Even more expansive than predecessor and major label debut Sing the Sorrow, AFI’s seventh album finds them removing some of the epic nature of their previous album in lieu of songs that are even bigger. December Underground is an album made for the stadiums.

As such, when it’s at its best, it’s really very, very good – the likes of single “Miss Murder” give a good indication of what it to come from the rest of the album. But the thing is, songs such as “Summer Shudder” (sure to be even bigger as a single than the preceding track), “Love Like Winter” and the U2-like “The Missing Frame” are truly humongous stompers.

It’s surprising then that a screamo-by-numbers cut like “Kill Caustic” can make the grade on December Underground. However, with “Prelude 12/21” acting as the introduction to the album, “Kill Caustic” is the ballistic battle-cry before the album settles into itself, delivering twelve quite tight and polished goth-pop numbers.

Like English counterparts Placebo (now there’s a tour package made in goth-mope heaven…the tears would flow and the screams would be shrill), AFI appear to have found a balance between their most extremes on December Underground. It means that this album doesn’t reach the heights of Sing the Sorrow, but instead offers a solid consistency that is sure to please fans.