Customer Reviews

Black Sails In The Sunset

5 star:		(121)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

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?

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.

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.

"Do you like what I'm becoming?" - So said Davey Havok in "The Last Kiss", and so is the motto for this entire record. Coming off what was the band's heaviest effort to date ("Shut Your Mouth And Open Your Eyes"), "Black Sails In The Sunset" is more than just an experiment for the band. It is a complete evolution. I often find it entertaining how many fans are quick to jump on AFI now adays saying they have "sold-out" or "betrayed their roots", when in actuality this band has been evolving since their very first record. It's no secret this was the band's biggest jump in sound (mainly due to Jade becoming the primary writer behind the band), and in many ways it makes it the biggest stand out of AFI's catalogue.

Leading off with their standard "call to arms" intro, "Strength Through Wounding" is probably one of their most popular and recognizable songs. Sporting the line "Through our bleeding, we are one!" it's easy to see from the start a lot about the band has changed. Instantly jumping into the breakneck "Porphyria Cutanea Tarda", the record hits you hard and heavy right from the start. I have said it numerous times before, and I continue to say it to this day, "Black Sails In The Sunset" truly does a great job of exploring all angles of the band's sound, even though they were just finding their footing, seeing as how Jade had just joined the band officially. Some of the best material the band has ever written ("Malleus Maleficarum", "The Prayer Position" "The Last Kiss") can be found on the record. "God Called In Sick Today" in particular is probably AFI's most recognizable song among their fans (or at least was before "Sing The Sorrow"). No matter what song on this album you skip to, you're instantly going to find a winner. There's no filler, no weak points. This is an incredibly written and performed album. Period.

The band, musically, shows off all their talent. Adam can pound away on the drums at lightning speed (not to mention throw in great transitions and fills at any second), and yet it sounds like he's right at home during the slow, driving "God Called In Sick Today." Jade comes to be the sole focus of the album as his guitar playing is far more innovative and intricate then Mark's ever was (Although I'm still a huge fan of "Shut Your Mouth And Open Your Eyes"). He's able to create dark, gloomy atmospheres (hence the goth reference) and yet maintain an undeniable rock nature. Hunter's bass playing gets shown off quite a bit (although it always has been), and his solos are always welcomed and impressive. And finally Davey's voice pulls the whole package together. He can scream/yell when it's appropriate, but also sing great melodies over top of Jade's scorching riffs. His lyrics are also dark and cryptic, and the perfect compliment to the band's stark music.

"Black Sails In The Sunset" is in all rights the band's best full length. Although I like all their material, and am partial to a few other records in their discography as well, even I can put a vote in for it. If you're an AFI, this is basically of the most essential listening. No matter when you became a fan, I can't see anyone who likes the band not liking this album. It's just that good. It was my introduction to the band, and like many it has made a lasting impression on me. "In darkness together, we're bringing the light!"

AFI are my absolute favorite band of all time, yet I try to be as unbiased as I can when listening to an album.

With that said, let me sum this album up: Black Sails in the Sunset is nothing short of a work of art.

When the first song "Strength Through Wounding" starts, it gives off a foreboding yet energetic feel. Then, a haunting chorus chants "Through our bleeding, we are one!" going straight into the second song, "Porphyria" which is impossible to sit perfectly still through.

With the first three songs being completely energetic, "Malleus Malificarum" gives off haunting melodies teamed with brilliant guitar sections.

After that, the energy comes right back with my personal favorite song: "Narrative of Soul Against Soul."

The rest of the songs just keep getting better.

Black Sails is a perfect combination of pure energy and melody, put with some of the most beautifal lyrics one can hope for.

AFI has gone from punk (Very Proud of Ya, Answer That), to hardcore (Shut Your Mouth and Open Your Eyes), to almost metal (A Fire Inside EP), but with Black Sails, they have achieved the status of not being held back by any genres, with makes them one of the greatest and influential bands today.

I'm not very knowledgable about hardcore punk...I heard about AFI through The Offspring's cover of Totalimmortal and decided to try out The Art of Drowning (another great CD that I'll probably review sometime). I loved AoD so much that I ordered Black Sails in the Sunset very soon afterwards.

The first listen through this CD, everything will be noisy and you'll wonder why people rave about these guys so much. If your tastes are poppier, the opening lines of "Through are bleeding, we are one" might scare you off. But underneath the dark image and loud, abrasive vocals are beautiful songs. Listen again and the melodies start to appear. Read the lyrics so you can understand what Davey's saying. Then you'll appreciate it.

Everything abou this CD is great. The guitars are powerful, but not overpowering. They know when to back off the distortion(as proved by the semi-ballad God Called In Sick Today). The bass is either mixed louder than on most CDs, or Hunter's playing just makes it stand out--either way, I rarely hear the bass in songs, but it's a large part of AFI's sound. The drumming is fast and fresh. And of course, there's Davey Havok's excellent voice. When I first heard AFI, I thought he was a no-talent singer who screamed because it was all he could do. No. I couldn't have been more wrong, the screaming is purely intentional and fits perfectly (and Davey can actually sing quietly well, though he does it more on AoD than on BSitS).

My favorite tracks are Malleus Malleficarum, Narrative of Soul Against Soul, Clove Smoke Catharsis (featuring Dexter Holland on backing vocals), The Prayer Position, The Last Kiss, and God Called in Sick Today. Don't download those tunes, though, just buy this CD. File-sharing hurts smaller bands like AFI more than it does big acts, and the CD is definitely worth the money.

On a side note (at the risk of going over my word limit), I saw AFI live last month. They were opening for The Offspring in London. If you get a chance to see them, go for it. They put on a great live show, full of energy and tight playing. Davey Havok's a riot on stage, jumping around in white goth makeup and a tight-fitting leather suit, then addressing the crowd with overly friendly shouts of, "Hi! We're AFI, we're from California!" Again, if you have an opportunity to see them play live, don't miss it.

And buy this CD.

"Through our bleeding, WE ARE ONE!"

I remember seeing AFI in Goleta, CA when they were touring in support of this album. They began "Strength Through Wounding", and Davey as usual appeared onstage just as his part began. As he and the crowd chanted the opening lines, the energy and intensity in the room was almost physically palpable. The same holds true for this album. In addition to the punk influence of the misfits, the cramps, and rancid, there is a noticeable shift towards more complex song structures, tempo changes, and and metal riffs. The entire album (artwork, lyrics, music, tone, etc.) are extremely gothic as well, the musical equivalent of Anne Rice and Glenn Danzig's bastard child. The satanic imagery that appeared in "Shut Your Mouth..." is back. Tones of despair, fury, and alienation, combined with numerous melodic hooks and transcendent gang-vocal choruses, make this one of my favorite AFI albums ("Shut Your Mouth..." being the other).

Highlights on the album:
"Malleus Maleficarum" - An infectious, poppy verse that shows the growing maturity of AFI. Jade refrains from playing at all during the verses, and Hunter's bass comes in only midway during the second verse. The contrast during the chorus (WE ALL BEGIN TO BURN!) as all instruments come in sounds amazing. However, I detest Dexter Holland's whiny guest vocals during the bridge sections. And that holds true for every other track that features his voice.

"The Prayer Position" - Heavy. This song sounds epic. Not very melodic, but it's powerful and catchy nonetheless. AFI's gang vocals never sounded better or more apt.

"God Called in Sick Today" - This has since become a live favorite. Davey usually crowd walks a-la-Iggy Pop during this song. Slow and brooding, the song begins with an instantly remembered guitar picking before Davey sings. This track is melodic and heavy during the choruses. It's regarded as one of AFI's best songs, and for good reason.

After many months in the recording studio, AFI created a masterpiece. It was titled "Black Sails in the Sunset." Many fans believe that the name came from Homer's "The Iliad," a tale of the warrior Theseus. Before he left to destroy the Minotaur, Theseus told his father, the king of Athens, that his ship would hold white or black sails. White meant that Theseus slew the Minotaur and was alive. Black meant that the Minotaur won the battle and that Theseus was dead. His ship left with black sails. When Theseus killed the Minotaur, he and his crew sailed back to port. They all forgot the promise Theseus made to his father. The king of Athens saw his son's ship holding black sails. Thinking that Theseus was dead, he was full of sorrow and hurled himself off the cliff, descending towards his death.

If this album's name truly was inspired by this tale, I must applaud the boys of AFI. They make this album have a deeper meaning, making it more interesting.

Black Sails in the Sunset completely surprised me with its bittersweet aura. Since current guitarist, Jade Puget, joined AFI during this time, I'll first talk about the song he first wrote for the band: Malleus Maleficarum, track 4 of Black Sails. "Malleus Maleficarum" is the name of a book written in the 1400's by the Catholic Church. It means "Witch's Hammer" in Latin and the book was the witch hunter's bible.

The album began with a chorus yelling, "Through our bleeding we are one!" with a strong sense of wholeness. Afterwards, track two "Porphyria Cutanea Tarda" began and carried on the spirit of unity in "Strength Through Wounding." "Malleus Maleficarum" was, in my opinion, a metaphor for Davey. He was the witch that was always judged by everyone, but he still wouldn't change. Everything slowly got mellow and "Clove Smoke Catharsis" did just that. "The Last Kiss" seemed to be a tale of heartache. After much of the energy slowed, "God Called in Sick Today" began. It is the zenith of the album and it pierces your soul.

01. Strength Through Wounding: 4/5
02. Porphyria Cutanea Tarda: 5/5
03. Exsanguination: 3.9/5
04. Malleus Maleficarum: 5/5
05. Narrative of Soul Against Soul: 5/5
06. Clove Smoke Catharsis: 5/5
07. The Prayer Position: 4.5/5
08. No Poetic Device: 4/5
09. The Last Kiss: 3.6/5
10. Weathered Tome: 3/5 (There was a printing error; "The Last Kiss" is the 9th track and "Weathered Tome" is the 10th.)
11. At A Glance: 5/5
12. God Called in Sick Today: 4/5
00. Midnight Sun [hidden track]: 5/5

The fans will always love "Black Sails in the Sunset." Their evolution began with "Shut Your Mouth and Open Your Eyes" and continued on with the later albums. To me "Sing the Sorrow," AFI's latest release, was like a tribute to "Black Sails in the Sunset." "Sing the Sorrow" had just as much melancholy as Black Sails. When I first got my special edition Sing the Sorrow album with the DVD and book, I saw a picture in the back. It was a picture of an ocean with streaming clouds. It looked familiar and then it hit me, it was the cover of Black Sails without the ship. That's because the ship has sailed to what AFI is now: a future legend in the underground punk and hardcore scene.

When I first heard this one, my entire AFI experience was "the Art Of Drowning" and the all Hallow's EP. For me this record didn't have the instant appeal of those releases, so I put it aside for a while.

When I came back to it, I was on some horribly long bus ride, some school trip or something... not important, anyway when I had nothing to distract me and could focus entirely on the music, I realised how easy it was to lose myself in this record. Of course that's the case with every AFI release, but personally I think this is the most engaging. It's probably my favourite AFI album, although I like them all (I'm not going to say "since this album they've got so lame" or "all the stuff before this is trash").

Tracks that stand out instantly are God Called In Sick Today, The Last Kiss, Narrative Of Soul Against Soul and Clove Smoke Catharsis. However more recently I've found myself more drawn to the harder songs that I previously didn't like, like Porphyria, Weathered Tome and Prayer Position. Oh... and the hidden track rules over all other hidden tracks ever, in the history of time.

In summing up, this is a great AFI album although not their most accessible. Pick up "sing the sorrow" or "art of drowning" and if you enjoy them then this one may well become your new favourite record.

Buy this album....thats all there really is to it. This is such an amazing album, it is hard to think of ways to describe it. The dark worlds AFI creates are SO full of pure emotion, and are musically fabulous. They are truly THE most innovative band in punk rock today, and easily the best as far as i am concerned. There is nothing quite like them, and they are NOT copies of the Misfits (another great band). Just buy the album. Its not music....its a way of life.