Sing the Sorrow was the first major-label release by the alternative rock band AFI, released in 2003. The album reached the #5 position on the Billboard charts, and was certified Gold on April 30, 2003 by the RIAA. The album went Platinum in December 2004. It was ranked number 77 on the October 2006 issue of Guitar World magazine's "List of the 100 Greatest Guitar Albums of All Time".Sing the Sorrow differs considerably from AFI's earlier material. The band's sound shifted towards alternative rock, characterized by more elaborate production, slower tempos, and pieces of Industrial music. The album also includes more experimental segments, such as the inclusion of a spoken-word poem accompanied by haunting piano music, and the ending of "This Time Imperfect" which features guitar parts played backwards and extensive sampling. These elements were previously absent from AFI's earlier indie label releases.