Editing AFI (band) (section)

===Darker sound and wider reach (1999–2001)===
[[File:AFI In Studio.JPG|thumb|upright=1.3|AFI in [[Hayward, California]], during the recording of ''[[Black Sails in the Sunset]]'']]

The band's next album, ''[[Black Sails in the Sunset]]'' (1999), was a musical turning point which featured a darker sound,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.afireinside.net/bio |title=AFI &#124; Official site |publisher=Afireinside.net |access-date=2011-10-09 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927225745/http://www.afireinside.net/bio/ |archive-date=2011-09-27 }}</ref> mixing the band's original hardcore roots with [[Dark romanticism|dark romantic]] influences{{Efn|A poem by [[Charles Baudelaire]], "De profundis clamavi," is present in the hidden track "Midnight Sun".}} and an emphasis on a more somber atmosphere and lyrics. ''The New York Times'' later referred to this as the point where Havok "developed into a singer and songwriter of substance".<ref name="strauss">Neil Strauss. "For a Hardcore Bunch, a Breakout". ''The New York Times''. March 16, 2003.</ref> During this period, AFI's style was considered [[punk rock]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090505225309/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/afi/albums/album/10483520/review/10500531/decemberunderground AFI: Decemberunderground : Album Reviews]. ''[[Rolling Stone]]''. Neil Strauss. Jun 6, 2006</ref> The influence of [[death rock]] and [[gothic rock]] was also apparent. Offspring frontman Dexter Holland was featured as a backing vocalist on two tracks.

The ''[[All Hallow's E.P.]]'' (1999) further explored the [[horror punk]] genre, featuring artwork and lyrics containing Halloween themes, including a cover of the [[Misfits (band)|Misfits]] song "[[Halloween (Misfits song)|Halloween]]". The song "The Boy Who Destroyed the World" was featured in the video game ''[[Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3]]'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=34614&tab=credits|title=Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 – Credits|website=Allgame.com|access-date=June 14, 2021|archive-date=November 15, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141115202619/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=34614&tab=credits|url-status=dead}}</ref> and the single "Totalimmortal" was later covered by The Offspring.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Offspring * Total Immortal Lyrics, from Me Myself & Irene|url=http://www.soundtracklyrics.net/song-lyrics/me-myself-%26-irene/total-immortal.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080928142118/http://www.soundtracklyrics.net/song-lyrics/me-myself-%26-irene/total-immortal.htm|archive-date=2008-09-28|access-date=2018-10-12}}</ref>

On September 19, 2000, AFI released ''[[The Art of Drowning (album)|The Art of Drowning]]'', which debuted on the Billboard Charts at number 174, and peaked at number 9 on the Heatseekers chart.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://billboard.com/bbcom/retrieve_chart_history.do?model.chartFormatGroupName%3DAlbums%26model.vnuArtistId%3D175174%26model.vnuAlbumId%3D775285 |title=Billboard.com – Artist Chart History – AFI |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=August 17, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070310203340/http://billboard.com/bbcom/retrieve_chart_history.do?model.chartFormatGroupName=Albums&model.vnuArtistId=175174&model.vnuAlbumId=775285 |archive-date=March 10, 2007 }}</ref> It continued to touch base with the horror punk genre, but expanded into styles that were a departure from previous works.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/8520/AFI-The-Art-of-Drowning/ |title=AFI – The Art of Drowning (album review) |website=Sputnikmusic |date=2006-08-02 |access-date=2011-07-04}}</ref> The album featured slower, more melodic songs that were more reminiscent of [[alternative rock]], such as "Ever and a Day" and "6 to 8". Hardcore influences were present, more overtly on some tracks. The album sold over 100,000 copies.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.punknews.org/review/1748 |title=AFI – Sing The Sorrow |date=March 14, 2003 |publisher=Punknews.org |access-date=2011-07-04}}</ref> "[[The Days of the Phoenix]]" was released as a single and video and had some moderate mainstream success, garnering the band more TV and radio airplay. The song reached the [[UK Singles Chart]] with [[The Days of the Phoenix EP|its titular EP]] in 2001, peaking at number 152.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ovguide.com/the-art-of-drowning-9202a8c04000641f8000000003190595 |title=The Art of Drowning Video |publisher=Ovguide.com |access-date=2011-07-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111119143604/http://www.ovguide.com/the-art-of-drowning-9202a8c04000641f8000000003190595 |archive-date=2011-11-19 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The success of ''The Art of Drowning'' helped to encourage the band to pursue higher mainstream notoriety.