Heavy Tune of the Week: AFI’s “Behind the Clock” Is Goth-Rock Bliss

Heavy Tune of the Week is a characteristic on Heavy ipromiseyoumedia breaking down the highest metallic, punk, and arduous rock tracks it’s good to hear each Friday. This week, No. 1 goes to AFI’s new single “Behind the Clock.”

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This ain’t the hardcore-punk of early AFI you might have grown up listening to anymore. Davey Havok and firm have embraced a contemplative gothic rock sound on “Behind the Clock,” the primary single from their upcoming album, Silver Bleeds the Black Solar…, set to reach on October third.

Lush manufacturing and swirling guitars create a mattress of atmospherics that remembers ’80s acts like The Cult, Psychedelic Furs, and Echo and the Bunnymen. In the meantime, Havok’s singing is pristine — he reaches a Bowie-esque grandeur that’s tucked completely within the combine, as he may simply overtake the devices together with his hovering efficiency. If the remainder of the band’s upcoming album is that this good, then AFI might need made considered one of their greatest data but.

Honorable Mentions:

The Armed – “Damaged Mirror (feat. Prostitute)”

That is probably the most brutal of the singles from The Armed’s extremely anticipated new album, and that’s saying one thing. The file guarantees to be one of many extra pressing and zeitgeist-y releases of 2025, and “Damaged Mirror” definitely displays the chaos and turmoil that appear inherent to those occasions. Detroit act Prostitute help right here with the wash of crushed out powerviolence electronics, with bent and twisted melodies peeking out because the observe careens ahead.

Belphegor – “Sanctus Diaboli Confidimus”

Blackened demise metallic titans Belphegor simply inked a brand new cope with Reigning Phoenix Music and rang within the event with this nearly-seven-minute epic, “Sanctus Diaboli Confidimus.” The whir of tremolo selecting runs all through a lot of the observe, however pay heed to the rhythmic dynamics of the drumming, as there’s fairly a bit occurring below the hood of this association, together with some sudden breakdowns and death-doomy sections close to the tip which might be completely crushing.

Ho99o9 – “Incline (feat. Nova Twins, Pink Siifu, and Yung Skrrt)”

Ho99o9 are teasing their forthcoming third album as a extra emotionally-tinged effort, eschewing among the overt nu-metal tropes and bombastic imagery of the earlier two LPs. But, new single “Incline” doesn’t sound too far off from the music they’ve been making this complete time — not a foul factor in any respect — with its vicious sonic combo of hip-hop, metallic, and industrial. In different phrases, emotional or not, it’s nonetheless aggro and uncompromising, which is what we consider once we consider Ho99o9. The verses from the featured acts are additionally apt, as the entire collective of artists share a propensity for experimentation.