The Amity Affliction: House of Cards

After a tumultuous period for The Amity Affliction, they are back with ‘House of Cards’, a strong first album with their newest member Jonathan Reeves (clean vocals). The record shows that their signature metalcore sound isn’t going anywhere. It’s heavy, packed with emotion and will create some exciting mosh pit moments for sure.

The opener, ‘Vida Nueva’, is atmospheric and creates the perfect buildup to ‘Kickboxer’, where vocalist Joel Birch’s low-pitched vocals are heard for the first time on the album screaming: “kiss of death” and drawing listeners in. In this track, the band discuss feelings of hopelessness caused by a low sense of self-worth: “I’m not waiting for change/Give me voices that tell me praise”, something that, sadly, many fans will be able to relate to. The Amity Affliction want listeners to understand that it’s alright to feel like things are going badly sometimes, but it’s important to speak up when you’re struggling and get the help that you need.

The title track, ‘House of Cards’, tells the story of Birch and his siblings’ difficult relationship with their mother: “Brother, your heart was torn out by our mother” whom he describes as someone who is “trying to put a wedge between the three of us”. The lyricism directly reflects the lead singer’s feelings of self-hatred as a result of his unstable familial relationship and how he struggles to view his actions positively: “Hate is easy, you’ve gotta try and love yourself”. Through this, Birch calls on listeners to always be kind to others, as you never know the thoughts going on inside someone else’s head, and that compassion can ignite an important spark that allows someone to begin loving themselves again.

‘Heaven Sent’ explores similar themes to the previous track, with Birch reflecting on the many arguments between him and his mother. This demonstrates that he often knew when she was trying to manipulate him and that he had to stay strong during these chaotic moments. He also recalls how these memories stayed with him long after the quarrels ended: “I’m quite literally dragging every piece of my past behind me”, reminding listeners that while it’s natural to carry trauma with us, it’s important to become resilient and move forward with a renewed sense of strength.

‘Bleed’ explores the idea that you must remain authentic and stay true to your core values, highlighting the importance of being yourself, even if others judge you. Birch is emotionally honest in this track, demonstrating that The Amity Affliction still want to be part of the mental health conversation.

The closer, ‘Eternal War’, is one of the heaviest tracks The Amity Affliction have ever released. Its powerful instrumentals are sure to create huge festival moments, with fans coming together and losing themselves in the chaos of the mosh pit.

With their new album, The Amity Affliction show that they remain firmly committed to their signature metalcore sound and to one of their core values: encouraging open conversations about mental health in the hope of creating a more empathetic society. With this record, the band make it clear that they are ready to take on whatever comes next – and it will be exciting to see what the future holds for them.