Affliction enters the Arena

Australia’s hottest metalcore band, The Amity Affliction, will hit Geelong Friday in a packed one-off gig at the Arena.
The Affliction will return to the city after scoring three entries to this year’s Triple J Hottest 100 with its latest album This Could Be Heartbreak.
It’s the band’s fifth year running in the national countdown, which celebrates the best alternative music in Australia and the world.
Vocalist Joel Birch described the band’s latest album as the “darkest” yet, featuring the “brutally honest lyrics” of a man desperately consumed by alcoholism and depression.
“I’ve always thought there’s no point doing music if it’s not either saying something that’s going to help people or going to be a really personal, cathartic experience,” Birch said.
It’s the band’s fifth album and its third to debut at number one on the Australian charts.
Birch’s contributions provide the “beating heart”, promoters said. Most fans would be aware of his struggles with alcohol and depression during previous albums.
“I’m not mincing my words … I’m telling you what I’m feeling, what I’m going through,” he said.
Birch started attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings following completion of This Could Be Heartbreak.
With his wife and band mates’ support he began rebuilding, and his newborn has son given him a new perspective on life.
“I’ve never been one to look far ahead, just because I didn’t think I’d be alive,” he said, “I’m learning how to appreciate what I’ve got, which I wasn’t before.”
“I think it’s good for people to realise that someone they look up to is going through the same s..t they are. None of us are alone in this.”
Bass guitarist and fellow vocalist Ahren Stringer said the band wanted to make this album the best yet.
“You’ll be hearing a real rollercoaster of emotion and a true reflection of everything we’ve been trying to do throughout our career.”
The band’s line up has changed since their 2003 formation in Gympie, Queensland, but their ability send mosh pits crazy with metallic, no-holds-barred confessionals hasn’t.
New lead guitarist Dan Brown joined Stringer to pen the latest album, which debuted at number one on the ARIA Charts in mid-2016.
“We added another piece of the puzzle when we got Dan on board in 2013, and the proof is in the punch in that he joined and then we wrote our best album yet,” Stringer said.
Floor sales are sold out for the Geelong Arena gig, with a small number of 18 plus seating tickets remaining.