Image: The Amity Affliction [Official Press Photo]
Some bands make songs that don’t just stick in your head – they get right under your skin. The Amity Affliction are definitely one of them. For more than two decades, the Australian band have combined melodic post-hardcore with hard-hitting metalcore and lyrics that tackle loss, depression, addiction, and personal struggles. Sometimes, there are anthemic choruses to sing along to; other times, there are breakdowns that hit hard. In 2026, The Amity Affliction are opening another chapter with their new album House Of Cards, proving that they still have plenty to say, even after numerous changes.
Image: The Amity Affliction Live [Bryan Reinsch, @iknowimlatesorry]
Who Are The Amity Affliction?
The Amity Affliction were formed in 2003 in Gympie, in the Australian state of Queensland. What began as a band from the local hardcore scene developed over the years into a major name on the international metalcore scene. With their mix of aggressive shouts, melodic clean vocals, and emotionally charged lyrics, the band struck a chord early on.
After their debut album Severed Ties (2008) and its follow-up Youngbloods (2010), they took another major step forward with Chasing Ghosts (2012). By the time Let The Ocean Take Me (2014) came around, The Amity Affliction had become an internationally recognized name – one that was hard to overlook in modern metalcore. Songs like “Pittsburgh,” “Don't Lean On Me,” and “Death's Hand” remain among the band's best-known tracks to this day.
In the following years, the Australians continued their run with This Could Be Heartbreak (2016), Misery (2018), Everyone Loves You... Once You Leave Them (2020), and Not Without My Ghosts (2023). Their sound continued to evolve, but they never lost the emotional directness that has set The Amity Affliction apart from the very beginning.
Between Melancholy and Mayhem
The secret to The Amity Affliction’s success is easy to explain, yet pretty difficult to replicate. On one side, you have frontman Joel Birch’s deep, aggressive shouts; on the other, big melodies and catchy clean vocals. Add to that powerful guitars, electronic elements, and breakdowns that get the crowd moving even during the heaviest moments. The lyrics rarely feel like interchangeable genre clichés, either. Joel Birch draws on personal experiences and difficult periods in his life.
If you want to explore the band's discography, make sure to add “All Fucked Up,” “I Bring The Weather With Me,” “Drag the Lake,” and “Show Me Your God” to your playlist, alongside the classics mentioned above. These tracks offer a pretty good idea of just how versatile The Amity Affliction are, moving between post-hardcore, metalcore, and melodic alternative sounds.
A New Chapter: House Of Cards
On April 24, 2026, The Amity Affliction released their ninth studio album, House Of Cards. The record marks a turning point in the band's history in several ways: it is their first full-length album featuring Jonathan “Jonny” Reeves, who took over bass and clean vocals following the departure of founding member Ahren Stringer.
Stringer's departure in February 2025 marked a major change for the band. For many years, his melodic vocals had played a crucial role in shaping the Australians' sound. With Reeves joining, The Amity Affliction not only had to find a new lineup but also develop a new dynamic. On House Of Cards, however, the interplay between Reeves and Joel Birch feels surprisingly natural. The familiar combination of heavy passages and big melodies remains intact, while Reeves brings a new vocal color to the mix.
The album is also closely tied to personal experiences in terms of its lyrical themes. Loss, grief, family conflicts, and coming to terms with the past run throughout the songs. At the same time, a cautious glimmer of hope shines through at various points on the record. The singles “House Of Cards,” “Bleed,” and “Heaven Sent” already offer a good idea of where things are headed. “Kickboxer” and “Eternal War” also bring tracks that put the band's heavier side front and center.
The album was produced by guitarist Dan Brown. This meant the band took much of the creative control into their own hands – a move Joel Birch described as liberating in interviews. As a result, House Of Cards doesn’t sound like an attempt to recreate the past as closely as possible. Instead, it sounds like a band coming to terms with its own history while still looking ahead.
A New Lineup, New Challenges
The changes in The Amity Affliction didn’t end with Ahren Stringer's departure. In June 2026, drummer Joe Longobardi also announced he was leaving the band after eight years. Among other releases, he had played on Misery, Everyone Loves You... Once You Leave Them, Not Without My Ghosts, and House Of Cards.
At the moment, Joel Birch, guitarist Dan Brown, and Jonathan Reeves are at the center of the band. It has not yet been officially announced who will take over permanently behind the drum kit. For a group whose sound and identity have been shaped by particular voices and personalities for so many years, this is another challenge.
Still, there’s no reason to write off The Amity Affliction. House Of Cards shows that even with a changed lineup, the band can maintain its signature sound while exploring new directions.
Image: The Amity Affliction Live [Bryan Reinsch, @iknowimlatesorry]
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