Sing The Sorrow

AFI departed from their horror-themed pop punk roots in a radical way on their sixth album, not only jumping to emocore but taking it to its natural operatic conclusion. It’s a Black Album-level gearshift. In this case the change worked for them artistically as well as commercially, trading their monster masks and snotty short shots for streaked mascara and epic tales of heartbreak and woe. With hooks! Highlights include statement-of-intent “The Leaving Song, Pt. 2,” theatrical thrasher “Bleed Black,” and sad sing-along “Silver and Cold,” but they really shine when their natural hair metal roots show on “Girl’s Not Grey.”