PHOTO CREDIT: Maysa Askar – Afterlife
The November 6 release marks the band’s first album for Mascot Records, while “Empty” introduces a more restrained and emotionally exposed side of Afterlife.
Afterlife has announced its next full-length album, The Pain That Shapes Us, set for release on November 6 via Mascot Records. Alongside the album announcement, the band has shared a music video for “Empty,” a track that represents a notable departure from some of Afterlife’s established vocal approach.
The current lineup of Tyler Levenson on vocals, Andrew McGuire on guitar, Luke Walkinshaw on drums, and Tristan Edwards on bass worked with producers Zach Jones and Austin Coupe on the forthcoming record. Jones’ production credits include Crown The Empire, Nothing More, We Came As Romans, and Pop Evil, while Coupe has worked with Papa Roach, The Devil Wears Prada, Thousand Below, and Moodring.
For “Empty,” Afterlife deliberately shifted away from some of the heavier vocal techniques associated with its previous material. According to Levenson, the song became the first Afterlife track to feature neither screaming nor rapping, with its emotional subject matter guiding the band toward a different arrangement.
“‘Empty’ navigates the reality of a devastating heartbreak, exploring the weight of emotional emptiness and mental exhaustion,” says Levenson. “For me, it’s one of the most vulnerable songs on the album, born from a collection of unfortunate experiences woven into one tragic outcome. The emotional honesty guided not only the lyrics but also the sound of the track. During this song’s creation, we wanted the atmosphere to match the moodiness of the lyrics, allowing us to create a unique sonic landscape, setting the song apart on the album… When writing this song, I knew that the only way to truly express the song’s emotions was through singing them, making ‘Empty’ the first Afterlife track without screaming or rapping.”
That emphasis on vulnerability extends beyond the single. Levenson describes The Pain That Shapes Us as a record built around experiences the members felt compelled to address more openly than they had in the past.
“The Pain That Shapes Us is the album that the band needed to write,” Levenson says. “We pulled the curtain back more than ever, revealing the rawest, most honest, and vulnerable sides of who we are as a group and what we’ve been through. It’s a reminder that our struggles, while painful, are also what makes us who we are.”
The album also represents the next stage of a career that began taking shape after Afterlife solidified its lineup in 2017. Drawing influence from bands including Slipknot, Linkin Park, and Papa Roach, the group released its Vicious Cycle EP that year and sold out the EP’s release show, which also served as Afterlife’s first headlining performance.
The band subsequently worked with producer Zakk Cervini on its 2019 debut album, Breaking Point, before following it with Part of Me in 2021. Afterlife has since toured with artists including Ice Nine Kills, From Ashes To New, Crown The Empire, Bury Tomorrow, Rise Of The Northstar, and Zero 9:36, while also appearing at festivals and events such as Welcome To Rockville, Louder Than Life, Inkcarceration Festival, ShipRocked, and Blue Ridge Rock Festival.
Another major step came in 2024 with the independently released single “Bleed You Dry.” The band debuted the song live at Welcome To Rockville, and according to the supplied announcement, the track went on to accumulate more than 15 million combined streams and views while becoming a regular part of Afterlife’s live set.
Afterlife signed with Mascot Records in 2025 after the label saw the band perform live. The group entered the studio following the deal, with those sessions ultimately producing The Pain That Shapes Us.
Before the album’s November release, Afterlife is scheduled to return to the road this fall alongside Convictions. The run begins October 2 in Memphis and concludes October 15 in Akron, Ohio.
Tour Dates
Afterlife with Convictions
10/2 — Memphis, TN — Growlers
10/3 — Oklahoma City, OK — The Bowman Theater
10/4 — Wichita, KS — Wave
10/6 — Springfield, MO — Regency
10/7 — Omaha, NE — Waiting Room
10/8 — Des Moines, IA — xBXLivex
10/9 — Madison, WI — The Annex
10/11 — Lansing, MI — Grewal Hall
10/14 — Indianapolis, IN — Black Circle
10/15 — Akron, OH — The Vortex
Album Information
Artist: Afterlife
Album: The Pain That Shapes Us
Release Date: November 6
Label: Mascot Records
Producers: Zach Jones and Austin Coupe
Track Listing
“A Thousand Warnings”
“Bad Habits”
“Vertigo”
“Bleed You Dry”
“Empty”
“Sick Of It”
“Crash And Burn”
“Playing God”
“Bite”
“More To Life”
“Parasite Of The Mind”
Band Lineup
Tyler Levenson — vocals
Andrew McGuire — guitar
Luke Walkinshaw — drums
Tristan Edwards — bass
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