Aussie metalcore legends make a long-awaited return to town…
It’s been a good few years since Manchester has been able to enjoy a headline set from Australian metalcore act The Amity Affliction. Following an appearance at Leeds’ Slam Dunk festival back in May 2022, the band was set to return to our shores later that same year only for them to postpone their dates in September, citing a range of issues for pushing their plans. In a lengthy statement, lead singer Joel Birch candidly explained that the ever-popular quartet were in dire need of “time to heal some wounds that had been left unattended,” citing mental health issues that had been given time to worsen during the darkest moments of the pandemic.
However, cut to January 2023 and the band is back and in good spirits — and Manchester is more than ready to greet them. While the city is blessed with many beloved venues, there’s something about the venue for tonight’s show that feels particularly suited for a band like this. The 02 Ritz on Whitworth Street sees its fair share of musical acts during any normal year but its spacious yet intimate layout allows for a viewing experience that kind of compliments Amity’s vibe. Its airy standing area provides ample room for circle pits, chaotic moshing and tangled crowd surfing while its upper balcony allows punters to enjoy the more intimate moments, get closer to the action and soak up everything on offer. Essentially, it’s the perfect space for a band that’s throat-tearingly metal one minute and touchingly emotive the next.
That’s what’s in store… but tonight’s audience will have to wait a bit before they finally get to see The Amity Affliction return. Tonight’s bill has three support acts, giving ticketholders more bang for their buck but forcing them to be patient before they can let rip with tonight’s main event. California hardcore quintet SeeYouSpaceCowboy kick things off, taking to the stage and admirably giving it their all, even if their melodic metal and raw energy aren’t quite mirrored by a crowd that’s not yet to warmed up and in the party spirit. Thankfully, things escalate with the arrival of support act number two, Gideon, a metalcore quartet hailing from Alabama, with crowd surfers and pits starting to appear. Turning up the crowd’s dial, this buzz spills over into tonight’s penultimate warm-up, Fit For A King, yet another metalcore outfit, this one from Texas.
By the time The Amity Affliction appears, it’s pretty much 10pm and with an 11pm curfew and plenty of well-loved tracks under their belt, audiences are expecting a lot from the next hour. Thankfully, they’re not left disappointed. Tonight’s crowd may have had to wait longer than expected to see these Aussie post-hardcore legends return to town but they’re here now and they’ve brought with them a set-list packed with hits and fan favourites.
Opening track “Pittsburgh” feels like the perfect place to start and the crowd agrees, with tonight’s trio of explosive openers helping to push fans into overdrive. A grab-bag of much-loved tracks makes up the remainder of the band’s whirlwind 14-song set, seamlessly flitting from the likes of “All My Friends Are Dead,” to singalong moments like “All Fucked Up” and “Show Me Your God.” Meanwhile, an encore performance of anthemic hit “Soak Me In Bleach” provides a final excuse for tonight’s crowd to expel any last dregs of energy. Clearly, The Amity Affliction is a band bigger than tonight’s space and it’s unlikely we’ll see them somewhere so small again anytime soon. That said, for ticketholders, tonight was a prime opportunity to see something special in a small space — and well worth the wait.
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