It seemingly took The Amity Affliction years to get their music together, releasing a demo in 2003 and a self-titled EP in 2004, but from the moment they released their High Hopes EP in 2007, the touring rampage began. In no time, The Amity Affliction was a household name amongst the hardcore community of Australia. Their mixture of metallic riffage, rock swagger and sing/scream vocal attacks made its mark on all who got in their way.
But it’s not just their music that people have taken notice of – Amity (as they are affectionately known) have an attitude and aura about their music and actions that has helped propel them even faster to the forefront of the scene. Fans come to their shows expecting flat out fun and excitement – the members always committing to making the party after the show as intense as the performance itself. The sing-along chants don’t end when the band gets off stage, and fans don’t leave after they play. With members involved in putting on punk rock clubs, music magazines, graffiti magazines, graphic design companies and online blogs that are well known throughout the country, Amity and it’s members are well ingrained into the culture and ethic of Australian hardcore culture.
‘Severed Ties’ was recorded in July and August of 2008, a grueling cross-country marathon of a record, recorded in Adelaide, Melbourne and Brisbane to get the best results. With guest vocals from JJ Peters (Deez Nuts, I Killed the Prom Queen), Michael Crafter (I Killed the Prom Queen, Carpathian, Confession), Matthew Wright (The Getaway Plan) and Helmet (The Daylight Curse), and production with Adelaide’s Darren Thompson, the 11 track full length was released in October 2008.
Severed Ties debuted at #26 on the Australian Charts and solidified The Amity Affliction as one of the most popular "heavy" bands in Australia. Triple J's national radio show "Short Fast Loud" had Severed Ties as #2 on their best albums of 2008, and popular punk site "KillYourStereo.com" listed it as #1.
In mid 2010 the band released their sophmore record 'Youngbloods'. The album debuted at #6 on the ARIA charts and has since gained significant recognition with the album constantly being voted #1 for 2010 by the public and recognized magazines alike, beating out Parkway Drive's 'Deep Blue' on many occasions. The album saw Amity's popularity sky rocket as the band has since done a sold-out national tour, tour the UK,US and Europe as well as playing the Soundwave Festival. The band is set to go on their largest tour to date with the Destroy Music Tour during May.
In October, The Amity Affliction set out on a new Australian tour with support from Asking Alexandria and Skyway! the "Fuck the Reaper" tour sold out in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. starting 2012 off with a bang, The Amity Affliction toured the 2012 Big Day Out, with fellow label mates and good friends The Getaway Plan, before touring America alongside Asking Alexandria, Trivium and may others on the "Still Reckless Tour"
On 8 February 2012 it was announced that The Amity Affliction had been signed to Roadrunner Records for their next album and future. On 7 May 2012, the band headed over to Orlando, Florida to start recording their third album with producer Michael Baskette. On 7 June 2012 it was announced the band's 3rd album would be titled Chasing Ghosts and was set to be released on 7 September 2012 in Australia, 17 September for the UK, and 18 September for the US.
It was revealed in a news article and magazine cover posted on 13/14 August that guitarist Imran Siddiqi would no longer be a part of the band. Furthermore, Siddiqi then did not appear in the video clip for the single "Chasing Ghosts" released on 15 August. A fill in guitarist played their album tour and U.S tour in late 2012.
After the release of Chasing Ghosts, the band had an Australian nationwide tour in September–October promoting their new album with supporting acts The Ghost Inside, Architects and Buried In Verona. Amity appeared on Soundwave in 2013 in February–March and also Warped Tour Australia at the end of the year.
It was announced by Joel Birch on 24 March 2013 that Dan Brown was the new guitarist, although he did not appear on the "Open Letter" music video.
In 2013 The Amity Affliction was part of Warped Tour in the United States with Chad Hasty (Glass Cloud) on drums and percussion due to Ryan Burt severely damaging his cornea during a set in Portland, Oregon. Later in the tour vocalist Joel Birch was also hospitalized due to unspecified illness, forcing the band to cancel their set in Pittsburgh. The band's next show in Cleveland was played due to the help of Sam Carter (Architects), Jason Aalon Butler (Letlive.) and Chris Roetter (Like Moths To Flames) sharing the stage as replacement vocals for Joel. All shows after this were played with Joel back on vocals after his recovery.
Late in 2013 the band went on to play the "Brothers In Arms" tour across Europe and Australia with support acts Landscapes and In Hearts Wake for the European portion and Chelsea Grin, Stick To Your Guns and In Hearts Wake for the Australian segment. In late 2013, the band released a demo of the song "Cave In". The single was speculated to be featured on the upcoming album. However, this was proved false when the band announced the track list for their upcoming fourth studio album. The first single from the bands forthcoming album titled "Pittsburgh" was released on 14 April. The second single "Don't Lean On Me" was released on 15 May. The album itself, titled Let the Ocean Take Me, was released on 6 June in Australia, 9 June in the UK, and 10 June in the U.S. it debuted at No. 1 on the Australian ARIA albums chart, becoming the band's second consecutive No. 1.
On 11 October, lead guitarist Troy Brady announced that he had decided to leave the band, making Ahren Stringer the only original member left in the band.
On 18 May 2015, The Amity Affliction released a trailer for their upcoming documentary film titled Seems Like Forever on YouTube. The video description contains links to pre-order the film, released on 10 July 2015 as a stand-alone DVD or a deluxe two-disc edition CD version of Let the Ocean Take Me, including two unreleased tracks, "Skeletons" (featured in the trailer) and "Farewell".
On 18 May 2016, The Amity Affliction posted a video to their Facebook page announcing their fifth studio album, This Could Be Heartbreak. It was also announced that the album would be released on 12 August and the band also released the music video for the first single, "I Bring the Weather with Me". The song also features clean vocals from Joel Birch. . On 10 July the band released their second single for the album, the title track "This Could Be Heartbreak" along with a music video. On 9 August, the band released a lyric video for the song "All Fucked Up" on YouTube. The band was also featured on the Fearless compilation Punk Goes Pop Vol. 7, covering The Weeknd's hit song "Can't Feel My Face". A music video for the cover was released on 22 June 2017. The Amity Affliction officially announced that Ryan Burt departed from the band due to mental health concerns on February 5, 2018.
On 20 June 2018, The Amity Affliction released the first single, "Ivy (Doomsday)", from their upcoming sixth studio album, Misery. The band announced that the album will be released on 24 August through Roadrunner Records. The band released an official video along with the release of "Ivy (Doomsday)". The band released the song "Feels Like I'm Dying" as a second part to the "Ivy (Doomsday)" video. The official track listing was eventually revealed on the band's website. It is their 4th album in a row to hit #1 on the Aria Albums Chart.
Two years later the band returned with Everyone Loves You... Once You Leave Them, their first studio LP with new drummer Joe Longobardi.
Discography:
Early Demos (2004) (EP)
The Amity Affliction (2005) (EP)
High Hopes (2007) (EP)
Severed Ties (2008)
Youngbloods (2010)
Glory Days (2010) (Compilation Album)
Chasing Ghosts (2012)
Let The Ocean Take Me (2014)
This Could Be Heartbreak (2016)
Misery (2018)
Everyone Loves You... Once You Leave Them (2020)
Somewhere Beyond The Blue (2021) (EP)
Not Without My Ghosts (2023)
Members:
Joel Birch - Unclean Vocals (2004-present)
Ahren Stringer - Clean Vocals/Bass (2003-present)
Dan Brown - Rhythm, later lead guitar (2013-present)
Joe Longobardi - Drums (2018-present)
Troy Brady - Lead Guitar (2003-2009, 2011-2014)
Clint Owen Ellis - Lead Guitar (2009-2011)
Trad Nathan - Keyboards (2006-2011)
Ryan Burt - Drums (2008-2018)
Troels Thomasen - Drums (2005-2008)
Atlantic
The Amity Affliction Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I’m waiting in my own reflection
Hands shaking with anxiety
Heart beating out of time
Only I can hear my breath at night
This is not who I was hoping to become
This shell of a man, this dark exterior
This is not who I was hoping to become
This shell of a man (my hands are shaking with anxiety)
This dark exterior
Only I can hear my breath at night
This is not who I was hoping to become
This shell of a man, this dark exterior
Given to stormy moods and quiet, lonely tears
Steal this night from me
Take it and make it your own
These are not the nights I wish for
These nights are cold and unrelenting
These nights are depressing
These nights bring knives
So as they can carve themselves into my memory
Leave me here alone
Kill the breeze on your way out
And let me ferment in my own self-pity
Let me ferment, let me ferment in my own self-pity
These are not the nights I wish for
These nights are cold and unrelenting
These nights are depressing
These nights bring knives
These nights bring knives
Leave me here alone
Leave me here alone
Kill the breeze on your way out
And let me ferment in my own self-pity
The Amity Affliction's song "Atlantic" reflects upon the singer's sense of self and identity, describing a sense of unease and discomfort with who they have become. The lyrics "This is not who I am, I'm still hiding" and "This is not who I was hoping to become" represent a desire to break free from the negative traits and behaviors that have shaped the singer's life. The repetition of "this shell of a man, this dark exterior" reveals the feeling of being trapped in a state of gloom and sadness, struggling to escape the cycle of depression and anxiety.
The chorus, "These are not the nights I wish for, these nights bring knives" focuses on the inner turmoil and self-destructive thoughts that can arise during bouts of mental illness. The lyric "Let me ferment in my own self-pity" portrays a sense of hopelessness and despair, hinting at the toxicity of the singer's emotions. The theme of isolation is a recurring motif throughout the song, with the lines "leave me here alone, kill the breeze on your way out" emphasizing the singer's desire to be left alone and drowned in their own thoughts.
Overall, "Atlantic" is a haunting and powerful reflection on the challenges of battling mental illness and the struggle to maintain a sense of self-identity in its midst. It's a song that speaks to the heart and soul, with its raw, honest lyrics resonating with anyone who has ever dealt with mental health issues.
Line by Line Meaning
This is not who I am, I’m still hiding
I am not my true self, I am still keeping hidden
I’m waiting in my own reflection
I am lost in my own thoughts, reflecting on my life
Hands shaking with anxiety
I am feeling anxious and scared, my hands are shaking
Heart beating out of time
My heart is racing, beating irregularly
Only I can hear my breath at night
I am alone and can only hear my own breath in the silence of night
This shell of a man, this dark exterior
I am like an empty shell, with a dark and gloomy exterior
Given to stormy moods and quiet, lonely tears
I am prone to sudden mood swings and often cry alone in isolation
Steal this night from me
Take away this miserable night from me
Take it and make it your own
Make the most of this night, it's not worth it for me
These nights are cold and unrelenting
These nights are harsh and unyielding, never-ending
These nights are depressing
These nights are sad and disheartening
These nights bring knives
These nights make me feel sharp pain, like being stabbed by knives
So as they can carve themselves into my memory
These nights will leave a deep impact on my memory and my life
Leave me here alone
Let me be alone, don't disturb me
Kill the breeze on your way out
Don't let the breeze disturb me, let it be still
And let me ferment in my own self-pity
Let me be absorbed in my negative emotions, feeling sorry for myself
Contributed by Kaylee K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.