For more than three decades, AFI has been in a nearly constant state of reinvention. The band have made it a point to evolve with every album, sometimes dramatically so never allowing themselves to become too comfortable in one genre or rest on any of their impressive career laurels. It's an approach that has grown their audience but also challenged it with a sonic identity that can shift in wild, unexpected directions. Now with their twelfth album, "Silver Bleeds The Sun" ,AFI are once again at the start of a bold new chapter, only this time they've even managed to surprise themselves.

AFI are a band who love been experimental and evolving "Silver Bleeds The Sun" is no exception.The opening track "The Bird Of Prey" has an acoustic guitar chords in unison with some beating drums in unison which are joined by some swirling synth chords along with a  haunting & sophisticated crooning style vocal.A lot of tracks on this album have a cool deep rhythmic bass line,"Behind The Clock" is very bass orientated with the guitars,drums playing second fiddle which is refreshing to hear.With a definite 80's post punk/new wave  feel "Holy Vision" flows along in that style with a catchy flowing melody and punchy chorus."Blasphemy And Excess" has some bright synth work which feature prominently in the track,with some moody toned vocals,"Spear Of Truth" is another acoustic guitar led track which has drama thanks to the Davey Havok's vocal which I find very ott and draining on my ears on this particular number.The tempo steps up a gear for the more up tempo "Ash Speck In A Green Eye" and "Voidward,IBend Back" and "Marguerite" which have more bounce,are more up tempo,brighter guitar riffs & that nice deep bass groove,vocally more suited to the pace of the tracks, which make me think of bands such as Sisters OfMercy,The Cure and The Mission that Gothic 80's style of music."A World Unmade" is another synth/electric track with dub beats which on the whole is not a bad track but I much prefer the former.The album finisher "No One Underground" has a strange sounding lead in before surprisingly bursting into a catchy,post punk fast paced number to finish the album off.

"Silver Bleeds The Sun" has some great moments with the 80's style Gothic/New Wave style tracks, which have plenty of flare,punch such as "Ash Speck In A Green Eye" which have appeal and sound cool,However some of the tracks such as "Spear Of Truth" are a bit too dramatic,sound too dreary for my musical taste and preference.On the whole a good album to listen to,but not one i will reach for to listen to frequently.