Project Description
THE AMITY AFFLICTION
‘Misery’
(Album Review)
Reviewer: Katelyn Murray
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The Amity Affliction definitely has some hype to live up to with their 6th Album, Misery dropping on the 24th of August. Fans have already been speculating their new sound thanks to the singles which have already seen quite a departure from their usual music, but I believe by the time a band comes up to their 6th album, a change of direction is not always a bad thing. This album incorporates their usual sound; dark themes overlaid with a heavy tone which furthermore paves the way for the band to experiment with new sounds such as pop synths and electronic which I’m sure will have their fans divided.
The record opens up with Ivy (Doomsday), a single released few weeks prior that surprised newer and older fans. With Ahrens cleaner vocals and the lack of Joel’s familiar growls, it had many fans confused as to where this record was going and if they have totally ditched their old heavier ways. The chorus of the song is a standout, with the higher synths underlying the racing drums creating an upbeat vibe that seems to somewhat balance the recognisable dark lyrics.
Feels Like I’m Dying, the second song on this record was also released prior to the drop of the record, which again confused fans as to the musical direction this band has taken. The first thing noticeable in this song is the voice change, Ahren has taken the backseat in this song with Joel taking the role which added a gravely tone to the overall sound which then turns to deliver the 80s synth inspired chorus, another surprising element that has been thrown in to give the new sound a pop-like edge.
Holier than Heaven begins with a daunting atmospheric sound that reminds me of Bring the Weather with Me off their previous album. It begins with the lyric, ‘I’m still sick with my depression / Trapped inside my fragile shell’, again, dark lyrics that are all too familiar with this band and really sets the tone of what Misery is about. This track has to be one of the biggest and best on this album which has the perfect balance of sounds that does not feel forced, but instead a natural change of musical direction.
The fourth track, Burn Alive starts off with distorted vocals and another jingly 80s pop sound, before bursting to life with Ahren’s and Joel’s perfectly executed vocals, which sees his harsh heavy vocals taking a break yet again with the occasional breakthrough here and there. The constant ‘Yeahs’ that take over the song about three quarters of the way through song feels forced, where it feels like they are throwing them in just for the sake of it, although it may grow on me over time, this song definitely stands out to me as one of my least favorites on this album.
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The title track, Misery makes an appearance halfway through the record, starting off with soft guitar layered over distant vocals, before heading into an electronic path that yet again, seems very forced, with extreme overuse of autotune and synths. This song contains lyrics that prove exactly why they are popular, their raw honesty and emotion with lyrics such as; ‘I’ve seen the future where I don’t wanna die’. These depressing, yet uplifting lyrics give an emotional edge to this song that resonates with a lot of people, however, this track does not sit well with me and definitely won’t be finding a place in my music library.
Kick Rocks begins with an upbeat drum that immediately creates a bouncy vibe accompanied by Ahren’s vocals outlining the struggles of feeling empty, before exploding into the chorus that sees Joel’s harsher tone making a comeback which seems to be lacking in this record. This rock-ballad is a standout on this album, it’s one of the only songs that doesn’t feel like it’s been overdone with electronic synths but instead finally showcases their raw talent and the new direction they are going with this record.
Black Cloud sees Ahren’s and Joel’s vocals mix perfectly, the timing and tone of the lyrics seemingly bouncing off each other to create a story. This is one of the heavier tracks on the album, which they needed in order to balance it out from the overuse of electronic and synth that seems to have overtaken the album. The depressing undertone of this album is also clearer in this track with the chorus stating; “While this black cloud follows me/And forces me down to my knees”. Also, for the those familiar to older albums, yes, they do mention the ocean again.
D.I.E starts off with a piano, something that I’m definitely not used to with this band which then evolves into a melancholic rock track that has got a blasting chorus which is sure to be a crowd singalong when its translated live. Unfortunately, the lyrics of this song don’t showcase their talent, with spelling out D.I.E many times that it becomes repetitive and in fact, annoying at some points. Although it’s not one of their best songs, I can already tell it’s going to be an absolute tune when performed.
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Drag the Lake and Set Me Free are two of the better songs on this album, probably because they seem to be what bridges this album to This Could be Heartbreak through the use of flawless guitar riffs and the iconic sing-a-long chorus that is missing in a lot of other tracks. These two provide the heartbeat for this album and even remind me of Let the Ocean Take Me at some points, which is a record that I personally loved so much.
When listening to the 10th track, Beltsville Blues, it almost feels like a cinematic song that would be used for a movie opening, with the rock riffs that undeniably have been influenced by the likes of AC/DC and INXS. This also has a heavier section which older Amity fans will appreciate, proving the band hasn’t totally lost their older sound.
This record closes with The Gifthorse, the slowest song on the album with a constant synth drum in the background that sets the tone. For a minute there I was surprised there was no drums or heavy guitars, but they came through about halfway with both exploding along with Joel’s iconic vocals, a blend of all genres they have crossed in this record, a perfect song to end the album on.
Well, there it is, Misery definitely has its ups and downs that will have some fans questioning; What happened to Amity? However, this album will definitely bring some fans closer through the genre-crossing over to pop, heavy rock and synth, appealing to a wider audience. This album will definitely have to grow on me as I’m so used to their older music, but the band can’t keep releasing the same stuff, so I’m definitely here for their new sound and can’t wait to see how this record translates live.
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Listen to MISERY HERE
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