AFI’s ninth album, “Burials,” was released on Oct. 22. Many people may not recognize the band; AFI sang the big hit “Miss Murder” which appeared in multiple music games including “Guitar Hero,” and was a fan favorite in the series. Although the band has been together since 1991, they still sound fresh and are keeping up with the music trends of the modern day.

“This record is of silence, and the burials that result from that silence,” Davey Havok, lead singer of AFI, said.

“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,” he said.

Upon listening to the album, one can definitely relate to what Havok is saying. One song in particular, “Wild,” discusses the poor status of a relationship between a couple. It explores the betrayal and deceitfulness of one of the partners, saying “Now I’m singing ashamed, that all my words are the same, because I’m singing, betrayed.”

The majority of the songs on the album not only share a similar theme, but also a similar sound, all giving off a rock genre vibe. If one enjoys the opening song of the album, “The Sinking Night,” they would surely also fall in love with the second song, “I Hope You Suffer,” as they both have a similar tempo.

The theme of burials discusses silence, most often through the struggles of relationships, and the consequences of the silence. Knowing this, one should understand that the songs are not uplifting, as some of the intriguing lyrics include, “Just kill me and walk away” from the song “I Hope You Suffer.”

If someone is looking for an uplifting album for a bad day or to listen to in order to make them feel better, “Burials” is not the answer. However, if someone just got out of a rocky relationship and they’re not feeling so hot, they should definitely pick this album up. One can truly relate to this album if they’ve ever been cheated or lied to.

“Burials” contains 13 songs. Some songs, such as “The Sinking Night,” are slow. Near the end of the album, there are upbeat songs, such as “Anxious.” Other notable songs on the album include “Heart Stops,” “Rewind,” “The Embrace,” “The Conductor” and “The Face Beneath the Waves.” From only looking at the song titles one can familiarize themselves with the album theme of betrayal.

AFI’s “Burials” is an interesting new addition to any fan’s collection. Even listeners who aren’t familiar with AFI should give the album a shot, as it’s a fresh new alternative to the usual pop one would hear on the radio.