Dear Amity Affliction Family, Fans, and the Global Community Who Have Made This Journey Possible,
As I sit with a pen in hand and a flood of memories rushing through my mind, I realize how bizarre this journey has been—from dimly lit stages in small towns to loud festivals all over the world. From the damaged areas within myself to the healing thunder of thousands of voices screaming lyrics we composed in the darkest of times. This is more than just a career. This has been a shared experience of survival, expression, and unity—and I owe it everything to you.
Thank you to my bandmates, Dan and Ahren, as well as everyone else who has supported me through the music, the crazy, and the moments of real vulnerability. The Amity Affliction has never simply been a band. It has been a lifesaver. It’s been a place where I can express myself, where suffering can be transformed into poetry, and where music can break the silence. Your loyalty, ingenuity, and brotherhood have helped me more than anyone would ever realize.
Words cannot express how much your support has meant to me. You’ve supported us through every album, growth, and personal difficulty we’ve dared to publicly share. You listened as I screamed the truth. You sang with me when I felt overwhelmed by sadness, anxiety, or depression. You shared your own stories, displayed your scars, and reassured me that I wasn’t alone. That neither of us are. We’ve created something beautiful together—a place where broken isn’t weak, evil doesn’t triumph, and surviving is cherished.
From the first event we did to the last, your voices were louder than our amps, and your presence was more powerful than any spotlight. You made every tour worthwhile. Every night was spent away from home. Every lyric is worth bleeding onto the page. You have given me strength in ways I cannot repay—but I hope I have honored that gift with honesty, openness, and music that never hides the truth.
To everyone who works behind the scenes—management, road crew, sound technicians, designers, producers, and friends—you’ve been the glue that holds this insanity together. When it appeared that the engine was about to fail, you kept it going. Your contributions are rarely recognized, but you are just as important to Amity’s heartbeat as anybody else.
Thank you to the entire global heavy music community for embracing, challenging, and allowing us to grow. You’ve helped us discover our position in a genre that has always valued honesty, emotion, and togetherness.
As I think on where we’ve been and dream about where we’re going, remember this: The Amity Affliction is more than just a band. This is a promise. That grief can be channeled into power. Vulnerability may be a strength. Music has the potential to save lives.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you. For everything.
With love, always.
Joel Birch
Still here. Still screaming. Still grateful.