The Last Kiss

This was written by Michael Galasson Oct 9 2000

As the 21st century rolls around, it is fair to say that "punk" bands are, generally, a dime a dozen. With groups like Green Day, Unwritten Law, FenixTx, Pennywise and MXPX breaking into the mainstream and warranting radio airplay, it can occasionally become difficult to keep them straight.
AFI is a band that most people may not have heard on local trendy radio stations, but it is a band that clearly prides itself on differentiation and its ability to combine chilling harmonies and driving melodies into a cleverly devised little package. Their skill for solid songwriting could not be more evident than it is on their fifth full-length release, The Art of Drowning. Formed in the early 1990s, AFI has evolved a great deal since its first two albums, Answer That and Stay Fashionable and Very Proud of Ya.
Their newest endeavor might be more aptly titled Songs to Commit Suicide To: Volume 1. This catchy, high-energy band is still so, but with a more brooding, psychological twist.
While the band has grown in its songwriting ability, the lyrical content of its music has turned from witty social commentary to an almost macabre, mondern day Edgar Allan Poe. This is not surprising, coming from a band whose fans chant, "Through our bleeding we are one!" at live performances.
However, do not be discouraged from investigating the world of AFI. Most people have already been inadvertently introduced to them on the radio through labelmate The Offspring, who contributed a cover of AFI's song 'Totalimmortal' to last year's 'End of Days' soundtrack.
AFI's music is edgy, fresh and encapsulates everything from punk and emo to hardcore, with a great harmonic mix. To hear something more than the same old pop-punk routine, The Art of Drowning is worth picking up. Also, to see the most high-energy live show ever, be sure to catch AFI opening up for Rancid on its world tour later this fall.