Sometimes the punk scene promotes a band and puts them on a high horse with claims of greatness, which, sadly, these days means as they progress in their career, the hype dies with every blogger and forum post bagging the absolute crap out of the band until the general consensus is that they suck. The Amity Affliction find themselves in this situation. Their first album “Severed Ties” was praised throughout the scene. Topping yearly ‘best-ofs’ and winning recognition not only in Australia but across in the UK as well. So the question is, what will people think of their new disc “Youngbloods”?
The boys from Brisbane have really stepped it up on this album. A couple of years of solid touring and the addition of ‘The Getaway Plans Clint Splattering’ on guitar has set up the bands sound on “Youngbloods”. A wall of sound and fury moving from post-screamo into industrial and melodic hardcore. They may not be entirely original in sound, but they definitely stand up as one of the best in the local scene.
“Youngbloods” kick off with the single ‘I Hate Hartley’ with it’s atmospheric keyboard intro before launching into a full sonic assault. The album thunders on with each track delivered just as intense as the previous one; there is no let up. ‘HMAS Lookback’ is a metaphor of reflection using the sea and features a good mix of screaming and singing voices. The title track calls for people to live for the moment and cherish the life because we’re all too young die. Other standouts in the ten tracks are ‘No Sleep Til Brisbane’ and ‘Fuck The Yankees’ which is actually a song about vocalist Joel Birch’s mother and not an attack on Americans!
The Amity Affliction have delivered on a solid debut with a cracking good follow up. The band have ignored the pressures of harsh punk/metal critics and continue to play what they are comfortable with. I’ve already read some comments from fans saying the first album was better. No matter what, this will always happen, but for what it’s worth, this is another great Australian hardcore album. Perhaps the hype is justified.
