The Amity Affliction

The Amity Affliction
Singer Joel Birch live in 2012
Background information
Origin	Gympie, Queensland, Australia
Genres	Metalcore post-hardcore melodic hardcore melodic metalcore
Years active	2003–present
Labels	Roadrunnner, We Are Unified, Boomtown
Associated acts	Lovecats The Author The Getaway Plan Funeral for a Friend Shorelines Architects Glass Cloud
Website	theamityaffliction.net
Members	Joel Birch Ahren Stringer Dan Brown Kyle Yocum Ryan Burt
Past members	Garth Buchanan Grant Canova Daniel Hagan Lachlan Faulkner Troels Thomasson Christopher Burt Trad Nathan Clint Owen Ellis Imran Siddiqi Troy Brady

The Amity Affliction is an Australian metalcore band from Gympie, formed in 2003. The band's current line-up consists of Ahren Stringer (clean vocals, bass guitar), Joel Birch (unclean vocals), Ryan Burt (drums, percussion), Kyle Yocum (rhythm guitar) and Dan Brown (lead guitar). The Amity Affliction has released five studio albums including Severed Ties (2008), Youngbloods (2010) which debuted at number 6 on the ARIA Charts, Chasing Ghosts (2012) which debuted at number 1 on the ARIA charts, Let The Ocean Take Me (2014) and This Could Be Heartbreak (2016), both also debuting at number 1. On 13 November 2015, The Amity Affliction also released a single called "Shine On". They are known for their highly personal songs, often dealing with depression, anxiety, chemical dependency, and suicide, many lyrics stemming from vocalist Joel Birch's past struggles. As of April 2017^[update], the band has sold more than 140,000 records.

The Amity Affliction formed in Gympie, a South-East Queensland town by friends Ahren Stringer and Troy Brady in their final year of high school. 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. Whilst still at High School, the band spent many times playing at school concerts and lunch breaks.

In 2004, the Amity Affliction released a three track self-titled demo produced by Scott Mullane at Aisle 6 Recording. At the time there were four members with former members Garth Buchanan on bass and Lachlan Faulkner on Drums. In late 2004, vocalist Joel Birch joined the band. Following, mid-2005, the Amity Affliction released their debut self-titled EP. 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 when Lachlan Faulkner quit and Garth Buchanan left to join Behind Crimson Eyes. Lachlan Faulkner later joined Saint Lucia. 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.