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)
Misery
The Amity Affliction Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where I don't wanna die
Sorrow wrapped around my heart
Like an unwanted vine
I've seen the future
Breaks the burden of my past
Painted black and all forgotten
You lit the fire in my heart
Sorrow floats where my dreams won't
If sorrow floats where my dreams won't
Misery loves company
Loves company, loves company
That don't mean nothing to me
Nothing to me, nothing to me
I've seen the future and I wanted to live
Gotta think about life each time I'm crossing a bridge
If hope floats and sorrow too
I guess I'll just hold on to you
The only one who really knows what I've been through
Sorrow floats where my dreams won't (whoa)
If sorrow floats where my dreams won't
Misery loves company
Loves company, loves company
That don't mean nothing to me
Nothing to me, nothing to me
Misery loves company
Loves company, loves company
That don't mean nothing to me
Nothing to me, nothing to me
I just want to die!
I just want to die!
DIE!
Black out the sun when I'm feeling low!
Pull back the hammer when it's time to go
Misery loves company
Loves company, loves company
That don't mean nothing to me
Nothing to me, nothing to me
Misery loves company
Loves company, loves company
That don't mean nothing to me
Nothing to me, nothing to me
Loves company, loves company
Nothing to me, nothing to me
Loves company, loves company
Nothing to me, nothing to me
The Amity Affliction's song Misery expresses the feeling of hopelessness and despair that one feels when going through tough times. The lyrics "I've seen the future, where I don't want to die, sorrow wrapped around my heart like an unwanted vine" indicate the singer's hopelessness and the feeling of being stuck in a loop. However, the lyrics shift towards positivity after the song progresses as the singer finds hope and solace in another person. The line "If hope floats and sorrow too, I guess I'll just hold onto you" indicates that the singer finds comfort in the person who understands and knows what they have been through.
The line "Misery loves company, loves company, loves company, that don't mean nothing to me" indicates that the singer recognizes the tendency of feeling comforted in misery, but they don't want to be a part of it. The chant "I just want to die, black out the sun when I'm feeling low, pull back the hammer when it's time to go" reveals the true emotions of the singer which is an utter feeling of despair and helplessness.
Overall, Misery is a powerful track that exhibits the internal battle of emotions one goes through when they feel like they have hit rock bottom, but they find a shred of hope in someone else.
Line by Line Meaning
I've seen the future
Having a vision of what will happen in the times to come
Where I don't wanna die
Being afraid of mortality
Sorrow wrapped around my heart
Pain and sadness filling one's being
Like an unwanted vine
Experiencing grief that clings to one like a parasite
Breaks the burden of my past
Freeing oneself from the weight of past regrets and mistakes
Painted black and all forgotten
Putting the past behind and embracing the present
You lit the fire in my heart
Feeling emotional warmth and passion through the presence of someone special
Sorrow floats where my dreams won't
Feeling grief despite one's dreams of a better life
If sorrow floats where my dreams won't
Being aware of the presence of sorrow that overshadows one's dreams
Misery loves company
Finding solace in the shared experience of pain
That don't mean nothing to me
Not feeling comforted by the notion that others share the same grief
I've seen the future and I wanted to live
Feeling hopeful for the future and being motivated to survive
Gotta think about life each time I'm crossing a bridge
Being aware of the fragility of life and the necessity to act cautiously
If hope floats and sorrow too
Considering the possibility that hope and grief can coexist
I guess I'll just hold on to you
Finding safety and comfort in the presence of someone loyal
The only one who really knows what I've been through
Feeling understood and supported by someone who has experienced the same struggles
I just want to die!
Experiencing unbearable pain and hopelessness
Black out the sun when I'm feeling low!
Experiencing depression that overshadows everything else
Pull back the hammer when it's time to go
Being prepared to face death and make difficult choices
Loves company, loves company
Finding comfort in shared experiences
Nothing to me, nothing to me
Not feeling consoled by the presence of others
Lyrics © WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Ahren Charles Stringer, Daniel Kenneth Brown, Joel Fletcher C Birch, Matthew Squire
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Psycrotes HighPriest
"Sorrow floats where my dreams won't" has to be my favorite line on the whole album.
BoatManDemonic
Psycrotes HighPriest agreed mine as well
Sventhehuman
I saw the future and I wanted to live, gotta think of that life every time I'm crossing a bridge has kept me going tbh
Jamie Anderson
Sorrow wrapped around my heart like an unwanted vine is my hit
morgan
The “I just wanna die” part makes me lose my shit. Absolutely heartbreaking. This band never fails to amaze me
William
Is it the same sound from parkway drive's song "ice"? Sounds familiar, might be from a movie though
sweet little lebbian
i've been wondering too. I've read in interview that the sound they originally wanted to use was from Anime, so they had to record "i just wanna die" on their own because they couldn't use it.
Seems like they wanted to use the same sound effect as Parkway Drive did but in PD it's"I don't wanna die" and in Misery it's "I just wanna die" lol
T P
@sweet little lebbian yeah probably, I know In Hearts Wake wanted to use a sample from a game that said "Killionaire" but they weren't allowed due to copyright reasons so they had to get someone in top recreate it. Apparently they nailed it because it sounds just like the original haha
Nymeria Fox
Fucking love it.
crazytoledo
@sweet little lebbian It's not "I Just wanna die" but actually "I don't want to die"
It's from The End of Evangelion.