AFI - Burials Album Review: All 13 Tracks Analyzed

6. The Conductor €“ AFI re-visits the electronic / rock hybrid sound of "I Hope You Suffer" on "The Conductor." The band incorporates multiple keyboard sounds alongside the rock instruments, creating an atmosphere evocative of the slick black surface of polished ebony. The electronics focused verses are the highlight of the song, creating a contrast with the weak chorus section. Also, the chorus of "The Conductor" is one of a number of very similar sounding choruses on the album, a primary flaw of Burials. 7. Heart Stops €“ On this song, AFI lets in an unexpected glimmer of sunlight, brightening up the dark mood of the first six songs. "Heart Stops" is significant for the fact that it is a near complete departure from the minor key malevolence that has comprised the majority of the band's music up to this point. "Heart Stops" ends up acting as a welcome respite from the hard rock intensity that preceded it, but the song is also the album's most generic track. Despite expressing genuine emotion, the track appears to hold little replay value. 8. Rewind €“ For song eight, "Rewind," AFI taps into the extra reserve of energy hinted at on the first song of the album. On "Rewind," the band crafts a straightforward, driving rock song that is free of the complexly layered soundscapes found earlier in the album. This space allows every nuance of Havok's vocals to be perceived by the listener, in which he exudes both warbling vulnerability and stout determination, sometimes in the span of a single line. When the chorus section arrives, the band utilizes that extra level of energy, raging at maximum intensity with Havok belting his lines fervidly as the drums and guitar blast in support. Following the final chorus, the band caps off the satisfyingly explosive song by pushing the music to its highest pinnacle of urgency through the use of a rising guitar line and some gruff howls from Havok, the closest he gets to a full scream these days. 9. The Embrace €“ On song nine, AFI delivers the generic album track, "The Embrace," which features a grinding bassline and drum machine percussion. The song is aided by a second verse that thumps with a visceral, heart-beat rhythm, but the few positives present are not enough to elevate "The Embrace" above being a well placed opportunity for a snack break.