Reviewed by Ian Phillips.
By AFI (A Fire Inside), Rise Records 2021.
AFI is an alternative-rock band from California who have been around since the early 1990’s and this single Caught didn’t make the cut for their most recent album, Bodies (2021).
Many critics have hailed Bodies as being one of the best albums that the band has released in recent years and I agree with them.
Alternative Press praised the album saying “AFI dish out sombre edge with outright elegance” and Spin praised them for “fusing some experimental new steps into the tried and true AFI formula.”
The album is good and so is Caught – the fact that it was left off the album had nothing to do with the quality of the track.
It didn’t make the cut because it was thought that the album had a better flow without the additional track.
AFI’s music has always been intense and laden with imagery, Bodies is no exception and film maker Kes Glozier used it as the inspiration for his latest short film, Where We Used To Meet, creating storylines inspired by the song lyrics.
AFI collaborated in the process and used it as an opportunity to give Caught an airing.
Vocalist Davey Havok said “We were really happy with Caught and planned for it to be on the Bodies album.
“When that didn’t work out, and we started collaborating with Kes for Where We Used To Meet, we thought it would be a great context to present the song in.”
This greatly pleased drummer Adam Carson, he commented “I really liked Caught and fought for it, even though I didn’t play on it at all, I felt that it was a really good song and would be important on the record.
“I was crushed when it didn’t make the cut so I’m happy now.”
Caught exhibits all the moodiness of a typical AFI single, it’s quietly understated but still has an emotional depth to it that is the hallmark of their work.
You get some indication of the quality of Bodies if a song as good as this one is left off the final product.
