The origins and history of AFI are as humble as they are passionate, beginning with the meaning and philosophy behind the acronym now known to an ever-growing legion of fans the world over: A Fire Inside. Over 10 years on and counting, the same inner flame that fueled four teenagers making a primal noise in a Ukiah, Calif., garage has propelled AFI to unforeseen musical and professional levels.

Although AFI first surfaced in 1992, on Dork, a split 7” with fellow Ukiah High School students Loose Change (featuring future AFI guitarist Jade), it wouldn’t be until the band’s third full-length, 1997’s Shut Your Mouth And Open Your Eyes, that bassist Hunter (ex-The Force) would enlist.  And it would be later still that the present AFI lineup would coalesce, with the addition of Jade (by then ex-Redemption 87) on the defining and now-classic fourth album, Black Sails In The Sunset, and the subsequent All Hallow’s EP.  The latter would give AFI its first taste of exposure beyond its long-cultivated cult following when the Offspring’s cover of the EP’s “Totalimmortal” appeared on the Me, Myself & Irene soundtrack and, in turn, on Modern Rock playlists nationwide. 

A year later, “Days Of The Phoenix,” from The Art Of Drowning, would do the same, albeit with the band playing its own composition this time. To witness the AFI live experience is to understand both that unique internal chemistry and the undeniable bond between band and audience that has been honed and strengthened through nearly seven years of non-stop worldwide touring. 

Drummer Adam Carson, who co-founded the band with Havok in the early ‘90s.  “We basically created our fan base by touring non-stop. I’ve been touring since I was 19 years old. We were always of the mind that if two people showed up the first time we played somewhere, we’d go back until there were 10, then 30, then hundreds or thousands.  We would keep coming back until they were forced to take notice.”

As regaled as their live show has been, however, the members of AFI make it clear that there was no attempt to replicate it on Sing The Sorrow. Instead, the band prioritizes making the best and most adventurous record possible time and again, this time with the more-than-able assistance of the aforementioned Finn and Vig (both of whom Jade recalls as “so cool and affable from the very beginning,” explaining, “There was never any kind of ‘star producer’ vibe”).

“I think the progression from The Art Of Drowning to the new record is similar to the leap between Shut Your Mouth and Black Sails,” says Havok.  “People familiar with our previous records are going to notice a marked growth."