Head to the AP Shop to grab vinyl, CDs, and cassettes of AFI’s Silver Bleeds The Black Sun…
During our August cover story with AFI, there was a moment when Davey Havok got teary-eyed upon hearing this Reddit comment read out loud: “AFI sacrifices themselves for us to feel something.” Throughout a dozen studio albums, the band have done exactly that, shedding their skin for different moods and sounds to communicate whatever’s fueling them at the moment — whether that’s the cold, stripped-down textures of 2021’s Bodies or the raging horror punk of 1999’s Black Sails in the Sunset. Havok says it best: “AFI fans who are fans of the music and not fans for just one period of time don’t know what to expect every time.” That remains true with their latest full-length, Silver Bleeds The Black Sun…, where the band tap into full-bodied new wave, David Lynch, and loss of artistic sanctuary while simultaneously adding to their formidable legacy.
Read more: AFI reflect on creating their breakthrough hit “Girl’s Not Grey”
After asking about the band’s best tracks, we wanted to know what our readers thought about the most underrated AFI songs. Find the top fan picks ranked below.
5. “The Interview”
Following the massive success of Sing The Sorrow was always going to be a challenge, but 2006’s DECEMBERUNDERGROUND continued to sharpen their sound. That being said, there were certainly songs that overshadowed others — “Miss Murder,” “Love Like Winter,” and “Summer Shudder” all come to mind. However, our readers pointed to “The Interview” as one of the more undersung AFI songs, as Havok’s introspective, layered vocals remain just as alluring as ever.
4. “Death of Seasons”
After years spent grinding it out in the East Bay hardcore scene, AFI were already a band for 12 years when they released their major-label debut in 2003. Even so, Sing The Sorrow is a vestige of the 2000s post-hardcore scene, containing many of their most well-known songs (“Girl’s Not Grey,” “Silver And Cold”). Something funny happened when we posed this question, though, reminding us that a band’s greatest song can be their most underrated to someone else. As such, “Death of Seasons” made the cut while also appearing on our fan-voted best songs list from the summer. It’s an incredible song regardless of where you stand, striking a balance between aggressive catchiness, spoken word, and gothic atmosphere.
3. “Wester”
You’ll have trouble finding a longtime AFI fan who disses any song off The Art Of Drowning, firing off blasts of intensity and pop hooks that are equally therapeutic. The 2000 album boasts setlist staples like “The Lost Souls” and “The Days of the Phoenix,” the latter of which helped them gain attention from major labels. Even so, our readers feel like “Wester” doesn’t get enough love in the band’s canon. Its “Nothing can stop us now” chorus practically defines the AFI ethos, moving through different eras instead of trying to mirror the past.
2. “Veronica Sawyer Smokes”
Crash Love was a controversial release, largely dividing fans when it came out in 2009, but it did yield “Veronica Sawyer Smokes,” which nearly took the top spot on this poll. Compared to the rest of the songs on Crash Love, “VSS” is a short pop of new wave that references the 1989 dark comedy Heathers. “Lyrically, it touches on a misconception and a slight obsession,” Havok said in an interview. “I thought the title really worked with that and lyrically represented that sort of mindset, where you have Veronica Sawyer in the film, and she’s infallible, and she’s murdered. That’s the message I was trying to confront, and I enjoy the film, so it’s part homage.”
1. “Synthesthesia”
Can you really be surprised that another Sing The Sorrow track made the list? It’s the band’s most beloved album, catapulting them into the mainstream spotlight and becoming one of the most iconic albums to come from the 2000s post-hardcore scene. AFI even played the album in full for the “first and last time ever” at LA’s Kia Forum for its 20th anniversary in 2023, but they also quietly dropped a deluxe edition last year, which included “Synthesthesia.” It’s since become a fan-favorite rarity that leans into a more experimental and mesmeric approach.