Since 2003 The Amity Affliction have been releasing incredible albums, Severed Ties, Youngbloods and Chasing Ghosts have paved the way for the remarkable Let The Ocean Take Me. Metalcore/ Post Hardcore/ Melodic Hardcore can boarder on the cliche and tacky if too formulaic but TAA manage to continually bring something new with every album and Let The Ocean Take Me is a stellar example.
Opener and single Let The Ocean Take Me ‘Pittsburgh’ kicks off as Joel rasps an intro, instruments build up into rampant drums that heave behind Ahren’s addictive vocals. An icon off the Let The Ocean Take Me album and a brain riddling addictive track. ‘Lost And Fading’ continues this prodigious album with a melodious riff that brings a whole new level to the album, this looser approach proving ‘Lost And Fading’ remains intact of all its power regardless off how heavy the breakdown is. ‘Don’t Lean On Me’ opens in a piano melody that continues throughout the track- vocal harmonies building into a dynamic Amity Affliction that will consume your ears- their momentous hooks pulling you in. ‘Don’t Lean On Me’ takes its colossal place on Let The Ocean Take Me.
‘Never Alone’ takes The Amity Affliction to another level, before you hear their famous melodies you may mistake them for another band. The spoken words towards the end of the track really encompass the entire album, exemplifying the clear underlying theme to every track. These few seconds of raw honesty and heart remind us what is behind this music and also who it touches. ‘Deaths Hand’ then pulls you in with a winding riff and flips their vocal dynamic from what we usually expect from TAA. ‘FML’ then flips this again, relentless drumming pounding its way to a heavier Amity Affliction.
As Let The Ocean Take Me draws to a close ‘Forest Fire’ slows things down, only slightly! The Amity Affliction delivering their usual hooks and addictive lyrics but just toned down slightly. A stunning beginning to a send off before ‘Give It All’ fulfills itself, as The Amity Affliction have done that with Let The Ocean Take Me, full of raw emotion, clear crowd pleasers, intricate melodies and compelling dynamics. The band have taken their fourth album to a more mature sound that proves that stunning melodies can overcome riff-driven trend at the moment with every outstanding track they have written on Let The Ocean Take Me.
