Recent reports reveal that Australian metalcore act The Amity Affliction is currently dealing with significant financial hurdles, and this monetary burden is reportedly playing a major role in the messy fallout between the group and their former vocalist and bassist, Ahren Stringer.
The band officially announced their separation from Ahren Stringer in February 2025. Following the public statement, the ousted musician claimed he was forced out of the lineup against his will. He subsequently launched legal action against his former bandmate, Joel Birch, concerning the ownership rights to The Amity Affliction trademarks.
Now, a new report from Blunt has shed light on the band’s internal corporate filings. According to the publication, these business documents indicate that the group was carrying approximately $646,000 AUD in debt as of last year. This substantial financial deficit forced the band’s company to initiate a formal debt restructuring process.
Despite his highly publicized exit from the lineup last year, Blunt reports that Ahren Stringer is still officially listed as a co-owner and director of the band’s business entity. His ongoing legal attachment to the company is allegedly due to the fact that the terms of his firing have not yet been settled in a way that satisfies both parties.
The obtained documents also reveal that the bulk of this massive debt is owed directly to the Australian Taxation Office. Blunt notes that the band’s company has agreed to a strict repayment plan, which will see them pay back $512,000 using funds generated from their future income.
Both Joel Birch and Ahren Stringer have reportedly signed off on this restructuring agreement, which is expected to last for roughly three years. In the music business, founding band members often operate under an internal partnership, meaning they share the creative control, the incoming profits, and the collective financial liabilities.
Typically, a band will resolve these internal issues by offering a lump sum buyout to the departing member, allowing for a clean break. However, Blunt speculates that the sheer size of The Amity Affliction‘s current tax debt is actively preventing them from executing a clean financial settlement with Ahren Stringer at this time.
