AFI [ tickets ] convincingly avoids the sophomore slump with the follow-up to its 2003 major-label debut, "Sing the Sorrow."

The band, which is fronted by energetic goth-rock poster-boy Davey Havok, sounds more assured than ever on this batch of 12 solid tunes. That's not surprising, given that the group has shown growth in that area during each step in its career. What is surprising is just how vastly accessible this music is--to a degree that one would never have predicted by listening to those early indie releases from the '90s.

There are times on this album when AFI sounds like they are shooting to attract the same group of mainstream listeners that digs Green Day. No place is that more apparent than with the album's bouncy first single, "Miss Murder," an addictive track that wouldn't sound out of place on "American Idiot."

That's not to say that the band has totally forgotten about its goth-punk fans. "Decemberunderground," which may well go down as having the worst album title of 2006, features its fill of chilly, wintry moments. Havok can still shout at the devil, delivering those Disturbed-like growls from the bowels of hell on "Kill Caustic," and rant with the best of the hardcore bunch on tracks like "Affliction."

In the end, "Decemberunderground" is a work that should appeal to old fans and help entice new ones into the fold.