Wikipedia

Stray from the Path

Stray from the Path is an American hardcore punk band formed in 2001 in Long Island, New York. They have released ten full-length albums. Their first three records were independently released – People Over Profit in 2002, Audio Prozac in 2003, and Our Oceania in 2004. Stray From The Path then signed with Sumerian Records and released six records with them; Villains in 2008, Make Your Own History in 2009, Rising Sun in 2011, Anonymous in 2013, Subliminal Criminals in 2015, and Only Death Is Real in 2017. They are currently signed to UNFD and released Internal Atomics in 2019, and Euthanasia in 2022. They have been seen on tour with bands such as: Architects, Northlane, Every Time I Die, The Acacia Strain, Terror, Norma Jean, Underoath, The Ghost Inside, For Today, Stick to Your Guns, Bleeding Through, Comeback Kid, and Counterparts.

Stray from the Path
Stray from the Path performing at With Full Force 2018
Stray from the Path performing at With Full Force 2018
Background information
OriginLong Island, New York, U.S.
Genres
Years active2001–present
Labels
Members
  • Thomas Williams
  • Andrew Dijorio
  • Anthony Altamura
  • Craig Reynolds
Past members
  • Ed Edge
  • Frank Correira
  • John Kane
  • Justin Manas
  • Ryan Thompson
  • Dan Bourke

History

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Vocalist Drew York in 2013

The band was formed on Long Island, New York, in 2001. Its original members were Thomas Williams, John Kane, Justin Manas, Ed Edge and Frank Correira. In October 2003, they went into the studio with Joe Cincotta and Terrance Hobbs of Suffocation to record their debut full length, Audio Prozac. In July 2005, after playing extensively over the following eight months to support their record, they released Our Oceania on August 2, 2005. In November 2005 original singer Ed Edge left the band and was replaced by Andrew Dijorio (Drew York). After touring the country DIY, SFTP entered God City Studios and recorded Villains with Converge Guitarist, Kurt Ballou.[1] Upon completion of the record, the songs spread to California, which led to a contract with Sumerian Records.[2] After being recorded independently at God City, Villains was properly released on May 13, 2008. After touring North America, the band saw some lineup changes. Ryan Thompson replaced Frank Correira on bass guitar, Justin Manas moved from drums to guitar replacing John Kane, and drummer Dan Bourke, formerly of This Is Hell, took over the role on drums. SFTP entered the studio with producer Misha Mansoor and recorded 2009's Make Your Own History.[3] After touring North America, and Europe vigorously, the band hit Machine Shop Recordings with producer Will Putney to record their latest record Rising Sun. This record featured guest appearances by Andrew Neufeld of Comeback Kid, Cory Brandan Putman of Norma Jean and Jonathan Vigil of The Ghost Inside. In 2012 they released a download only single "Landmines". They later released Anonymous in September 2013 which featured Jesse Barnett from Stick to Your Guns and Jason Butler from Letlive.

In 2015 they released Subliminal Criminals, continuing the rapcore sound of their previous effort while delving into more social and political themes (including "D.I.E.P.I.G", which specifically reference child abuse allegations towards Front Porch Step and Lostprophets frontman Ian Watkins). This was to be the final album with Dan Bourke on drums, as he would leave the group in 2016 to be replaced by former Brutality Will Prevail and Dead Swans drummer Craig Reynolds. On the day of the 2016 United States presidential election, they released a single entitled "The House Always Wins". On July 12, 2017, they announced details of their new album Only Death Is Real along with single "Goodnight Alt-Right", which attracted criticism from right wing groups upon release due to its lyrics.[4]

 
Stray from the Path in 2017

In 2018, the ensemble toured with Anti-Flag, the White Noise and Sharptooth.[5]

In September of 2022, SFTP released their album Euthanasia. The making of the album was fraught with strife due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The band would send each other ideas but would find that they would go long periods of time without playing their instruments. Craig would drum on Twitch during this time and was later joined by Tom Williams on guitar. This avenue helped re-fire their passion for performance. Nick Ruskell writes: "From empty tank to firing on all cylinders, it's been a journey of reconnection [sic] to make Euthanasia. But, having done so with such impressive force, it's put Stray From The Path firmly back on track."[6]

Musical style and influences

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Their music has been categorized as metalcore,[7] hardcore punk,[8] rapcore,[9] rap metal[10] and nu metal[11] Their earliest material was metalcore containing elements of math rock, however over the years have developed a larger emphasis on groove and technicality.[12] Metal Sucks attributed this development as being due to the band's growing influence from Rage Against the Machine.[7] In an article for Exclaim!, writer Joe Smith-Engelhardt described the band's style as a "Rage Against the Machine-worshipping take on hardcore".[10] Jeannie Blue for Cryptic Rock described it as "behemoth Rapcore meets Rage Against the Machine".[13]

They have cited influences including Refused, Anti Flag, Rage Against the Machine,[14] Converge, Glassjaw and Deftones.[15]

Political views

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The band's members view their status as giving them a platform to express their views,[16] with their music including references to their opposition to capitalism, economic materialism, police brutality, racial injustice, pedophilia and far-right political ideologies like fascism and the alt-right.[17][18][19] In an article for Loudwire, writer Taylor Markarian stated that "As their band name suggests, Stray have never been shy about their opinions on social and political issues and deviating from mainstream thought. They have always been blunt and unapologetic about identifying and criticizing hypocrisy, corruption, racism, sexism and other social justice issues".[20] In a 2017 article for Metal Hammer, Williams stated:

If you're lucky enough to get a crowd and a stage like we do, to put that to waste is kind of a shame. We have to use what we're so fortunate to get, and use it for good. Whether you agree or disagree, we're writing music that makes you feel something, and to me that's a victory in itself.[14]

Publications have generally described their ideology as being left-wing,[21][16] however the members prefer not to subscribe to a particular side of the political spectrum, with Williams stating that "If Donald Trump was to say something that I liked – which may only be when hell freezes over – then I'll like it. I'm never going to not like something that someone says because of whatever label they're under. I've gone on record saying this, but Hillary Clinton was scarier to me than Trump. Cause that guy will say shit to your face whereas as Hillary will shake your hand, smile, and then kill you in your sleep".[16]

During the 2016 United States presidential election, the band were vocal in their opposition to both main party candidates, with Williams in particular showing support for Bernie Sanders. In a 2017 article for KillYourStereo.com, Williams stated that "When people ask me about voting, I say that I don't vote and I never will vote. Because when you vote you send a message that it's okay for this system to continue".[22] The band publicly held similar opinions ahead of the 2020 presidential election, tweeting on April 8, 2020, "Biden and Trump. Who’s you’re leader? Trick question, none of the above."[23]

Members

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  • Stray from the Path live at With Full Force 2018
  •  
    Thomas Williams
  •  
    Andrew Dijorio
  •  
    Anthony Altamura
  •  
    Craig Reynolds
Timeline

Discography

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Studio albums

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List of studio albums, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart positions
US
[24] 		US
Heat.
[25] 		US
Indie
[26] 		US
Alt.
[27] 		US
Rock
[28] 		US
Hard Rock
[29]
Audio Prozac
  • Released: October 11, 2003
  • Label: Pride Recordz
  • Formats: CD
Track listing
  1. Every Time I Fall Asleep You Video Tape Me
  2. How Bout Them Yankees
  3. I Saw The Creed Guy Eating Pigeons Last Night In Central Park
  4. That Whole Thing About Helen Keller Was Horseshit
  5. Eat A Dwarf
  6. No One Cares, Bears Bears
  7. Formaldehyde Kiss
  8. Avon Addict
  9. Captain Granville Vs. Sally Ruth The Battle Of The Mimi
  10. Godsend Of The Insomniac
  11. Christopher Reeves Just Rolled In From Montana And Boy Is His Battery Tired
 — — — — — —
Our Oceania
  • Released: August 2, 2005
  • Label: Five Point Records
  • Formats: CD
Track listing
  1. The Life You Live
  2. Casual Conversations
  3. Solace
  4. Appendix I: If There Is Hope
  5. Thick And Thin
  6. A Not So Modern Parasite
  7. Appendix II: ...It Lay In The Proles
  8. The Great Exodus
  9. Formaldehyde Kiss
  10. A Tri-Colored Goldmine
  11. CODA: The Nightbirds
 — — — — — —
Villains
  • Released: May 13, 2008
  • Label: Sumerian, Victory
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 — — — — — —
Make Your Own History
  • Released: October 26, 2009
  • Label: Sumerian
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 — — — — — —
Rising Sun
  • Released: August 30, 2011
  • Label: Sumerian
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 — 19 — — — —
Anonymous
  • Released: September 17, 2013
  • Label: Sumerian
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 40 — 3 12 15 3
Subliminal Criminals
  • Released: August 14, 2015[30]
  • Label: Sumerian, UNFD
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 — — 13 18 24 6
Only Death Is Real
  • Released: September 8, 2017
  • Label: Sumerian, UNFD
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 — — 23 — — —
Internal Atomics
  • Released: November 1, 2019[31]
  • Label: UNFD
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
Track listing
  1. Ring Leader
  2. Kickback (Ft. Brendan Murphy)
  3. The First Will Be Last
  4. Fortune Teller
  5. Second Death
  6. Beneath The Surface
  7. Something In The Water
  8. Holding Cells For The Living Hell
  9. Double Down (Ft. Matt Honeycutt)
  10. Actions Not Words
 — — 31 — — —
Euthanasia
  • Released: September 9, 2022[32]
  • Label: UNFD
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
Track listing
  1. Needful Things
  2. May You Live Forever
  3. III
  4. Guillotine
  5. Chest Candy
  6. Bread & Roses (Ft. Jesse Barnett)
  7. Law Abiding Citizen
  8. Salt In Your Spit
  9. Neighbourhood Watch
  10. Ladder Work
 — — — — — —
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Demos

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  • People Over Profit (2002, Independent)

Split albums

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  • How to Make a Ucalegon (with Lilu Dallas, 2007, Five Point Records)

References

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  1. ^ Synyard, Dave. "Stray From The Path Villians". Exclaim!. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  2. ^ "Stray From The Path signs w/ Sumerian Records". Lambgoat. Retrieved September 28, 2019.
  3. ^ "Stray From The Path interview". Lambgoat.
  4. ^ "Infowars Editor Slams Stray From the Path's New Song "Goodnight Alt-Right" – MetalSucks". July 13, 2017.
  5. ^ "Anti-Flag prep LP, touring w/ Stray From the Path, The White Noise, Sharptooth". BrooklynVegan.
  6. ^ Ruskell, Nick (September 7, 2022). "Album review: Stray From The Path – Euthanasia". Kerrang!. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
  7. ^ a b Rosenberg, Axl (July 18, 2013). "Ya Think Stray from the Path Have Been Listening to Rage Against the Machine?". MetalSucks. Retrieved February 19, 2016. Stray from the Path used to sound like a fairly typical metalcore band (in the Botch sense of "metalcore")...
  8. ^ Harris, Brenton (August 11, 2015). "Stray From The Path – Subliminal Criminals". Music Feeds. Retrieved October 4, 2015. Long Island political hardcore lifers Stray From The Path are calling you out...
  9. ^ "STRAY FROM THE PATH "ANONYMOUS" ALBUM REVIEW". Retrieved May 5, 2018.
  10. ^ a b Smith-Engelhardt, Joe. "Stray From the Path Internal Atomics". Exclaim!. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  11. ^ Hill, John (June 27, 2014). "The Nu-Metal Revival Is Real". Noisey. Retrieved June 13, 2016.
  12. ^ Welsh, Connor (October 29, 2019). "REVIEW: STRAY FROM THE PATH – INTERNAL ATOMICS [2019]". Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  13. ^ Blue, Jeannie (October 28, 2019). "STRAY FROM THE PATH – INTERNAL ATOMICS (ALBUM REVIEW)". Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  14. ^ a b Morton, Luke (September 12, 2017). "Stray From The Path: Nazis, death and politics". Metal Hammer. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
  15. ^ Shotwell, James (September 27, 2017). "We're all temporary: A conversation with Stray From The Path". Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  16. ^ a b c SIEVERS, ALEX (January 12, 2020). "The Ghost Inside make triumphant Australian return at Unify Gathering 2020". Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  17. ^ SIEVERS, ALEX. "Stray From The Path – Internal Atomics". Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  18. ^ Thomas, Olly (October 31, 2019). "ALBUM REVIEW: STRAY FROM THE PATH – INTERNAL ATOMICS". Kerrang!. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
  19. ^ YOUNG, DAVID JAMES (August 12, 2015). "Stray From The Path Talk The Changing Politics Of The Hardcore Scene". Retrieved June 29, 2020.
  20. ^ MARKARIAN, TAYLOR (October 30, 2019). "Stray From the Path Aim to Unify with 'Internal Atomics'". Loudwire. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  21. ^ Leaver, Elliot (November 2019). "ALBUM REVIEW: Internal Atomics – Stray from the Path". Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  22. ^ SIEVERS, ALEX. "Stray From The Path Tom Williams". Retrieved June 29, 2020.
  23. ^ Stray from the Path. "Stray from the Path Apr 8 2020 tweet". Twitter. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
  24. ^ "Stray from the Path – Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved July 11, 2022.
  25. ^ "Stray from the Path – Chart History: Heatseekers Albums". Billboard. Retrieved July 11, 2022.
  26. ^ "Stray from the Path – Chart History: Independent Albums". Billboard. Retrieved July 11, 2022.
  27. ^ "Stray from the Path – Chart History: Alternative Albums". Billboard. Retrieved July 11, 2022.
  28. ^ "Stray from the Path – Chart History: Top Rock Albums". Billboard. Retrieved July 11, 2022.
  29. ^ "Stray from the Path – Chart History: Hard Rock Albums". Billboard. Retrieved July 11, 2022.
  30. ^ "Stray From The Path Interview in St.Louis at Fubar on WTLTW". YouTube. April 14, 2015. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
  31. ^ "Internal Atomics by Stray from the Path". Apple Music. Retrieved August 28, 2019.
  32. ^ "Stray From The Path To Release New Album "Euthanasia" In September". ThePRP. May 3, 2022. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
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