The Missing Man

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2021}}{{Infobox album

| name = The Missing Man

| type = EP

| artist = AFI

| cover = The Missing Man.jpg

| alt =

| released = December 7, 2018

| recorded = Summer 2018

| studio =

| genre = *Punk rock

new wave
emo

| length = 15:28

| label = Ex Noctem Nacimur

| producer =

| prev_title = AFI

| prev_year = 2017

| next_title = Bodies

| next_year = 2021

| misc = {{Singles

| name = The Missing Man

| type = EP

| single1 = Get Dark

| single1date = October 26, 2018

}}

The Missing Man is an extended play by American rock band AFI. The EP was released on December 7, 2018.{{cite web |last=Beinstock |first=Richard |title=AFI Share New Song, 'Get Dark,' Announce EP Release |url=https://www.guitarworld.com/news/afi-share-new-song-get-dark-announce-ep-release |website=Guitar World |accessdate=October 31, 2018 |date=October 26, 2018}} It is the first EP by AFI since 336 EP/Now the World Picture Disk, which was released in 2002.{{cite web |last=Casteel |first=Beth |title=Afi Drop Surprise New Song, 'Get Dark,' Announce EP |url=https://www.altpress.com/news/afi-new-song-get-dark-missing-man-ep-announced/ |website=Alternative Press |accessdate=October 31, 2018 |date=October 26, 2018}}

The EP was released through Ex Noctem Nacimur.{{cite web |last=Kaufman |first=Spencer |title=AFI release surprise new song "Get Dark" off upcoming EP, The Missing Man: Stream |url=https://consequenceofsound.net/2018/10/afi-new-song-get-dark-the-missing-man-stream/ |website=Consequence of Sound |accessdate=October 31, 2018 |date=October 26, 2018}} On October 26, 2018, the single "Get Dark" was released as well as information about the EP.{{cite web |last=Sievers |first=Alex |title=Getting Darker, Getting Worse: AFI Release First Taste Of New EP, 'Get Dark' |url=https://killyourstereo.com/news/1104570/getting-darker-getting-worse-afi-release-first-taste-of-new-ep-get-dark/ |website=Kill Your Stereo |accessdate=October 30, 2018 |date=October 29, 2018}}{{cite web |last=Maine |first=Samantha |title=AFI release brooding new track 'Get Dark', announce new EP 'The Missing Man' |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/afi-new-song-get-dark-new-ep-2394001 |website=NME |accessdate=October 30, 2018 |date=October 26, 2018}}

Background and release

On October 25, 2018, all photos of AFI frontman Davey Havok were removed from the band's Instagram page and a new press photo was released with Havok missing; only a silhouette was present, sparking rumors he had left AFI.{{Cite news|date=2018-10-24|title=What's going on with AFI?|language=en-US|work=Wall of Sound|url=https://wallofsoundau.com/2018/10/25/whats-going-on-with-afi/|access-date=2018-10-26}} This rumor turned out to be false. The next day, the band surprise-released a new single called "Get Dark" on Spotify and iTunes. The Missing Man was released on December 7, 2018.{{Cite news|date=2018-10-26|title=AFI secretly dropped a new song overnight called 'Get Dark' from a forthcoming EP called The Missing Man|language=en-US|work=Wall of Sound|url=https://wallofsoundau.com/2018/10/26/afi-secretly-dropped-a-new-song-overnight-called-get-dark-from-a-forthcoming-ep-called-the-missing-man/|access-date=2018-10-26}}

Critical reception

{{album ratings

|rev1=AllMusic

|rev1score={{rating|4|5}}[https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-missing-man-mw0003222339 missing man]

|rev2=Exclaim!

|rev2score=6/10[http://exclaim.ca/music/article/afi-the_missing_man exclaim]

}}

Wall of Sound rated The Missing Man 7.5/10, stating: "Taking away everything we know about the band in the past, this new release showcases a very talented band, capable of playing a whole range of different styles they have yet been able to hone in [sic] on." The review also mentions that the EP features a range of different musical styles the band had not yet explored.{{Cite news|url=https://wallofsoundau.com/2018/12/04/afi-the-missing-man-ep-review/|title=AFI – The Missing Man (EP Review)|date=December 4, 2018|work=Wall of Sound|accessdate=December 4, 2018}} In a positive review, AllMusic said the album "serves as a sonic "greatest hits," tapping into the various styles that the band favored during the 2010s." Exclaim!, in a mixed review, criticized the album as "Hot Topic dad rock".