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AFI “Missing Man” EP

Working with AFI on the Missing Man EP was an exhilarating milestone in my career as their recording engineer. This was my first time working with the band and meeting Adam, Hunter and Jade. They already had a studio in mind, and I had no way to steer the session to my live tracking studio Dave’s Room, my responsibility was to create and capture amazing sounding drums, and bass tracks. Adam and Hunter were not just exceptional musicians; they were fantastic to work with, instantly establishing a camaraderie that made the entire process feel like friends all helping to lift the project together.

Stepping into the studio, I was met with a different Neve console – the 8068, unlike the 8028 I was accustomed to at Sound City. Some channels weren’t cooperating, prompting quick thinking to ensure the production stayed seamless. Adapting on the go is part and parcel of the game. (Industry jargon alert “the work around”) My Pro Acs on the meter bridge to help gain quick familiarity to the control room. (I bring my monitors and amp everywhere, a trick Dave Bianco taught me to keeping recordings consistent)

We were fortunate to have an entire week dedicated solely to drums and bass. Adam brought in Mike Fasano, an outstanding drum tech (and Person, I have known Fasano since my days at Sound City) armed with an impressive array of snares and kicks. It felt like a playground of drum sounds, allowing us to select the perfect tones for each track, enriching our recordings with added depth.

After locking in the drum tracks, it was Hunter’s turn to shine with his Ampeg SVT, a Marshall amp, and a collection of fuzz and distortion pedals. His bass lines seamlessly intertwined with Adam’s beats, resulting in us nailing those bass tracks in record time.

During the release of the Missing Man EP, there was a buzz when all photos of AFI frontman Davey Havok vanished from the band’s Instagram, and a new press photo emerged without him – only a silhouette was present, sparking rumors about his departure. Thankfully, that rumor turned out to be false.

Then, on October 16, 2018, the band dropped a bombshell – a surprise release of a new single called “Get Dark.” Following that, on November 30, 2018, they unleashed another single, “Trashbats,” heightening the anticipation and excitement surrounding the EP.

This collaboration was more than just capturing sounds; it was an immersive journey fueled by creativity and musical synergy. Working on the Missing Man EP with AFI wasn’t just a task; it was a shared passion to craft an experience that echoed the band’s essence and the soul of the music. 

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AFI “Bodies”The band’s highly anticipated 11th studio album Released June 11, 2021

Finally! After months of teasing us with just a couple of tracks at a time, AFI has released Bodies, their newest effort since the Missing Man EP. 

This super talented quartet has created a high energy, diverse collection of songs. Together with Adam, Jade and Hunter I worked to get some awesome drums recorded for this album at my studio, Dave’s Room.

The band returned to the studio In May 2021 and tracked live for a special Daniel P. Carter BBC Radio 1 Session.

As Elana Chris says for Alternative Press:

“Make no mistake: Bodies brings with it serious divergences from the AFI we last heard in 2018. But divergence is precisely where they thrive. The record, though far-reaching, is hardly a haphazard attempt to reclaim the spirit of the ’80s. Rather, it’s a carefully curated exhibition of the band’s diverse inclinations. Now 11 albums into their tenure, they refuse to stagnate. Where their creative process leads, they follow with utmost enthusiasm and commitment, favoring self-loyalty over arbitrary confines of genre. The new era is beckoning—will you hear it?”

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AFI Releases “Looking Tragic” and “Begging For Trouble” From Upcoming Album, “Bodies”

I tracked all the drums for AFI’s new album “Bodies” at Dave’s Room. I’m really looking forward to hearing the entire record when it comes out this June (2021).

Check out the video and track list below.

Here is what Josh Chesler from SPIN Magazine says:

Last month, AFI announced that they’d be releasing their 11th studio album later this year and dropped a pair of new tracks, “Twisted Tongues” and “Escape From Los Angeles.” Davey Havok then confirmed that the album would be called Bodies on a podcast earlier this month, and the band has finally set a release date for it of June 11 (via Rise Records).

In addition, AFI just released two more tracks, “Looking Tragic” and “Begging For Trouble,” as well as a new video for the former. Both tracks will also be included on a limited edition seven-inch ahead of the album release.


“Twisted Tongues”
“Far Too Near”
“Dulceria”
“On Your Back”
“Escape From Los Angeles”
“Begging For Trouble”
“Back From The Flesh”
“Looking Tragic”
“Death Of The Party”
“No Eyes”
“Tied To A Tree”

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AFI Return with New Songs “Twisted Tongues” and “Escape From Los Angeles”

I had an amazing time working with Adam Carson on drum tracks for the new AFI album. We recorded all drums at my studio, Dave’s Room, for these upcoming 2021 releases. We challenged ourselves during these sessions, capturing excellent performances and coming up with unique drum sounds and textures for these songs.

Hears the songs below.

As SPENCER KAUFMAN  of Consequence of Sounds says:

The two new songs mark the veteran California rock act’s first new music since they dropped the five song EP The Missing Man in December 2018. When a new LP arrives, it will be the band’s first since 2017’s AFI (The Blood Album).

“Twisted Tongues” explores AFI’s goth-rock side, while “Escape From Los Angeles” gives off more of a punk vibe — both highlighted by singer Davey Havok’s signature haunting vocals.

“Escape from Los Angeles”, Havok remarked, “Los Angeles, like most of my loves, is imbued with a darkness and radiance. Musically, ‘Escape from Los Angeles’ called for my own vantage to this classic theme of the city’s dichotomous allure.”


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AFI Release “Get Dark”

I had a blast tracking this EP with Adam and Hunter at Kingsize Sound Lab,   in early July this year. This was my first time working with AFI, and I was impressed with the dedication, focus and creativity these guys had, so get ready for the The Missing Man EP this Dec 7th. Take a listen to this new track! I look forward to hearing the rest of these super fun tunes. 

As  STEPHY HAYWARD from zrockr.com says

“Get Dark” is a great example of the band’s evolution from punk to gothy rock to whatever you call it now. Sure, there’s some synth in there, but there has always been nods to the new wave bands of the 80’s that influence AFI so much, and you can still hear Puget’s guitars loud and clear. As always, his guitar works is phenomenal on this song. Hunter Burgan’s bass cuts through like a knife, and Adam Carson’s drums are fill after fill before hitting hard as always. Lyrically, it’s simple, but Havok’s one of a kind voice still takes us on a journey into the new.