so much in their decade-and-a-half in the music industry. Its an alright song, not the worst. I think it would be great in a dark room with lighting effects and a smoke machine, but not on the same set as File 13.
Affliction is probably the most rocky song on the album, with a definate AFI vibe at the start. The chorus isn't, though. A good song, but not the highlight of the album.
The Missing Frame starts off with a drum beat similar to the Grates Trampoline. Then Jade comes in with a distorted guitar and a wah pedal. Davey sings his stuff, and takes it into the chorus. Adam does the standard disco drum beat, which is a step in a different direction for him. Overall, a good song, which i can find a lot to like about.
Kiss And Control starts with the new typical AFI style; electric drums, davey singing softly. In some parts of the start, it sounds a bit like a folk song. Very slow and dark.
The Killing Light has a catchy chorus, which i enjoi. Hunter has another (failed) go at a bass solo. There is more effects than skill in him now, which is sad.
The album continues on to 37mm, which shows just how much each member really has changed; the drum rythm is nothing like anything else the band has released before. The guitars are full of effects. The vocals have reverb all over the place. And Hunter had a day off from his deathly quick bass work.
Endlessly She Said has a nice mix of guitar and bass in the intro, and the bass continues into the verse, and to an extent in the chorus. Not a great song, but not bad. If it came on while i was gaming, i would leave it on.
The last song on the album leaves me with a sense of emptyness, wanting, or maybe expecting more from the band i love. Like the intro, and most of the album, its just not AFI. I think the best intro/outro they have done is on the Art Of Drowning. Morningstar was an awesome close to an awesome album.
Overall, it is definately a change. If you liked STS, you will probably like this album as well. For people like me, who love their older, teen garage rawk style, this album will leave you disappointed. I can't bring myself to say i don't like it, but i think it is their least talented release ever.
I hope for the bands sake that it does well, because they are living their dream. This is what they have always wanted, and its right at their fingertips. They have it set.
I give it 2.5/5, plus half a mark for daveys awesome tat on his back and Hunters awesome Fender Jazz Bass :p
