AFI narrows focus to create definitive album

'Silver Bleeds the Black Sun' is 'the record that properly represents us.'

- JOSH CHESLER

AFI'S members are, clockwise from left, Jade Puget, Adam Carson, Hunter Burgan and Davey Havok.

MATT SEIDEL For The Times

“What if I died right here in front of you?” Davey Havok says, his eyes beaming with childlike joy. “Wouldn't that be good? That would make for a better piece. Let me see what I can do. I'll try.”

At a small table in the middle of Hollywood's Sightglass Coffee, the conversation about the AFI vocalist's possible sudden death has drawn the eyes of coffee drinkers in the surrounding area. And despite the 49-year-old songwriter's insistence that his demise would improve the quality of this article, the catalyst for the discussion was something he very much wanted to be alive for: the then-upcoming Oct. 3 release of AFI's 12th full-length album, “Silver Bleeds the Black Sun,” from Run for Cover Records.

A whopping 35 years into AFI's career (along with side projects like the electronic Blaqk Audio and poppy Dreamcar), Havok has finally put together a record that he would be happy to leave behind as the final piece of his legacy - hence the mortality discussion. But his love for “Silver Bleeds the Black Sun” also gives Havok (born David Passaro) a slight cause for concern.

The last time he remembers feeling this strongly about an album was 2009's “Crash Love,” which was released fresh off of the success of two now-platinum albums (2003's mainstream breakthrough “Sing the Sorrow” and 2006's chart-topping “Decemberunderground”).