AFI has released eleven studio albums, ten EPs, one live album and one DVD. The band first reached substantial commercial success with their fifth album, The Art of Drowning (2000), which peaked at number 174 on the Billboard 200. They then broke into the mainstream with their sixth, Sing the Sorrow (2003), which peaked at number five on the Billboard 200 and remained on the chart for 51 weeks. The album was supported by popular singles "Girl's Not Grey" and "Silver and Cold", both of which peaked at number seven on America's Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart in 2003. "The Leaving Song Pt. II" was also released as a single, reaching number 16 on the chart. Sing the Sorrow was certified Platinum by the RIAA in 2006 and is AFI's best-selling release, having sold over 1.26 million copies as of September 2009.
AFI's seventh album, Decemberunderground (2006), debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and featured the hit single "Miss Murder", which topped the Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart and reached number 24 on the Billboard Hot 100. Another single, "Love Like Winter", reached number four on the Modern Rock Tracks chart. The album was certified Platinum by the RIAA in 2013.[6] Decemberunderground was followed three years later by Crash Love (2009), and then four years later by Burials (2013); both albums were also successful, peaking at number twelve and number nine, respectively, on the Billboard 200. The band's tenth and latest album, AFI (The Blood Album), was released in 2017, and peaked at number five on the Billboard 200, making it their second-highest chart position.
Malleus Maleficarum
AFI Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I won't deny what I've been since birth
I'll die drowned by your standards
Breathe in the life of the summers death
As the orange and red breathe their first breath
So welcome as they're burning through
We all begin to burn
Set alight for all we've learned
My ashes falling
My skin is singed but it heals my heart
And with glowing pride I'll wear my scars
Honored by your hatred
Leaves fall we arise again
And the end impending it will begin
So welcome as it's burning through
We all begin to burn
Autumn's flame dances in my eyes
Set alight for all we've learned
My ashes falling, can you feel me?
Go, woh oh oh, go, woh oh oh
Go, woh oh oh, go, woh oh oh oh oh
Ashes fall and I'm rising up again
Ashes fall and I'm rising up again
Ashes fall and I'm rising up again
Ashes fall, ashes fall, fall, fall
Ashes fall as we all arise
We all begin to burn
Autumn's flame dances in my eyes
Set alight for all we've learned
My ashes falling, can you feel me?
Go, woh oh oh, go, woh oh oh
Go, woh oh oh, go, woh oh oh oh oh
The lyrics of "Malleus Maleficarum" by AFI reveal a message of strength and resilience in the face of adversity. The song opens with the singer submerging and refusing to deny who they are, even in the face of societal standards. The imagery of autumn's flame dancing in one's eyes represents the idea of embracing change and learning from it, even if it causes pain. The theme of rising from the ashes after a metaphorical "death" is present throughout the song, as the singer wears their scars with pride and is honored by the hatred they face. The repetition of "ashes fall and I'm rising up again" highlights the message of perseverance and the inevitable cycle of life, death, and rebirth. Overall, the song is a powerful anthem encouraging listeners to embrace their inner strength and rise above challenges.
Line by Line Meaning
Open my eyes as I submerge
I see things more clearly as I dive deeper into myself.
And I won't deny what I've been since birth
I won't ever reject the person I was born to be.
I'll die drowned by your standards
I'll never measure up to your expectations and will be condemned for it.
Breathe in the life of the summers death
Embrace the life that death brings, even in the midst of summer.
As the orange and red breathe their first breath
Just as the autumn colors are born anew, so can we.
So welcome as they're burning through
We should welcome and embrace the changing season and all it represents.
We all begin to burn
We all have struggles that leave us feeling defeated.
Autumn's flame dances in my eyes
The beauty of fall inspires me to press forward despite the odds.
Set alight for all we've learned
Fueled by the knowledge we've gained, we can channel our inner strength to move forward.
My ashes falling
As I burn, I'm reduced to my most basic elements.
My skin is singed but it heals my heart
Though I bear the scars of past battles, they make me stronger in the end.
And with glowing pride I'll wear my scars
I will wear my scars with honor because they symbolize my resilience and strength.
Honored by your hatred
I draw power from my enemies' efforts to hold me down.
Leaves fall we arise again
Just as the leaves fall and the trees prepare for winter, we can rise again in the face of adversity.
And the end impending it will begin
Everything has a beginning and an end, and we should embrace both as natural parts of life.
So welcome as it's burning through
We should face the challenges ahead with open arms, even though they are difficult.
Ashes fall and I'm rising up again
Even when I am burned to ashes, I will rise again from the ashes with more strength than before.
Ashes fall, ashes fall, fall, fall
I accept and embrace my failures as a natural part of life.
Ashes fall as we all arise
As we overcome our hardships, we experience growth and personal evolution.
My ashes falling, can you feel me?
Even in my darkest moments, I am still connected to the world around me.
Go, woh oh oh, go, woh oh oh
Let's press onward despite the obstacles ahead.
Go, woh oh oh, go, woh oh oh oh oh
We have the power to overcome our challenges and move forward with our lives.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind