Text by Stephanie Marcelly Souza
Eleven years after their last performance at Lollapalooza Brazil in 2014, the Californian band AFI returns to the country. This time as the opening act for the final show of System of a Down's , on May 14th, at the Interlagos racetrack in São Paulo.
This will be System Of A Down's first time in Brazil in almost a decade, and the band's third date in São Paulo this season. System Of A Down last visited the country in 2015, when they performed at Rock in Rio and played a show in São Paulo.
AFI, a band formed in 1991, effortlessly transitions between punk, hardcore, and melodic rock. Throughout their 10 albums, the band has established itself with a highly competent body of work. Here are 5 songs we'd love to hear on their highly anticipated return to the country after more than a decade.
“Totalimmortal” – EP All Hallows (1999) by AFI
“Totalimmortal” flirts with the best of horror punk. With fast rhythms and intensities worthy of AFI's early work, the song is captivating and was a major turning point in the band's career. And the woahs , so present in several of the group's songs, are the icing on the cake in this song that draws from the same source as the Misfits .
“End Transmission” – Album Crash Love (2009) by AFI
The guitar intro and drums set an upbeat tone, while the bass explodes in the background and the keyboard enters smoothly. Here, the lyrics showcase what is most classic in AFI: interesting, engaging, intentionally vague, and with a meaning that only the most attentive will be able to find.
“The Days of the Phoenix” – Album The Art of Drowning (2000)
No song captures the link between the new and the old AFI better than “The Days of The Phoenix.” It captures all the ephemerality of youth and the memories that shape us during that period of life. Catchy guitar riffs, a sensitive and catchy chorus, the song alternates between speed and aggression in a way that doesn't feel forced. It's fun, cheerful, and sensitive.
“Girl's not Grey” – AFI Sing the Sorrow
Essential to the group's history, "Girl's Not Grey" was a game-changer for AFI, catapulting the band into the mainstream and becoming their first major hit. Fast-paced verses, a heavier chorus, choral vocals, enigmatic lyrics: it's all there. Iconic and timeless.
“God Called in Sick Today” – Black Sails in the Sunset (1999)
This is the last track on the album Black Sails in the Sunset , released around the same time as the EP All Hallows , both of which address the same dark themes. Perhaps one of the band's most profound performances, the main theme (as Davey usually avoids when questioned about the meanings of his lyrics) is subjective. The coolest thing here is appreciating how much this song stands out from the rest of the album due to its melancholic melody, introspection, and lyrical rawness. A powerful and indispensable emotional journey.
SERVICE :
Date: May 14, 2025
Location: Interlagos Racetrack – Av. Senador Teotônio Vilela, 261 – Cidade Dutra – São Paulo.
Opening time: 2 PM
Tickets available at https://www.eventim.com.br/campaign/systemofadown
READ ALSO : System of a Down will have "drastic" changes to the setlists of each show.
