:: The Amity Affliction - High Hopes

The Amity Affliction

In the two years since the release of their self-titled six track debut EP, Brisbane based outfit The Amity Affliction have wasted little time establishing themselves as one of hardest touring acts on the scene (supporting the likes of Eighteen Visions, Alexisonfire, Shai Hulud, Anberlin, Rufio, Silverstein, Champion, Every Time I Die and Strike Anywhere), which has earned them respect in the emo-rock/hardcore community. After a lengthy break, The Amity Affliction return with a new and expanded line-up and a new five-track EP in ‘High Hopes’, which certainly lives up to its title. Trad Nathan’s addition to The Amity Affliction is immediately felt in the opening track ‘I Heart Throbsy’, with his keyboards adding a whole new dimension to the band’s sound. But it’s also the dual vocal presence of Joel Birch and Ahren Stringer that also signals a new direction for the band from two years ago, revealing a definite growth and maturity in terms of song writing and overall sound.

Both ‘Straight Up’ and ‘Rip Steggy’ brings out the heavier side of the band’s sound in the guitar department and Stringer’s course screaming in the background, while Nathan’s various fills on ‘Dong Wayne’ once again give The Amity Affliction a whole new sound from two years ago. Although the anthem like ‘Cut It Out’ is listed as the final track on the EP, there’s an uncredited keyboard/movie dialogue piece after two minutes of silence that beautifully brings things to an end. Apart from the audio, The Amity Affliction has also included a sixteen minute DVD, which features the usual footage showing the band goofing off, some live footage, various practical jokes and some insight into the band make-up and the recording of the EP. While the DVD is an interesting addition, the sound is a little unbalanced in places, while the footage isn’t all that memorable. The Amity Affliction has come a long way in the two years since their debut release, and it shows on ‘High Hopes’. They may not be quite up there with the best the emo-rock/hardcore genre has to offer, but if they keep progressing at their current rate, it’ll only be a question of when rather than if.