80’s hair-metal band Cinderella once sang, “Don’t Know What You Got ‘Till It’s Gone”. With The Amity Affliction’s latest offering “Everyone Loves You…Once You Leave Them”, truer words haven’t been spoken. The Aussie four-piece metal band explores this concept throughout this album that was released on February 21st via Pure Noise Records.
The concept begins with the song “Coffin”, which feels dark, looming and ominous all in the same token. Yet it provides that anticipatory setting for what’s to come with this album. Then, The Amity Affliction hits you like a bullet in between the eyes with the track “All My Friends Are Dead”.
With “All My Friends Are Dead”, you sense the hostility and anger in Joel Birch’s voice along with the clean vocals that Ahren Stringer possesses in his vocals. It’s difficult to paint the picture of this song because there’s so many layers to unpack in this song. In my interpretation, it talks about how his “friends” are those that have passed on in the music industry and left an impression on him and the band, on the other hand, I take the interpretation that it talks about how now that he’s achieved success, he feels absolutely alone despite the fame and “fortune” that has came his way.
Longtime The Amity Affliction fans will sense that they’ve returned to their heavy roots with the tracks “Soak Me In Bleach” and “All I Do Is Sink”. You feel the darkness that has set in with these songs and you sense the pain and anguish that is poured out in the lyrics. This is one of the elements that makes The Amity Affliction stand out from the rest of the pack. “Catatonia” takes you to the climax of the album before sending the listener to a crashing halt.
You see elements of maturation especially in the track “Fever Dream”. The catchiness is there, but you see The Amity Affliction spill their heart to the listener through the lyrics, chorus, and the arrangements of the track. Lead guitarist Dan Brown pours out a heartfelt guitar solo during this song.
This record is one of those records that just wipes you out because it takes you on an emotional ride, while feeling this sense of liberation that you’re not alone in your thoughts. Let the music of The Amity Affliction help you get through whatever you’re going through in this 9 out of 10 star offering. Here is the track listing below:
- Coffin
- All My Friends Are Dead
- Soak Me In Bleach
- All I Do Is Sink
- Baltimore Rain
- Aloneliness
- Forever
- Just Like Me
- Born To Lose
- Fever Dream
- Catatonia
The Amity Affliction are still on their European run with Beartooth. Check out the gig dates below:
Wed. 3/4- Grosse Freiheit 36 in Hamburg, Germany
Thu. 3/5- Huxleys Neue Welt in Berlin, Germany
Fri. 3/6- Taubchenthal in Leipzig, Germany
The Amity Affliction will be on their spring run with Sleeping With Sirens, Stray From The Path and Unity TX. Check out the gig dates below:
Wed. 4/15- Whitney Peak Hotel in Reno, Nevada
Fri. 4/17- Knitting Factory Concert House in Spokane, Washington
Sat. 4/18- Roseland Theater in Portland, Oregon
Sun. 4/19- The Showbox in Seattle, Washington
Mon. 4/20- Vogue Theatre in Vancouver, Canada
Wed. 4/22- Ace of Spades in Sacramento, California
Fri. 4/24- House of Blues in San Diego, California
Sat. 4/25- The Belasco Theater in Los Angeles, California
Sun. 4/26- Nile Theater in Mesa, Arizona
Tue. 4/28- Jake’s Sports Bar in Lubbock, Texas
Wed. 4/29- Aztec Theatre in San Antonio, Texas
Thu. 4/30- Diamond Ballroom in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Fri. 5/1- Pop’s in Sauget, Illinois
Sun. 5/3- Epicenter Festival in Concord, North Carolina
Tue. 5/5- House of Blues in New Orleans, Louisiana
Wed. 5/6- The Mill & Mine in Knoxville, Tennessee
Fri. 5/8- Vinyl Music Hall in Pensacola, Florida
Sat. 5/9- The Orpheum in Tampa, Florida
Sun. 5/10- The Masquerade in Atlanta, Georgia
Tue. 5/12- Rams Head Live in Baltimore, Maryland
Wed. 5/13- The NorVa in Norfolk, Virginia
Thu. 5/14- Sherman Theater in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
Sat. 5/16- The Paramount in Huntington, New York
Mon. 5/18- State Theatre in Portland, Maine
Tue. 5/19- Theatre of the Living Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Wed. 5/20- Stage AE in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Thu. 5/21- Egyptian Room at Old National Centre in Indianapolis, Indiana
Fri. 5/22- Apollo Theatre A.C. in Belvidere, Illinois
Sat. 5/23- The Rave/Eagles Club Ballroom in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Sat. 5/30- The Big Pineapple in Woombye, Australia
For tickets and further information, click here.
Fans can find The Amity Affliction at the following locations:
www.facebook.com/theamityafflictionofficial
