Black Sails in the Sunset laid the groundwork for the sound that American punk band A.F.I. has become known for. The album contains melodic vocals that move away from the aggressive punk sound of their first three albums. Critics at the time of the album's release described it as a fusion of horror punk, hardcore punk and post-hardcore.

Black Sails in the Sunset is the first album in A.F.I.'s discography to feature guitarist Jade Puget. Puget adds a cinematic scope and a tender sensitivity to the album's material that had not previously been present in A.F.I.'s discography.

This 25th-anniversary re-issue on neon orange vinyl includes three bonus tracks: “Weight of Words,” “Who Knew?” and “Lower It”, released via Craft recordings.

Tracklist:

Side A

1. Strength Through Wounding
2. Porphyria Cutanea Tarda
3. Exsanguination
4. Malleus Maleficarum
5. Narrative Of Soul Against Soul
6. Clove Smoke Catharsis
7. The Prayer Position
8. No Poetic Position

Side B

1. Weathered Tome
2. The Last Kiss
3. At A Glance
4. God Called In Sick Today
5. Midnight Sun
6. Lower It
7. Who Knew?
8. Weight Of Words