CD Reviews

Blaqk audio

Cexcells | Interscope

By MIKAEL WOOD | September 5, 2007

1.5 Stars

Blaqk Audio is Davey Havok and Jade Puget of AFI doing an ’80s-inspired synths-and-beats version of the emo-inflected goth-rock with which AFI have ascended to the top rank of Warped Tour acts. Havok’s Hot Topic howls sound great set against AFI’s live-band grind; the group’s high-drama approach to punk has done much to influence such younger, theatrically inclined groups as My Chemical Romance and Panic! at the Disco. Here, though, Havok’s vocals don’t seem nearly as distinctive: atop Puget’s lightweight grooves (few of which muster adequate levels of melody or texture), he could be some schmo on YouTube broadcasting his love of New Order and Depeche Mode from his bedroom. Worthy objects of admiration, to be sure, but ones better honored by AFI’s inventive rock than by Blaqk Audio’s so-so retreads. Indeed, last year’s AFI album, Decemberunderground, featured plenty of synths and beats, so it’s not entirely clear why the tracks on CexCells couldn’t have been turned into AFI songs.

Blaqk Audio | Roxy, 279 Tremont St, Boston | September 10 | 617.931.2000

Related: AFI, Vampire weeknight, Goth vs. skronk, More

Topics: CD Reviews , My Chemical Romance, Davey Havok, Jade Puget, More

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