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 total. First three records were independently released as People Over Profit in 2002, Audio Prozac in 2003, Our Oceania in 2004. Stray From The Path 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 their first record under the label in 2019 titled, Internal Atomics. They have been seen on tour with bands such as: Architects, 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.
Background information
OriginLong Island, New York, United States
Genres
Years active2001 (2001)–present
LabelsPride, Five Point, Sumerian, UNFD
Members
  • Thomas Williams
  • Andrew "Soy Boy" Dijorio
  • Anthony Altamura
  • Craig Reynolds
Past members
  • Ed Edge
  • Frank Correira
  • John Kane
  • Justin Manas
  • Ryan Thompson
  • Dan Bourke

History
Vocalist Drew York in 2013

The band was formed in Long Island, NY 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 of 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 Craig Reynolds. On the day of the 2016 United States presidential election, they released a single entitled "The House Always Wins". On 12 July 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]

Musical style and influences

Their music has been categorised as metalcore,[6] hardcore punk,[7] rapcore,[8] rap metal[9] and nu metal[10] Their earliest material was metalcore containing elements of math rock, however over the years have developed a larger emphasis on groove and technicality.[11] Metal Sucks attributed this development as being due to the band's growing influence from Rage Against the Machine.[6] In an article for Exclaim!, writer Joe Smith-Engelhardt described the band's style as a "Rage Against the Machine-worshipping take on hardcore".[9] Jeannie Blue for Cryptic Rock described it as "behemoth Rapcore meets Rage Against the Machine".[12]

They have cited influences including Refused, Anti Flag, Rage Against the Machine.[13] Converge, Glassjaw and Deftones.[14]

Political views and activism

The band's members perceive their status provides them with a platform to push their views,[15] with their music covers portrays their opposition to capitalism, materialism, police brutality, racial injustice, pedophilia and far-right political ideologies like fascism and the alt-right.[16][17][18] 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".[19] 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.[13]

Publications have generally described their ideology as being left-wing,[20][15] 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 Hilary will shake your hand, smile, and then kill you in your sleep".[15]

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".[21]

Actions not Words in Kenya

In 2018, the group travelled to Kenya as representatives of the This is Hardcore Foundation to help bring clean drinking water to local villages.[19] On the topic of the project, Williams stated that:

When we got there, we didn’t really know what we would get ourselves into... being out there was very eye-opening to say the least. We saw that a lot of people are in trouble and don’t have the basic needs that they need to live. While we’re here [in America] worrying about who the president is and what bills are being passed or who said what on the news, these people are skipping school because they need to find food within garbage to feed their family...We saw that there are people going to Africa doing a lot of good work. People have dropped things in their lives to start organizations in Africa to help people there and to give [them] a real shot. Realize, we live a pretty privileged life. Even the worst life you could imagine in America is still not what it is in Africa. It really shaped our perspective.[19]

Members
  • Stray from the Path, live at With Full Force 2018
  • Guitarist Thomas Williams
  • Vocalist Andrew Dijorio
  • Bassist Anthony Altamura
  • Drummer Craig Reynolds
Timeline

Discography

Studio albums
List of studio albums, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart positions
US
[22]		 US
Heat.
[23]		 US
Indie
[24]		 US
Alt.
[25]		 US
Rock
[26]		 US
Hard Rock
[27]
People Over Profit
  • Released: 2002
  • Label: Self released
  • Formats: CD
 ——————
Audio Prozac
  • Released: October 11, 2003
  • Label: Pride Recordz
  • Formats: CD
 ——————
Our Oceania
  • Released: August 2, 2005
  • Label: Five Point Records
  • Formats: CD
 ——————
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—312153
Subliminal Criminals
  • Released: August 14, 2015[28]
  • Label: Sumerian, UNFD
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 ——1318246
Only Death Is Real
  • Released: September 8, 2017
  • Label: Sumerian
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 ——————
Internal Atomics
  • Released: November 1, 2019[29]
  • Label: UNFD
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
 ——————
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Demos
  • People Over Profit (2002, Independent)

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

Music videos
Title Year Director From the album
"Villain" 2008 Bring Out Your Dead Villains
"Damien" 2010 Conor Maloney Make Your Own History
"Bring It Back to the Streets" 2011 Scott Hansen Rising Sun
"Mad Girl" 2012 Jordan Pulmano
"Badge & a Bullet" 2013 Ambitious.Films Anonymous
"Black Friday" 2014
Outbreak 2015 Max Moore Subliminal Criminals
Badge & A Bullet Part II
The House Always Wins 2016 Anthony Altamura & Alex Seefried[30] Only Death Is Real
Only Death Is Real 2017 Anthony Altamura
The Opening Move
Goodnight Alt-right

References
  1. Synyard, Dave. "Stray From The Path Villians". Exclaim!. Retrieved 8 October 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". 13 July 2017.
  5. "Anti-Flag prep LP, touring w/ Stray From the Path, The White Noise, Sharptooth". BrooklynVegan.
  6. Rosenberg, Axl (18 July 2013). "Ya Think Stray from the Path Have Been Listening to Rage Against the Machine?". MetalSucks. Retrieved 19 February 2016. Stray from the Path used to sound like a fairly typical metalcore band (in the Botch sense of “metalcore”)...
  7. Harris, Brenton. "Stray From The Path – Subliminal Criminals". Music Feeds. Retrieved 4 October 2015. Long Island political hardcore lifers Stray From The Path are calling you out...
  8. "STRAY FROM THE PATH "ANONYMOUS" ALBUM REVIEW". Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  9. Smith-Engelhardt, Joe. "Stray From the Path Internal Atomics". Exclaim!. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  10. Hill, John (27 June 2014). "The Nu-Metal Revival Is Real". Noisey. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
  11. Welsh, Connor. "REVIEW: STRAY FROM THE PATH – INTERNAL ATOMICS [2019]". Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  12. Blue, Jeannie. "STRAY FROM THE PATH – INTERNAL ATOMICS (ALBUM REVIEW)". Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  13. Morton, Luke. "Stray From The Path: Nazis, death and politics". Metal Hammer. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  14. Shotwell, James. "We're all temporary: A conversation with Stray From The Path". Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  15. SIEVERS, ALEX. "The Ghost Inside make triumphant Australian return at Unify Gathering 2020". Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  16. SIEVERS, ALEX. "Stray From The Path – Internal Atomics". Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  17. Thomas, Olly. "ALBUM REVIEW: STRAY FROM THE PATH – INTERNAL ATOMICS". Kerrang!. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  18. YOUNG, DAVID JAMES. "Stray From The Path Talk The Changing Politics Of The Hardcore Scene". Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  19. MARKARIAN, TAYLOR. "Stray From the Path Aim to Unify with 'Internal Atomics'". Loudwire. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  20. Leaver, Elliot. "ALBUM REVIEW: Internal Atomics – Stray from the Path". Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  21. SIEVERS, ALEX. "Stray From The Path Tom Williams". Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  22. "Stray from the Path – Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
  23. "Stray from the Path – Chart History: Heatseekers Albums". Billboard. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
  24. "Stray from the Path – Chart History: Independent Albums". Billboard. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
  25. "Stray from the Path – Chart History: Alternative Albums". Billboard. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
  26. "Stray from the Path – Chart History: Top Rock Albums". Billboard. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
  27. "Stray from the Path – Chart History: Hard Rock Albums". Billboard. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
  28. "Stray From The Path Interview in St.Louis at Fubar on WTLTW". YouTube. 2015-04-14. Retrieved 2015-08-10.
  29. "Internal Atomics by Stray from the Path". Apple Music. Retrieved August 28, 2019.
  30. "Nightmare Film Crew Portfolio". Retrieved 2017-10-04.
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