Album Review: The Amity Affliction - 'Chasing Ghosts'

‘Hype’ can be a doubled-edged sword. It is a dangerous tag. The optimist speaks of its potential and wide-ranging means to draw in listeners. While, the pessimist argues the tag breeds resistance.

We’ve all heard the terms ‘buzz bands’ ‘this year’s hottest group’ or maybe just the tried and true ‘one’s to watch’. It a premise sold before – one, which we’ve commonly been sucked into. So it’s no surprise when we are told to embrace an album before its release, there is a sense of scepticism. However, this is affirming too. It means if an album is deemed successful, it is on the merit of its entertaining reception, rather than by blindly accepting what an excessive and bias press release asserts.

The Amity Affliction are huge at the moment. Sure we can dance around the issue, quietly ignore the little (or rather prominent fact), but there are frontrunners.

Look, these Queensland lads adopt a formulaic approach. It’s music for boyfriends to give to their girlfriends and vice versa. But this isn’t intended as a derogatory label, it just simply highlights that the sound is accessible and mutually satisfying.

The breakdowns and clean sung (catchy too) choruses put a recognisable and relatable face to the sound, but there is a little more development and subtly that distances The Amity Affliction from truly uninspired and insipid bands like Asking Alexandria. Enter new studio album 'Chasing Ghosts.'

Beginning with the impressive title track ‘Chasing Ghosts’, the tone quickly transitions to more melody with ‘Life Underground’. ‘RIP Bon’ is typical Amity, with interchanging aggression and harmony, while ‘Open Letter’ is the live anthem.

‘I Heart HC’ has a piano introduction before returning to a hardcore front. ‘Flowerbomb’ is again another one that sticks in the head.

There is a sense of duality to ‘Chasing Ghosts’. On the surface; it’s a polished, committed and strong offering. But, digging a little deeper, the band are giving the proverbial middle finger to those that suggest heavy music can’t be heavy, catchy and accessible at the same time.

Refreshingly precise and simply workable, ‘Chasing Ghosts’ allows fans and neutral observers to breathe a collective sigh of relief. ‘Chasing Ghosts’ delivers. Don’t buy into this offering because of popular and prevailing opinion, listen to it because the quality is consistent and the sound formed. Parkway Drive it’s your move…

1. Chasing Ghosts

2. Life Underground

3. R.I.P Bon

4. Open Letter

5. Greens Avenue

6. I Heart HC

7. Flowerbomb

8. Pabst Blue Ribbon on Ice

9. Geof Sucks 666

10. Bondi St. Blues