Burials (album)

Burials
Studio album by AFI
Released October 22, 2013
Recorded EastWest Studios, Los Angeles, California
Genre
Length 49:21
Label Republic
Producer Gil Norton
AFI chronology
Crash Love
(2009)		 Burials
(2013)
Singles from Burials
  1. "I Hope You Suffer"
    Released: July 22, 2013
  2. "17 Crimes"
    Released: August 6, 2013

Burials is the ninth studio album by the American rock band AFI. It was released on October 22, 2013 through Republic Records.[4]

In a statement regarding the album, AFI frontman Davey Havok said, "This record is of silence, and the burials that result from that silence. It's of betrayal, cruelty, weakness, anxiety, panic – deep and slow – despair, injury and loss. And in this it is shamefully honest and resolutely unforgiving".[5][6]

Conception and composition

In contrast to previous releases from AFI, lead singer Davey Havok described Burials as being "very layered and very rich", adding that it was "far, far less straightforward than what we did on the last record, which – much like every record we create – was the result of a natural growth, a natural indication of where we are as songwriters now".[7]

Recording and production

The band worked with producer Gil Norton and engineer Andrew Scheps, while recording Burials[8] in Los Angeles, California.[5]

Release history

In anticipation of the release of Burials, AFI released the singles I Hope You Suffer on July 22, 2013 and "17 Crimes" on August 6, 2013.[9] "17 Crimes" was made available for streaming on the day preceding its release on the iTunes Store.[10][11] A new song from the album, "A Deep Slow Panic", was made available for streaming on the website for Spin, along with a new interview of the band on October 10, 2013.[12]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic(73/100)[13]
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[14]
Alternative Press[15]
The A.V. ClubB[16]
Rolling Stone[1]
Sputnikmusic[17]

Burials has received generally positive reviews from music critics. At review aggregator site Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from critics, the album received a score of 73 out of 100, indicating "generally favorable reviews based on 7 critics."[13] Jason Heller of The A.V. Club gave the album a B rating, drawing similarities to The Cure on various songs.[16] Matt Collar from Allmusic gave the album 4 stars out 5, saying, "With Burials, Havok and AFI don't just bury the castle of wrecked relationships, they put to rest any notions that they aren't kings of their dystopian rock kingdom."[14] He highlighted I Hope You Suffer, "17 Crimes", and "Greater Than 84" as the best tracks from the album. Similarly, Jason Pettigrew also awarded the album 4 stars out of 5, saying, "Overseen by producer Gil Norton [...] AFI's latest is top-loaded with atmosphere-enhancing, widescreen production that's so grandiose, it should have Michael Bay's name all over it", and wrote that "With Burials, AFI are going larger than life to get back into the small of their fans' hearts."[18] However, Mike Powell conversely gave the album 2 stars out of 5 and gave a mixed review, saying, ""17 Crimes" and "Greater Than 84" survive with the band's flair for camp still intact. Others drown in pools of eyeliner. Flamboyant, serious, plagued by problems he never gets too specific about, Davey Havok invents a role part Morrissey, part Bret Michaels – hair-metal pinup for the Hot Topic era."[1]

Commercial performance

The album debuted at #9 on the Billboard 200 with first week sales of 25,000 copies in the United States. It is the band's third album to debut in the top 10 (Sing the Sorrow #5, Decemberunderground #1).[19]

Track listing

All lyrics written by Davey Havok, all music composed by Jade Puget.

No. Title Length
1. "The Sinking Night"   2:18
2. "I Hope You Suffer"   4:37
3. "A Deep Slow Panic"   4:01
4. "No Resurrection"   4:27
5. "17 Crimes"   2:57
6. "The Conductor"   3:41
7. "Heart Stops"   3:08
8. "Rewind"   4:12
9. "The Embrace"   3:25
10. "Wild"   3:11
11. "Greater Than 84"   4:17
12. "Anxious"   3:50
13. "The Face Beneath the Waves"   5:10
Total length:
 49:14

Personnel

AFI
Production
  • Gil Norton — producer
  • Dan Austin — engineer
  • Andrew Scheps — mixer
  • Justin Hergett — assistant mixer
  • Brendan Dekora - assistant engineer
  • Stephen Marcussen — mastering
Artwork
  • AFI — art direction, design
  • Morning Breath Inc. — art direction, design
  • Surround — images
  • Chris Anthony — band photography

Chart performance

Chart (2013) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[22] 10
UK Albums (OCC)[23] 59
US Billboard Alternative Albums[24] 3
US Billboard Hard Rock Albums[24] 2
US Billboard Rock Albums[24] 3
US Billboard 200[25] 9

References

  1. 1 2 3 http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/burials-20131022
  2. ↑ Clement, Kaitlyn (October 29, 2013). "AFI New Album ‘Burials’ Released". B-sides.tv.
  3. ↑ Bryne Yancey (October 22, 2013). "AFI - Burials". Punknews.org.
  4. ↑ "AFI to release Burials in October". punknews.org. 23 July 2013. Retrieved September 5, 2013.
  5. 1 2 Carlin, Shannon (July 23, 2013). "AFI Announces Release Date for "Resolutely Unforgiving" New Album, Burials". Radio.com.
  6. ↑ Whitt, Cassie (July 23, 2013). "AFI announce Burials release date, headlining tour with Touche Amore". Alternative Press.
  7. ↑ Reed, Ryan (July 23, 2013). "AFI's Davey Havok Talks Maximalist New Album". Rolling Stone.
  8. ↑ Lossing, Nee-Sa (August 8, 2013). "5 Directions AFI Could Go on Their New Album, Burials". Radio.com.
  9. ↑ "AFI: Burials". Has it Leaked.
  10. ↑ "Media: AFI: "17 Crimes"". Punknews.org. August 5, 2013.
  11. ↑ Bird, Michele (August 5, 2013). "AFI streams new single, "17 Crimes"". Alternative Press.
  12. ↑ "http://www.spin.com/articles/afi-a-deep-slow-panic-stream-interview/"
  13. 1 2 http://www.metacritic.com/music/burials/afi
  14. 1 2 Collar, Matt (2013). "Burials - AFI : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards : AllMusic". Allrovi. Retrieved October 19, 2013.
  15. ↑ Pettigrew, Jason (2013). "AFI – Burials". Alternative Press (Alternative Press Magazine, Inc.). November 2013 (304): 84. ISSN 1065-1667. Retrieved September 29, 2013.
  16. 1 2 Heller, Jason (October 22, 2013). "AFI: Burials". avclub.com.
  17. ↑ http://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/59386/AFI-Burials/
  18. ↑ http://www.altpress.com/magazine/issue/304_panic_at_the_disco
  19. ↑ http://rock947.com/news/articles/2013/oct/30/afis-burials-debuts-at-9-on-billboard-200/
  20. 1 2 "AFI Exclusive Bonus Tracks with New Release". Best Buy. Retrieved June 18, 2014.
  21. ↑ "Burials". Apple Inc. iTunes Store Japan. Retrieved June 18, 2014.
  22. ↑ "Australiancharts.com – AFI – Burials". Hung Medien.
  23. ↑ "AFI | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart
  24. 1 2 3 "Crash Love - AFI". Billboard. Retrieved 2009-10-10.
  25. ↑ "AFI – Chart history" Billboard 200 for AFI.
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