AFI - Burials ALBUM REVIEW
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 ก.พ. 2025
- Listen: • AFI - I Hope You Suffer
AFI's Burials is the latest in a long string of uninteresting records from this California band. While I'm not a big fan of the group's early stuff, at least LPs like Sing The Sorrow had a modicum of aggression or excitement. The radio-friendly records the band has been dropping as of late have really been doing nothing for me, and Burials is possibly the least entertaining of all of them.
What did you think of this album? Love it? Hate it? Why? What should I review next, eh?
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FAV TRACKS: ...
LEAST FAV TRACK: WILD
AFI - BURIALS / 2013 / REPUBLIC / ALTERNATIVE ROCK, POP PUNK, SOFT PUNK, REVERB ADDICTION
2/10
Y'all know this is just my opinion, right?
It wouldn't hurt so much if you just ripped on the one album instead of all 9. Reduced 20 years of music to 'bland'.
he's right though
@@smilejenkins stfu
But it's true
Actually Fantano is very wrong about AFI I don't care if he likes them or not...I love em still
Even though I thought Burials was a let down, I still have to say that you're totally clueless about AFI
The only shite AFI record is "Crash Love" in my opinion. Ever. I'm lucky I had a cool friend in sixth grade around the time "Third Season" came out. Anthony does seem clueless about AFI but it's more like he said "I didn't like them, who cares why bother?"
@@petewadesays12 i think Crash Love is great ✌
@@StuartHetzler I love Crash Love.
Burials is a gorgeous album!.. one of the best !.. I adore this record
Afi have only released 2 meh albums... and Burials wasn't one of them. It's Decemberunderground and the blood album.
Sing the Sorrow is a masterpiece of pop rock and post hardcore. Hard to overlook. Such a brilliant album.
absolutely; so many genres blended so well and such a range of moods
a masterpiece, their best album in my opinion
I feel like this guy has no idea how talented Davey is as a performer.
Saying their music is bland is pretty inaccurate in my opinion. Their lyrics are very poetic and have really deep meaning, you should look up about their lyrics. I haven't liked any album after sing the sorrow so I'm talking about their older albums like black sails in the sunset, and the art of drowning. I can get how you don't like davey havoks voice, you either really like it or really hate it. I am not a fan of burials either being a old fan
Hello, long time Afi fan here. Their lyrics might sound poetic but they don't mean shit.
I disagree with you hugely, but I respect and understand you.
Holy shit you have an enormous nose.
dude that was mean
JonaJacknife Strongly agree with your disagreement haha . .. AFireInside has helped saved my life numerous times . Coping soundtracks :: for existing amongst fools like this on the daily haha . I FELT burials ( lost my daughter , my family , lost everything - backstabbing supposed best friend and cheating gf ) .. . I am grateful that Dave & the bois recorded this album . Helped me when i didn't want to go On . They are phenomenal and have always my all time favorite band . Been jamming them since Answer that...
You come off as very intelligent and well spoken, but from watching your top 50 of 2013 and seeing your thoughts on AFI I don't think we can be friends.
Same here, man. I completely agree with you. Lets be friends, I like shitty music, too.
That's quite shallow of you sir.
Clearly you don't like AFI. Nothing wrong with that. But you should know by now that you can't listen to an AFI album expecting Sing the Sorrow. Don't try to peg them into a genre. They've not had a clear genre since as early as Black Sails when Jade joined the band and they began drifting away from hardcore punk. I felt like you kept saying "they're somewhat like genre x, but not really, so obviously they're failing" and while you've got some legitimate points, I feel like you got in your own way. It might've been better to simply say what you disliked rather than try to herd them into a friendly category. I think it's totally fair to say that there are parts in intros you want the song to pursue but then the song follows a different idea. (After hearing those songs in their entirety a few times I got used to it and I do like where they go, but not everyone is going to have the time or motivation to give it more than one listen if they dislike it the first time.) The lyrics are definitely less abstract than they have been. And yes, there is some really weird vocal sampling. But the album wasn't written to be heavy or hard, in fact, from what I've gathered, it was deliberately written to not go there. Obviously that's not what you wanted to hear from them.
Eloquently put good sir...
You stupid clown, every people with brain don't like this album
You have no idea what you're talking about.
He really doesn't have any idea what he's talking about. He pulled all this information out his ass.
He is clearly experienced in music
Reptile estrin
As am I, however, he does not know AFI's music that well. Look at other comments and you'll see this is well stated by other fans, not because we just like AFI, but because it is true. I love theneedledrop and am a subscriber, but he needed to brush up on his AFI before posting this.
Reptile estrin This is cancerous.
He went into this with so much bias. It's really frustrating.
thisisnickmoore pssst. Every review is biased. It's an opinion. Unless it's a band very first release and none of the members of it have ever done anything artistically, there is going to be some kind of bias.
I know it's super annoying. I think he did the same thing with the recent Megadeth album. Also I think AFI has put out some pretty good stuff and I certainly wouldn't call all their stuff bland. I think Sing the Sorrow and All Hallows are really great.
I am a huge AFI fan, and I love your reviews, so I had to turn this off 10 seconds into it, so I wouldn't hold a grudge against you haha.
Oh come on Art of Drowning is amazing lol
"Davey Havoc's vocals are one of the least that I like" - Well, I closed right there. I love his vocals, so I'll really gain nothing from this video overall.
honestly I think lyrically and poetically AFI has some beautiful content, although I'm not the biggest fan of the new sound.
I'm a huge AFI fan. I saw them on the Burials tour and I loved it. I'm actually going to see them again in October. But that's neither here nor there. I'm actually a very large supporter of this album. I respect and understand everything you've said. I just would beg to differ. While I can agree to an extent on the music, its always AFI's lyrics that really get me. Granted I love the music and I adore Davey's voice. Being another album reviewer, I think I might make a reply video to this one. I shall now depart and start writing. And despite your negative feedback of my favorite band, you just earned yourself a subscriber.
"Guy that doesnt like AFI reviews an AFI album and doesn't like it."
noooooooooo I'm shocked
I love this record. I strongly disagree with your review. My favorite song is A Deep Slow Panic, The Conductor and Wild but I really enjoy most of the songs. I feel that there is a uniqueness to AFI - they sound like no one else and I like that. I really think your review may have been biased due to your dislike of Davey Havok's voice.
All Hollows Ep 🔥🔥🔥
Stephen Sturgis hell yea
All Hollows is great!
All hullows
i actually love Afi but to each hey it's his opinion
HOLY SHIT! SOMEONE WHO DISAGREES WITH HIS OPINION BUT DOESN'T MINDLESSLY HATE HIM!
Music Reviewing Melon lol oh yea i learned everyone has their own honest opinion and i respect it
Unsubbed for clearly biased review.
Matthew G Bienko Every review is biased. AFI have always been thrash.
Idgaf bruh. Afi is still one of my favorites up until sing the sorrow everything after that was trash
Woah Black Sails is a fantastic album
YOU LIKE MISS MURDER....and yet think Black Sails misses???
your ''taste'' is invalid.....VOID VOID VOID VOID...
im just having fun with this now...im sure you are a great guy...i apologize :) k love you 2 bye
Hahahaha yes
"A deep flow panic?" At least get the song title right if this is your career of choice.
I really enjoyed it, AFI were one of the first punk bands I ever got into so they'll always hold a special place in my heart. They've never disappointing me personally. And Davey is one of the coolest frontmen ever, he still supports the local hardcore scene he grew up in, coolest dude.
I like Burials, but I think that the lyrics are more powerful than the musical aspect. I like it, 7/10 for me.
The 'All Hallows EP' is the best thing they have ever released
when you say not a fan of their earlier stuff do you mean Black Sails and All Hollows? Because those albums are absolutely amazing.
Have to disagree with this review, CrashLove was a stripped down bare bones, haunting, ambitious, album, Burials is more of a return to the moody and dark atmosphere and aggressive nature of Sing The Sorrow. It brought back a lot of the theatrics and productions of previous albums without going into the over produced territory of December Underground. It comes of as a bit simplistic at times, and is a bit inconsistent, but overall I feel it's still a great album and some of the songs are their best work. They've really defied all labels, they're not punk, they're not post punk, they're not really alt, they're AFI. If you try to force them into some preconceived notion of what they should sound like then you'll hate Burials and probably hated CrashLove as well. That said, I can certainly respect an opinion stated so articulately.
kyrtos514 Please write "Decemberunderground", in the properly pretentious fashion.
just don't understand how you can listen to Black Sails, then Art of Drowning, then Sing the Sorrow and not see the incredible talent and dynamic range ; after StS I only liked a few songs from each album but these guys really slayed back in the day and still have good tracks scattered throughout their discography
Oh, man. We couldn't be farther apart on their earlier albums. The newer recordings, I'd have to agree. I drew a line after 'The Art of Drowning'.
The moment I saw "AFI [insert new album]", I cringed. I think they buried my love for them maybe four albums back... Sing the sorrow indeed.
So Kanye gets a 5 and this gets a 2? Wow. Def not their best work but its a solid album. You think MCR is better? What a joke. MCR is a watered down version of AFI that had more commercial success during their peak. Their albums did not age well, where as many of AFI's records like black sails, AOD, STS, even DU are still solid records.
Listen again.
This record deserves nothing less than a 7 or 6.
The thumbs up was more for your name than your comment, but I like what you said too.
You’ve slightly atoned for your sins by saying their Blood Album was good. You know not to fuck with me anymore, Anthony.
I listened to this album again after watching this review. I watched Anthony’s review thinking, “I don’t remember the album being THAT bad!”. I’m glad that I did because after giving the album another shot- it’s easily in my top 3 AFI albums. On its release; I only liked 4 songs on the album. The songs are well written & I can listen to the album all the way through. Thanks Fantano for giving this gem such a biased review. If Davey’s voice isn’t your cup of tea; does your review REALLY stand a chance at being any good? No, it doesn’t. Review music that is tolerable to your ears & your reviews will be non-biased, non-judge mental & fair. Thank you.
God Called In Sick Today is one of my favorite childhood songs.
so powerful, such a build up
From 1997-2003 AFI were great. Very hit and miss(more miss) these days. This dude obviously just doesn't like them, so his review makes sense.
I'll admit that AFI isn't the most interesting hardcore/pop-punk band to come into light in recent years (bands like Blink-182 and My Chemical Romance are much more engaging and, as Anthony said, "biting rather than gumming"), but I think for what AFI does, they're not terrible. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to Burials, I was able to get sucked into the dark atmosphere fairly easily, I like the production even though it COULD use some toning down (though I didn't hear much reverb so I don't know where Anthony's coming from with that), and I was surprised at the different vocal styles Davey exhibits throughout the record. The only bad parts of the album I thought were "17 Crimes" and "Heart Stops," which I feel were completely out of place. Other than that, I really like Burials.
There. That's how you RESPECTFULLY disagree with something, people.
if you think my chemical romance is more engaging than afi, than you need to get your head checked.
as a regular listener of pop punk music, and anything to do with punk in the 20's to even suggest that my chemical romance is on the same level of afi in terms of respect in the industry, acclaim and overall respectability is quite ignorant.
you can talk about the mainstream effect of my chemical romance, and all the other bands that followed but to suggest that my chemical romance is more 'interesting' than afi is just downright ignorant.
rant over.
Jesus Christ I just... wow. Clearly you haven't heard an AFI record since Crash Love, or you're just an absolute melt.
Have you any plans to review in full or a quick review either of these three albums:-
Double Cup - DJ Rashad
Drone Logic - Daniel Avery
Dreamchasers 3 - Meek Mill.
I really like all these albums but would to know what you think Anthony?
2:47 He's actually sitting down... everything i've ever thought has been a lie.
Well that was an interesting camera angle change.
He said albums like Hallows and Black Sails Sunset DIDNT introduce anything new??
Well then what else was similar to it at the time because I need to be listening to that too. Never heard anything sound like their early style or Havocs vocals.
I agree with kyrtos514. Burials will not fall into any genre. AFI is AFI. This is a bad review Anthony. You failed this time.
Hey Anthony, I have an idea for another art of series you could make, that includes old records from bands (they maybe broke up or don't released for a long time something) for example MCR, Tool, Deftones, Nirvana... I think a lot of people are interested in your opinion of the older stuff. Maybe u could think about it...
I always enjoy the thoughtfulness that goes into your reviews, but I disagree with this one. As a longtime AFI fan (both pre and post Sing the Sorrow), I feel like this album is their strongest effort since Sing the Sorrow (I give that album a 10/10), decemberunderground (7/10), Crash Love (maybe a 4/10? didn't like it much), and Burials an easy 8/10. It was just really easy to listen to, for me. But to each their own- keep up the good work!
Honestly, the lyrics on "The Conductor," are beyond brilliant. Do yourself a favor, and see these guys live.
Loo no
I personally love AFI and they are one of my favorite bands but I 100% get why you don’t like them. Davey definitly has a hard to listen to voice and their older stuff all sounds exactly the same
This disgusting
Actual lyrics from this album:
"The blackness it drips down from both of my eyes
The sand that you made has taken my sight
I can feel it"
Hahahaha! It's hard to believe that someone over the age of 13 could actually write this and take it seriously.
That's because Davey Havok is a joke. AFI was cool in the mid 90's, not anymore. The Art of Drowning was the last time AFI did anything worth listening to (this album was in 2002)...
I love the fact that you reviewed this and the awesome Misfits album in the background! Anthony Fantano foreva!
Sounds like you review based on what you like, only. Instead of like an educated critic.
WOW I FINALLY FOUND A VIDEO WHERE ANTHONY MENTIONS MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE. You should definitely review either The Black Parade or Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys.
Why the fuck would he do that?
FriedEagleMind Because this melon actually likes My Chemical Romance
I recognize that their new stuff probably isn't very good but I grew up with miss murder so I can still listen to it.
Ingmar Fris blood album is a banger.
I like AFI, but I get what you're saying. This album felt pretty flat for me.
Like i get that not EVERY review is going to be a good one. BUT if you dont even like old AFI, from their hardcore punk era when they obviously yielded their best material then this review was already doomed from the start and was seemed to be posted as a bashing. Just kinda sucks.
Though I don't agree with you on your review, I still enjoyed it and can tell that you do try and actually listen to the tracks, even though I think you let your prejudges get in the way of the review sometimes.
I think this is only the third album Anthony's given a score this low. Anyway, it's time for Reflektor. You deserve something good, Anthony.
I personally love AFI, and this album, and I disagree with this review, but I respect your opinion. I think you should review the new album "No Place" by A Lot Like Birds. It's a pretty cool mix of math rock, prog, and post hardcore.
I find myself disagreeing with as many reviews as I agree with where the Needle Drop is concerned, yet I subscribe and support due to my intense respect, as well.
You remind me a lot of a good friend I had in high school. Way back when we would get stoned and jam out to the fall of troy.
You should do a review of the new pelican album dude.
Come on dude, anything Davey Havok touches is a masterpiece
As soon as Miss Murder hit, these guys dug their own grave
Miss Murder is a fucking tune tho
Radio bullshit , black sails is the best
Every thing that you said is completely inaccurate, but what can you expect from a guy who once liked Disturbed.
AFI has become a current day The Cure. Great band.
Comparing AFI and The Cure ? god..
The cure obviously had a tremendous influence on the band, if you can't hear that on burials there's a problem.
Yan Mind explaining your dismay, just now started listening to The Cure.
Did anyone listen to the lyrics? In rewind he says "Draw a line that cannot be crossed, make a circle out of salt, knowing it was all your fault. Hide inside." He's describing using black magic to summon demons! More then one song talks about him being tortured by the demons he conjured! in Wild he says "I gave you life, now pray for death, breathed into you, you stole my breath" A deep slow panic, the entire song was just talking about him being tortured by demons and losing his mind. This album is incredible sad and frightening. I just hope that Davey and his band are going to be alright.
I know this is two months after your post, but I feel as if it is really important. Davey has said, as have other members, that this was a really dark and emotional album to write. Davey even said how incredibly disappointed he was at his inabilities to separate his personal life from this album. I think Davey was hurting deeply while writing the album, and it shows. Oh, and salt circles aren't for summoning, they`re for protection, protection from someone who hurt him.
That's so sad. Thanks for replying. I hope he's going to be okay.
I'm sure he's fine, they got an upcoming tour and It's been a while since the album was released and even longer considering how long albums take to make.
I really don't think it's about "black magic" or "demons" at all. I think the album is more about the pain endured in a bad relationship. With a lot of the songs, it's more about his emotions while dealing with the pain of a "chaotic time" in his life. A Deep Slow Panic is about panic, anxiety, loss of self, and collapse. It has nothing to do with demons.
Josh Lowe thats right, dude. Davey and Jade are atheist. I highly doubt their music would be based on something frivolous as demons
The only worthwhile tracks are "The Sinking Night", "I Hope You Suffer", and "The Face Beneath The Waves". The rest of the album just doesn't do it for me, and I had some hope for this, but ultimately, it was a let down. And this is coming from a fan of theirs that enjoys their older material as well as Sing The Sorrow and December Underground.
You say that it wasn't heavy, but I don't think that's specifically what they were going for. I don't think an album should be reviewed based on what genre or label they are slapped with, I think it should just be reviewed for what it is. Personally I really like it. Wild and A Deep Slow Panic are my favorites.
Review the new Neil Halstead record "Black Hearted Brothers" out on Slumberland.
Just discovered your reviews and find them entertaining. Not sure why you'd even listen to an AFI album, although respect for admitting to being into Nu-Metal back in the day. That takes courage.
The Things We Think We're Missing by Balance and Composure, The Off The Board Compilation by Will Yip, and the new Protest the Hero album
You missed on this one, nerd. Curious to hear your opinion on their new one coming up in June.
i haven't really been a fan since the art of drowning but afi's one of those bands i loved as a teenager, so i still listen to their older stuff to this day
Thanks so much for perfectly articulating my attitude about AFI so well. For years I've been trying to explain why I can't get into the band. And I've tried several times. This is an ideal and concise description.
I sat back in my chair when I saw the strong 2. I really wasn't expecting that for how relatively non-vitriolic your review was compared to reviews for other albums you gave 2's (Camp, PBX). I get the value of ratings now; I really wouldn't have thought you disliked the album that much if you hadn't spelled it out like that.
I'm late to the party on this video, but I completely agree with your point about modern music's addiction to reverb. This was released in 2013, and it hasn't gotten much better. When you mentioned using it to cover up bland songwriting and shitty vocals, Pumped Up Kicks immediately came to mind, as did a lot of modern alt-rock/indie stuff.
I love some good aggressive punk rock, and I agree that AFI never really came close to the "real" hardcore sound, but they've always had this darkness that I really dig. The Art of Drowning and Black Sails are awesome. Sing the Sorrow has some really good songs, and I actually think Decemberunderground is a decent rock record. I'm not really a fan of where they're at now, though. I haven't even listened to Burials or Crash Love.
wow if you think afi sounds this bad, i would hate to know wut u think of the misfits and/or danzig
sean78745 He's got a video titled "Top 10 Songs of Misfits" ;)
Hey, there's an experimental electronic artist "SADSIC" whose releasing his first album soon (self-titled.) The material so far sounds great and I'd love to hear your input on his work.
I loved everything apart from the first three records and the last two. They had a great sound that I thoroughly enjoyed up until Crash Love. Although this album was better in parts it just didn't hit as hard as their first single "I Hope You Suffer". Oh well, they released enough quality material to keep me happy.
Horrible band
Yo Anthony! Have you ever listened to their Behind the Times EP? I'd have never thought of touching an AFI release until I heard the track 'Rolling Balls'. That's it though, never listen to any other AFI.
Ouch! I didn't see a 2 coming. Can't say i agree with your opinion on their older material. Personally enjoyed this release. It might have lacked the bite you were hoping for but it certainly came with bags more than Crash Love.
Glad you reviewed this. Burials was surprisingly disappointing, I thought they couldn't get much worse than Crash Love, but they proved me wrong. Sing the Sorrow was a pretty amazing album, but they haven't had anything decent since
AFI reminds me of that kid at the back of the class always drawing cool stuff and has tattoos and piercings, wears skinny jeans, and t-shirts of metalcore and punk bands, but really listens to Lil Wayne and Drake. I am disappoint.
afi just isn't for you to be honest.
Your comment reminds me of the loser at the front of the class who tried to be funny and thought everyone liked him but was actually just the butt of every joke who everyone couldn't fucking stand.
Couldn't agree more.
I don't know if Anthony has even gotten round to reviewing Mogwai latest release Les Revenants...but I might be wrong.
Man, I think Burials is top 5 in their discography. Still, I did appreciate hearing your thoughts.
The Art of Drowning is one of the greatest punk records of all time
Once you hit a certain point in your life youll appreciate this album. You clearly havent listened to it, only heard it
matana roberts- coin coin vol.2
volcano choir- repave
forest sword- engraving
I'm sad to see Anthony doesn't enjoy almost any AFI stuff, has always been my favorite band. Could be nostalgia on my part, but I just can't seem to not like their music. Oh well.
Coincidence that there is a Misfits album in the background when much of AFI's earlier influences were the Misfits?
So i was at Riot Fest, and i decided to wait for four hours for the Replacements. AFI was right before them. Needless to say, it was a long, loooooooooong wait.
I loved AFI Halloween EP-Decemberunderground era and still listen to a lot of that music almost daily. I've been extremely disappointed with every one of their releases since then, your metaphor of their teeth is very fitting. They're still dark, but they've lost all their aggression and it's honestly kind of disgusting to me.
Fair shout, this is still my favourite of the year so far.
Of course! I read that one too. Like this review, that one was sort of a "you know you probably won't like it" situation, but it was a funny collab review none the less
at least acknowledge how original their older stuff from black sails and art of drowning is, yeah the new albums are sub par but you gotta admit there has never been a band that mixed melodic / aggressive vocals and guitar riffs like they did. they shook up the hardcore punk scene in the late 90's and left a mark on a lot of fans from that genre and era.
So what you said in 5 minutes was "I don't like AFI." That's fine, you have your opinion. But this is not a review. It's all over and contradictory. I review would be like, "while AFI is experimenting with the dark and moody tones and dropping the "emo" style, the album falls shorts with it's lack of catchy hooks and exciting vocals."
This is not my review. I'm just saying what I think you're trying to say. And AFI being "emo?" Please. Emo is every band out there (emo = emotional). Look it up.
Great review. Fair review. I personally never liked AFI for a lot of the reasons you explained here, except that my teenage brain never articulated them so eloquently :P
I'm curious what melon thinks about their Post-Punk era
PS--Your glasses aren't ironic.
I actually really like AFI's earlier albums. Oh well, I respect your opinion and I hope you enjoy the rest of your day!
Nothing, I think he has great taste and I enjoy his reviews. For the record, I'm not taking a shot at Anthony so you jumping to conclusions like that means the problem is with you. I'm agreeing with those who commented that he actually gave a very low (I mean low) score on a band that's been around for well over a decade.
Would love to hear you review their older stuff.
The Art of Drowning is one of my favourite albums, similar to Invasions of the Mind by ENERGY
Afi is one of my favorite bands ever!!! Davey Havok is my Dude!