The Amity Affliction
Encyclopedia
The Amity Affliction is an Australian post-hardcore
band from Gympie
, Queensland formed in 2002.
The band's current line-up is Joel Birch (lead vocals), Ahren Stringer (bass, clean vocals), Ryan Burt (drums) and Troy Brady (guitar). They have released two studio albums, Severed Ties
released in 2008 and Youngbloods
in 2010, which debuted at number 6 on the ARIA Charts
, two EPs and a handful of demos.
In 2004, the Amity Affliction released a three track self-titled demo. At the time there were four members with former members Garth Buchanan on bass and Lachlan Faulkner on Drums.
In mid-2005, the Amity Affliction released their debut self-titled EP, featuring new vocalist Joel Birch. After the release of the EP they toured the East Coast on their 2005 East Coast Tour.
In 2007, there was a line up change whan Lachlan Faulkner quit and Garth Buchanan left to join Behind Crimson Eyes
. They then hired drummer, Troels Thomasson, Chris Burt on Guitar (originally on Bass), Ahren Stringer now on bass and the addition of a keyboardist, Trad Nathan. The Amity Affliction released a new five track EP entitled High Hopes
which was named for the house in which The Amityville Horror took place. The first pressing came in a CD/DVD package. The DVD featured the band discussing the recording of the EP, it also featured the band on the road and performing.
in 2008, entitled Severed Ties
. The album spent a week on the Australian Albums Chart
at number 26.
It is the first album to feature Chris Burts' brother Ryan Burt on drums. The album features guest vocals from Michael Crafter
of I Killed the Prom Queen
/Confession, Matthew Wright of The Getaway Plan
, JJ Peters of I Killed the Prom Queen/Deez Nuts
/Grips 'N' Tonic, Helmet Roberts and Lochlan Watt. A music video was released for the song Fruity Lexia. The Amity Affliction played numerous shows across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.
During May 2009, they supported The Getaway Plan
along with Perth band Elora Danan
, on the Getaway Plan's national Finale Tour.
The Amity Affliction undertook a headlining tour across Australia in 2009. They also played the 2009 Stairway to Hell Tour across Australia with support from UK band We Are the Ocean
and Melbourne band Hopeless, with a local support band for each city. The Amity Affliction then went to the UK for a full tour supporting We Are the Ocean alongside Flood of Red and All Forgotten.
took his place.
In April 2010 the band flew out to New York to record their second full-length record with producer Machine. On 10 May, the band uploaded a new song from this album, "I Hate Hartley" on their MySpace and the song was later available for free download.
On a pushed-forward date on 18 June as announced on their website (originally 25 June 2010) the band released their second studio album Youngbloods on Boomtown and Shock Records. It debuted at number 6 on the ARIA charts. The Amity Affliction went on tour in July to support the release of their second album. Joining them was Misery Signals
, fellow Australians Confession
and Scottish band Flood of Red. They toured Western Australia a few weeks later, joined by local band Break Even
.
In October the band announced they would be releasing Glory Days
, which would be a compilation of old demos and the first two EPs as well as two B-sides from Youngbloods
. Glory Days was released on 26 November. They currently have most of this album as their live set rotation on tour. They then announced a UK tour with Asking Alexandria
and one following with long-time friends Deez Nuts
, Endwell
and Louie Knuxx.
In the fall of 2010 The Amity Affliction had their first American interview with alternative scene magazine Substream Music Press for its 22nd issue, just after signing to The Artery Foundation. The band found out they would be performing at the next Soundwave festival during the actual interview for the article.
On 30 May 2011, the band released their second music video from Youngbloods; following the music video for "I Hate Hartley", the new music video for the song "Youngbloods" was released exclusively on Guvera.com.
A deluxe edition of Youngbloods is set to be released in late September containing several new tracks and a DVD. To support their deluxe edition of Youngbloods comes the Fuck the Reaper tour of Australia with Asking Alexandria
and Skyway in October.
During the 17 September show in Townsville, Queensland, Vocalist Joel Birch announced that they are planning to head over to America early 2012 to record their third album.
Then again on 22 September 2011 Ahren stated in an interview with Alt Music Hub that the band plan to begin recording their new album in March/April 2012.
The Amity Affliction is now signed to Roadrunner Records.
Extended plays
Compilations
Re-Releases
Post-hardcore
Post-hardcore is a genre of music that developed from hardcore punk, itself an offshoot of the broader punk rock movement. Like post-punk, post-hardcore is a term for a broad constellation of groups...
band from Gympie
Gympie
Gympie may refer to:* Gympie, a city in Queensland, Australia** Gympie Airport** Electoral district of Gympie** Gympie Region, its local government authority* Gympie Gympie , a stinging plant...
, Queensland formed in 2002.
The band's current line-up is Joel Birch (lead vocals), Ahren Stringer (bass, clean vocals), Ryan Burt (drums) and Troy Brady (guitar). They have released two studio albums, Severed Ties
Severed Ties
Severed Ties is the debut album by Brisbane band, The Amity Affliction. It was released on 4 October 2008 through Boomtown Records. Severed Ties debuted at #26 on the ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart, and #6 on the Australian Artists Albums Chart....
released in 2008 and Youngbloods
Youngbloods (album)
Youngbloods is the second album by Brisbane metalcore band, The Amity Affliction. It was released on June 18, 2010 through Boomtown Records. It debuted at number 6 on the ARIA Charts. Grammy-nominated producer Machine produced Youngbloods. The drums were tracked at Breakwater Music Studio in...
in 2010, which debuted at number 6 on the ARIA Charts
ARIA Charts
The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June...
, two EPs and a handful of demos.
Formation and early releases (2002–08)
The Amity Affliction formed in Gympie, a South-East Queensland town. The band was named for a close friend of the band, who died in a car accident at the age of 17. 'Amity' referred to the friendship and 'Affliction' was to indicate the struggle which dealing with the death caused the band members. The death of the friend was the catalyst for the formation of the band, and prior to being named The Amity Affliction they were named Left Lane Ends.In 2004, the Amity Affliction released a three track self-titled demo. At the time there were four members with former members Garth Buchanan on bass and Lachlan Faulkner on Drums.
In mid-2005, the Amity Affliction released their debut self-titled EP, featuring new vocalist Joel Birch. After the release of the EP they toured the East Coast on their 2005 East Coast Tour.
In 2007, there was a line up change whan Lachlan Faulkner quit and Garth Buchanan left to join Behind Crimson Eyes
Behind Crimson Eyes
Behind Crimson Eyes is a band based in Australia. The band formed in Melbourne, Australia, in 2004. Their line up currently consists of vocalist Josh Stuart, bassist Garth Buchanan, guitarist/back up vocalist Aaron Schultz and Dan Kerby as drummer....
. They then hired drummer, Troels Thomasson, Chris Burt on Guitar (originally on Bass), Ahren Stringer now on bass and the addition of a keyboardist, Trad Nathan. The Amity Affliction released a new five track EP entitled High Hopes
High Hopes (EP)
High Hopes is the second release by Australian group, The Amity Affliction. The first pressing came in a CD/DVD package with subsequent pressings lacking the DVD...
which was named for the house in which The Amityville Horror took place. The first pressing came in a CD/DVD package. The DVD featured the band discussing the recording of the EP, it also featured the band on the road and performing.
Severed Ties (2008–10)
The band released their debut studio albumStudio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
in 2008, entitled Severed Ties
Severed Ties
Severed Ties is the debut album by Brisbane band, The Amity Affliction. It was released on 4 October 2008 through Boomtown Records. Severed Ties debuted at #26 on the ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart, and #6 on the Australian Artists Albums Chart....
. The album spent a week on the Australian Albums Chart
ARIA Charts
The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June...
at number 26.
It is the first album to feature Chris Burts' brother Ryan Burt on drums. The album features guest vocals from Michael Crafter
Michael Crafter
Michael Crafter is an Australian musician and singer-songwriter. He is best known as the lead vocalist of Confession, and is also a former vocalist for Bands - I Killed the Prom Queen, Carpathian and Bury Your Dead. He also played Bass for Shotpointblank.-Biography:Crafter is a member in the...
of I Killed the Prom Queen
I Killed the Prom Queen
I Killed the Prom Queen is an Australian metalcore band which formed in 2000 with mainstays JJ Peters on drums and Jona Weinhofen on guitar. The band featured prominently on the Australian live music scene and toured the USA, Japan and parts of Europe several times...
/Confession, Matthew Wright of The Getaway Plan
The Getaway Plan
The Getaway Plan are an Australian alternative rock band from Melbourne, Victoria, formed in 2004. The band comprises vocalist and guitarist Matthew Wright, guitarist Clint Splattering, bassist Dave Anderson and drummer Aaron Barnett....
, JJ Peters of I Killed the Prom Queen/Deez Nuts
Deez Nuts
Deez Nuts is an Australian hardcore band that formed in Melbourne, Australia in 2007. Currently comprising vocalist J. J. Peters, Guitarist Matt Rogers, Drummer Ty Alexander and various live Bassists, the band has released one EP and Two Studio Albums....
/Grips 'N' Tonic, Helmet Roberts and Lochlan Watt. A music video was released for the song Fruity Lexia. The Amity Affliction played numerous shows across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.
During May 2009, they supported The Getaway Plan
The Getaway Plan
The Getaway Plan are an Australian alternative rock band from Melbourne, Victoria, formed in 2004. The band comprises vocalist and guitarist Matthew Wright, guitarist Clint Splattering, bassist Dave Anderson and drummer Aaron Barnett....
along with Perth band Elora Danan
Elora Danan (band)
Elora Danan were an Australian alternative rock band from Perth, Western Australia, formed in late 2006 from various other bands in the local scene who had ended including As A Weapon and Alleged....
, on the Getaway Plan's national Finale Tour.
The Amity Affliction undertook a headlining tour across Australia in 2009. They also played the 2009 Stairway to Hell Tour across Australia with support from UK band We Are the Ocean
We Are the Ocean
We Are the Ocean is a 5 piece post-hardcore band from Loughton, Essex, England.The band has played hundreds of shows since their formation, including several festivals during 2008 such as Slam Dunk, Offset Festival, Middlesbrough Music Live, and Taste of Chaos...
and Melbourne band Hopeless, with a local support band for each city. The Amity Affliction then went to the UK for a full tour supporting We Are the Ocean alongside Flood of Red and All Forgotten.
Youngbloods and Glory Days (2010–present)
In late 2009 The Amity Affliction parted ways with guitarist Christopher Burt. The decision was mutual and had been planned for some time. His last show was in London in December 2009. While all the members are still good friends with Chris, the decision was made in the best interest of the band musically. Afterwards, Clint Ellis from The Getaway PlanThe Getaway Plan
The Getaway Plan are an Australian alternative rock band from Melbourne, Victoria, formed in 2004. The band comprises vocalist and guitarist Matthew Wright, guitarist Clint Splattering, bassist Dave Anderson and drummer Aaron Barnett....
took his place.
In April 2010 the band flew out to New York to record their second full-length record with producer Machine. On 10 May, the band uploaded a new song from this album, "I Hate Hartley" on their MySpace and the song was later available for free download.
On a pushed-forward date on 18 June as announced on their website (originally 25 June 2010) the band released their second studio album Youngbloods on Boomtown and Shock Records. It debuted at number 6 on the ARIA charts. The Amity Affliction went on tour in July to support the release of their second album. Joining them was Misery Signals
Misery Signals
Misery Signals is an American metalcore band formed in Wisconsin in 2002. The sound of their music is defined by bright melodies backed up by odd time signatures, chugging riffs, and breakdowns.-Formation :...
, fellow Australians Confession
Confession (band)
Confession is an Australian hardcore/metalcore band, originating from Melbourne, Victoria. Formed in 2008, the band was formed by frontman Michael Crafter, who is best known as the former lead vocalist of metalcore bands I Killed the Prom Queen, Carpathian and Bury Your Dead. The band is known for...
and Scottish band Flood of Red. They toured Western Australia a few weeks later, joined by local band Break Even
Break Even
Break Even are an Australian hardcore band from Perth, Western Australia.-History:Forming in the suburbs of Perth in 2005, Break Even have released two successful releases and toured with the biggest names in local and international hardcore....
.
In October the band announced they would be releasing Glory Days
Glory Days (album)
Glory Days is a compilation album by Brisbane post-hardcore band, The Amity Affliction. The album was released through Boomtown Records on November 26, 2010. The album consists of the band's early demos, their self-titled EP, the High Hopes EP and two B-sides from Youngbloods.-Track Listing:...
, which would be a compilation of old demos and the first two EPs as well as two B-sides from Youngbloods
Youngbloods (album)
Youngbloods is the second album by Brisbane metalcore band, The Amity Affliction. It was released on June 18, 2010 through Boomtown Records. It debuted at number 6 on the ARIA Charts. Grammy-nominated producer Machine produced Youngbloods. The drums were tracked at Breakwater Music Studio in...
. Glory Days was released on 26 November. They currently have most of this album as their live set rotation on tour. They then announced a UK tour with Asking Alexandria
Asking Alexandria
Asking Alexandria are a British metalcore band from York, North Yorkshire. Founded in 2008 when Ben Bruce contacted his old companions upon returning to the UK after residing in Dubai...
and one following with long-time friends Deez Nuts
Deez Nuts
Deez Nuts is an Australian hardcore band that formed in Melbourne, Australia in 2007. Currently comprising vocalist J. J. Peters, Guitarist Matt Rogers, Drummer Ty Alexander and various live Bassists, the band has released one EP and Two Studio Albums....
, Endwell
Endwell (band)
Endwell is a Metalcore band from Queens, New York formed in 2003, They have released one independent EP, one Full-Length LP on Victory Records, an EP & Full-Length for Mediaskare Records whom the band are currently writing their 3rd Full-Length for....
and Louie Knuxx.
In the fall of 2010 The Amity Affliction had their first American interview with alternative scene magazine Substream Music Press for its 22nd issue, just after signing to The Artery Foundation. The band found out they would be performing at the next Soundwave festival during the actual interview for the article.
On 30 May 2011, the band released their second music video from Youngbloods; following the music video for "I Hate Hartley", the new music video for the song "Youngbloods" was released exclusively on Guvera.com.
A deluxe edition of Youngbloods is set to be released in late September containing several new tracks and a DVD. To support their deluxe edition of Youngbloods comes the Fuck the Reaper tour of Australia with Asking Alexandria
Asking Alexandria
Asking Alexandria are a British metalcore band from York, North Yorkshire. Founded in 2008 when Ben Bruce contacted his old companions upon returning to the UK after residing in Dubai...
and Skyway in October.
During the 17 September show in Townsville, Queensland, Vocalist Joel Birch announced that they are planning to head over to America early 2012 to record their third album.
Then again on 22 September 2011 Ahren stated in an interview with Alt Music Hub that the band plan to begin recording their new album in March/April 2012.
The Amity Affliction is now signed to Roadrunner Records.
Members
- Joel Birch – vocals
- Ahren Stringer – bass, clean vocals
- Troy Brady – guitar
- Ryan Burt – drums
- Imran Siddiqi - guitar
Former members
- Garth Buchanan – bass
- Troels Thomasen – drums
- Chris Burt – guitar
- Lauchlan Faulkner – drums
- Clint Owen Ellis – guitar
- Trad Nathan - keyboard
Discography
Studio albums- Severed TiesSevered TiesSevered Ties is the debut album by Brisbane band, The Amity Affliction. It was released on 4 October 2008 through Boomtown Records. Severed Ties debuted at #26 on the ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart, and #6 on the Australian Artists Albums Chart....
(2008) - YoungbloodsYoungbloods (album)Youngbloods is the second album by Brisbane metalcore band, The Amity Affliction. It was released on June 18, 2010 through Boomtown Records. It debuted at number 6 on the ARIA Charts. Grammy-nominated producer Machine produced Youngbloods. The drums were tracked at Breakwater Music Studio in...
(2010)
Extended plays
- Early DemosEarly Demos (EP)Early Demos is the debut EP by Australian group, The Amity Affliction.-Track listing:...
(2004) - The Amity AfflictionThe Amity Affliction (EP)The Amity Affliction is the self-titled debut EP by Australian group, The Amity Affliction. It showcases a more abrasive sound than their newer material with vocalist Joel Birch's screams residing in a much higher register.-Track listing:...
(2005) - High HopesHigh Hopes (EP)High Hopes is the second release by Australian group, The Amity Affliction. The first pressing came in a CD/DVD package with subsequent pressings lacking the DVD...
(2007)
Compilations
- North Coast Hardcore: Volume 1North Coast Hardcore: Volume 1North Coast Hardcore: Volume 1 is a compilation CD releaseed in 2004. The CD feature's all Queensland bands, on the North Coast.The release features the bands:*Just Say Go!*From These Wounds*Knifefight Opus* Against*The Daylight Curse...
(2004) - Glory DaysGlory Days (album)Glory Days is a compilation album by Brisbane post-hardcore band, The Amity Affliction. The album was released through Boomtown Records on November 26, 2010. The album consists of the band's early demos, their self-titled EP, the High Hopes EP and two B-sides from Youngbloods.-Track Listing:...
(2010)
Re-Releases
- Youngbloods Deluxe Edition CD/DVD (2011)
Side projects
- Bassist/clean vocalist Ahren Stringer and former keyboardist Trad Nathan have an electro/techno style side project named Lovecats.
- Vocalist Joel Birch briefly started up a HardcoreHardcore punkHardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
band named The Author (2009) but it was later said by Joel to a fan that that project had ended (2011).
External links
- The Amity Affliction at MySpaceMySpaceMyspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
- An Interview with The Amity Affliction