Head to the AP Shop to pick up AFI’s 25th anniversary edition of Black Sails In The Sunset, limited to 500 copies.
According to Davey Havok himself, “Black Sails definitely set the tone of what AFI is.” And he’s not wrong. Originally a hardcore outfit, the group’s lineup and sound felt a few shifts from their 1991 formation to 1999, when the LP was released. Black Sails came out, and immediately was a signal that AFI was taking a turn — pushing boundaries of any preconceived genre and style, showcasing evocative lyricism, and making music far more melodic than before. That moment would come to be a cornerstone for AFI’s career — which would only lean further into the raw, affective vocals and charged, yet melancholic lyricism that Black Sails gave us our first taste of.
Back in ’99 upon release, Alternative Press gave the album 4.5/5 stars, heralding the new album as, “their first epic. . . . With longer, deeper, richer, more complex compositions than they’ve ever attempted before, Black Sails tackles everything from brooding hardcore . . . to shimmering balladry.” And today, AP stands by that review. Black Sails was a turning point for the band — they were gaining traction, garnering a wider audience — reflected by newfound commercial success, which would lead them to become the alternative figureheads they are today.
Read more: AFI reflect on creating their breakthrough hit “Girl’s Not Grey” 20 years later
In celebration of its 25th anniversary, Havok expressed, “Black Sails will always be very dear to me. It represents the most profound artistic turning point of the band. With this record came Hunter’s permanence and Jade’s arrival. It is the inchoate definition of what AFI would become and is today.” Nodding to the repress’ never-before-released bonus track, Havok continues, “‘Weight of Words’ is one of my favorites from the session. On this edition, it may be heard for the first time.”
Also on the anniversary pressing — alongside beloved songs like “Malleus Maleficarum” and “Porphyria” — are three bonus tracks, including the prized, “Who Knew?,” originally issued as a Japanese B-side — and the vinyl-exclusive, “Lower It.”
Order your limited-edition Revolver variant in “Oriole” now. All variants will be available July 19.
AFI also embark on an extensive North American tour with Thirty Seconds to Mars this summer.
