Since 1991, A Fire Inside (AFI) has continuously honed their sound in a non-stop evolution ranging from hardcore punk, alt rock, and goth, as the band has unapologetically transitioned as artists and musicians. AFI has transcended expectations, even when the cost of doing so has been the departure from the mainstream by remaining true to their artistic integrity. Their music is as raw and sincere as it always has been, with frontman Davey Havok’s searing vocals retaining its intensity in a different way, by becoming increasingly more melodic from one project to the next. 

To some, their music is representative of classic skateboard VHS tapes from the mid-90s. Others might identify with the moody ballads from Sing the Sorrow. Their current record, Silver Bleeds the Black Sun… is arguably their furthest departure from anything they’ve recorded up until now, with Havok pushing his vocal boundaries, and the band going in a post-punk direction.

Few musical acts can feel comfortable being billed alongside such a diverse spectrum of performers ranging from Sick of It All to The Cure. The Misfits to Morrissey. Rancid to Sisters of Mercy. This list goes on.

We sat down with Jade Puget to discuss the bold new direction of their latest album, the band’s relationship with Denver, and if we might be treated with some classic AFI Halloween throwbacks at the Fillmore. 

Thank you very much for making the time today, and welcome back to Denver! 

Congratulations on Silver Bleeds the Black Sun…! You’re currently on tour promoting the record. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the direction you’ve taken with this, and can’t wait to hear it live. What’s been the response from the audience now that you’re partway through the tour?

The response has been great, even from people in the crowd that don’t know the songs, it has been very receptive and positive.

When the track “Behind the Clock” was released ahead of the album, Davey discussed that he wanted to challenge himself with things he’s never done, like singing at a much lower register than usual. What else distinguishes this record from the rest of your catalog? Especially when it comes to new challenges and experimentation. 

One of the things I kept harping on him about was not sounding like previous albums, so the lower register was one of those departures. More space in the mix, less dense guitars, and obviously the stylistic divergence from previous albums into a more post-punk world.

What does the album artwork represent? Who designed it?

It’s a visual representation of the eponymous “black sun”. A guy named Donny Phillips did the art, we’ve worked with him on the last few AFI albums, as well as several Blaqk Audio albums.

I think that this record has more of a new wave guitar style than any of your previous recordings, which informs the overall sound of the record. As well, this is the most acoustic guitar that I can recall hearing on an AFI record, as in “The Bird of Prey,” which even has a western feel to it. What influences/inspirations would you cite for the sound of Silver Bleeds the Black Sun…?

We were more trying to capture a mood, rather than a particular band, or group of band’s style, but that mood comes from decades of listening to bands like Bauhaus, Siouxsie, Killing Joke, Sisters of Mercy, Love and Rockets, Christian Death, PiL, the Cure, Red Lorry Yellow Lorry, etc. and you can really hear it in these songs.

“Nooneunderground” could arguably be seen as a callback to AFI’s hardcore roots. This definitely feels like vintage AFI to me. Was this intentional?

Absolutely not, although I’ve heard this from many people. Being as that the mantra for this album was not to sound like anything from AFI’s past, we purposefully avoided past eras of the band. However, being as that it’s a punk song I can see how it could be connected to an earlier AFI sound. Our inspiration, if there was one, was more from the early 80s deathrock scene.

On that note, something I’ve always loved and admired about AFI is that I never know what to expect from one record to the next. You guys reinvent yourselves each time, stylistically, tonally, sonically and aesthetically. That’s also been a criticism from some AFI fans who seem to expect that you’re the same band you were in 1998. I recently saw one of my favorite new wave bands from the 80s, and while I enjoyed it a great deal, it very much felt like I was seeing them as they were in 1984. Almost like a novelty. How do you address those fans who push back against AFI’s evolution? 

I understand that mentality so I don’t let it bother me. People who fell in love with the band at a certain point in our trajectory are always going to be connected to that sound. I’m the same way with bands I love, I’ll always treasure the sound of the band when I came to know them. If your favorite album is Black Sails, or Sing the Sorrow, or Very Proudaya, I’m not offended, but if you get angry that AFI doesn’t sound like that any more, that’s a lost cause.

A close friend of mine fondly remembers seeing AFI in Denver in approximately 1995, and purchasing Answer That and Stay Fashionable from Davey at a venue called The Raven. What’s been your experience playing in Denver all these years? How have the fans treated you and what sets us apart from everywhere else?

It might sound cliché to say a certain city is the best or always amazing but it’s absolutely true to say that Denver has always been there for AFI. Since the first time I played there almost 30 years ago, it’s always been fantastic. I don’t think I’ve ever had a bad show in Denver, and in fact, I’ve had some of the best shows ever there.

Denver is so fortunate to have AFI perform here on Halloween! Recently, Davey was interviewed on HARDLORE, and it was mentioned how All Hallow’s E.P. has forever cemented AFI as a Halloween band, even jokingly referring to Silver Bleeds the Black Sun… as All Hallow’s E.P. Part 2. You must know that your fans are dying to hear anything from All Hallow’s E.P. One friend of mine even requested the E.P. in its entirety. Any luck we’ll get at least one track? 

I can neither confirm nor deny the possibility.

Are there any future plans for AFI at the moment, as a band or individual side projects? 

This is our first tour on the new album, so we’ll be doing more of that. Blaqk Audio has a new album completed that will come out after AFI is done with this cycle.

Thank you all for your continuous exploration in your art, and for sharing the depths of your emotions and soul. You’ve taken your fans on an amazing journey for decades, and I can’t wait to experience what more there is to come. THROUGH OUR BLEEDING, WE ARE ONE!

 

Thank you!