Black Sails In The Sunset

A.F.I. | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 18, 1999)
• Original Release Date: May 18, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Nitro Records
• ASIN: B00000IPZ0
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (152 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #38,665 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

1999 release on Nitro for this raw and powerful East Bay hardcore punk band. 12 tracks including 'Strength Through Wounding', 'Exsanguination', 'Clove Smoke Catharsis', 'God Called In Sick Today' and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This is the title. It means nothing. Please procede., February 3, 2007

By 

Ben Dugan "Ben Dugan" (Flying Monkey Killer) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Black Sails In The Sunset (Audio CD)

You know what? In many ways "Black Sails in the Sunset" is probably the perfect AFI record. That's not to say that it's their best but whatever phase of AFI you like---the early hardcore stuff, the middle period goth punk stuff or the current arena ready stuff--- you can find something to like and admire on this album.
This was the first AFI record I heard when a friend played it for me back in the spring of 2000 and I immediatly knew I loved it as it blends two of my favourite types of music, eighties goth like the Cure and Joy Division, with hardcore, and does so perfectly. Although they would build on this template and improve it on their followup releases "All Hallows" and the nearly flawless "The Art of Drowning", "Black Sails" will always have a special place in my record collection.
Now, as one of the few earlier AFI fans who doesn't believe that they have recently sold out(rather they have been given the finincial means to expand on their influences, and this isn't as a bad thing as both "Sing the Sorrow" and it's followup "decemberunderground" are excellent records), I am not feeding you some purists nonesense when I tell you that if you are an AFI fan then you need "Black Sails". Where there earlier hardcore records were typical east bay hardcore, "Black Sails" builds on the template. The songs have more crashing dynamics than anything that came previous, while upping the melody and allowing Davey Havok room to write more insteresting lyrics and expand his vocal range. The songs all feature the same chant along choruses that have taken AFI to the top of the charts lately, only this time they're dellvered with a far more breakneck speed.
What's surprising to hear, or at least to me, how much sense the bands newer stuff sounds when you listen to "Black Sails". The playing is strong and the melodies are easily digestable without being easy and obvious. The production of the record at time can be a little same sounding, thought each song has it's own distinctive features and ebbs and flows that you know exactly what you're listening to every given second.
Again "Black Sails" is not the best AFI record in my opinion(that really has to be "Art of Drowning"), whatever you like about AFI is here on this record in spades. Crushing hardcore, melodic breakdowns, excellent lyrics and vocals and even the requisite power ballad("God Called in Sick Today", still one of the bands best songs), and for those reasons alone that should make this record an essential in every AFI fans collection.
That and every sing is pretty great. What more could you ask?

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My 2nd AFI purchase. Dark, hard, melodic, intense, profound, June 1, 2003

By 

MaratsBathing "Sail" (NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Black Sails In The Sunset (Audio CD)

After picking up the All Hallows EP and pretty much becoming completely addicted to it, I decided that I definitely needed a full length AFI CD. So, I picked up Black Sails in the Sunset, popped it into my CD player and proceeded to be amazed. The album starts with a song/intro containing shouts of "Through our bleeding, we are one!" After the intro, the next two songs are really good fast punk/hardcore songs, similar to those found on the All Hallows EP. But after those, the album takes a different turn with the 4th track, Malleus Maleficarum. It's a slowed down, melodic track and really shows you that AFI isn't here to fool around. Track 6, Clove Smoke Catharsis was the one that really did it for me. This one song really showed me that AFI could do punk/hardcore, but wasn't going to be put under the often strict limitations. The end result is a combination between punk, metal, hardcore, and emo (don't worry, I hate emo too, AFI isn't an emo band) that is flat out amazing. This album has literally not left my CD player in about 3 weeks. It simply had all the music I want to listen to on one disc. The album NEVER gets boring. It's like a beautiful story, with each song a chapter, that you never want to end. After hearing this, I cannot wait to get their other studio efforts. I'll keep the reviews coming once I pick 'em up.

If you're into punk/hardcore, or are just simply bored with music, pick up this record. You won't regret it.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars AMAZING, September 11, 2004

By 

pocketdemon - See all my reviews

This review is from: Black Sails In The Sunset (Audio CD)

Though it might not be their best album, Black Sails in the Sunset is a dramatic improvement from AFI's previous release, both musically and lyrically. Overall it's not quite as melodic as The Art of Drowning or even All Hallows, but the raw energy alone makes up for it. This is a brilliant cd, but it is definately an aquired taste. Buy it, listen to it a few times, and pleeeease read the lyrics! They are dark, depressing, and slightly disturbing...but incredibly beautiful at the same time.
Strength Through Wounding is a great opener, gotta love the chanting. Malleus Maleficarum is one of my favorite AFI songs. It's more 'catchy' than a lot of the other tracks, but still has that hard Black Sails edge to it. Clove Smoke Catharsis is extremely beautiful. It's one of those songs that just makes you want to cry, like God Called in Sick Today, which is probably the best song on the album. It's amazing in every aspect. At a Glance is also a great song with a nice little guitar showcase at the end (yeah Jade!!) The Prayer Position is another favourite of mine. The hidden track is great too, maybe even better than some of the regular songs. Basically, the other songs are all perfect for blasting out of your car window. They're generally fast hardcore songs, but they're all great and unique...I'm just too lazy to write about each one. So, buy this and if you like it get The Art of Drowning, because it's the same kind of thing, only better. Actually, Black Sails was my favourite cd at one point until I started listening to The Art of Drowning obsessively (although some of the vocals in The Art of Drowning are kinda funky, and they're fine everywhere else). Yeah and get All Hallows, AFI EP, Sing the Sorrow, and old stuff if you want it, but it's not as good. Just make sure you read the lyrics because if you think that this is just mindless screaming you are wrong my friend, so very wrong.