I've always kind of facetiously described Stray from the Path to people as a metalcore band who formed from the seditious ideologies of Fight Club's Tyler Durden. Whether it's the anti-materialistic preaching on Make Your Own History's "Nigeria" and Anonymous' "Black Friday," or the sociopolitical call-to-arms on just about every other song they've written, you really don't need to look far into their lyrics to find evidence of a band delivering Durden's words, only with a little more vocal aggression, and a little more chugging. Yet after two albums since MYOH, which was undoubtedly the band's highlight, the question isn't whether we should care about their message anymore -- and it's as fiery as ever -- but rather whether we should care about a band whose sound is as unchanging as their views, when they have hardly anything new to say.
Because the problem with Anonymous is not that it's the work of a talentless band -- if anything the band's sound is as refined as its ever been -- it's simply that Stray From the Path have vocalized their painfully consistent message over the course of three albums now, and their songwriting just hasn't kept up the same overall quality and ingenuity as it did back in 2009 on MYOH. The singles "False Flag" and "Badge & Bullet" are simultaneously both as generic sounding as the band has ever been, while also validating pretty much any and every Rage Against The Machine comparison you could make of Drew's vocals. Furthermore, whereas MYOH had cleverly biting lyrics such as "negative and violent, we're all so important," Anonymous leaves us with overly repetitious phrases like "pull the pin on the f***** grenade!" that are as nonsensical as they are abundant.
However, this isn't to say Anonymous doesn't have its moments of greatness here and there. Track "Scissor Hands" features Jason Butler of post-hardcore band Letlive., and his higher range weaving in between Drew York's growls and signature "blehs" add a viciously entertaining touch. Furthermore, tracks "Slice of Life" and "Radio" are relentless, with saw-blade guitar work and driving rhythms, displaying everything Stray From the Path do so well when they give themselves a little room to breathe.
But the problem is that there simply aren't enough tracks that work this way on the album, and it's unfortunate because the Brooklyn natives clearly have it in them to release another record at the very least as exciting and refreshing to the genre as MYOH was in 2009.
The album was pretty good, and overall definitely worth a listen.
Stray From The Path release their 7th full-length, and this time have a bit more to say. Formed in 2001, the sound they branded hasn't really strayed from the path at all over the years. They have been writing in a similar format instrumentally, and vocally for over a decade now. Although, "Anonymous" is just about as evolved as any fan could have asked for. With each album beginning to sound more and more like Rage Against The Machine's "Evil Empire" (1996), this one takes the cake. Both singles SFTP released prior to the albums drop, hold a serious acquaintance to the early RATM sound. One of those tracks being their recent music video 's "Badge & A Bullet", Stray From The Path lyrically attack "The System" and "Corrupt Law Officials". Ironically much alike RATM, but not a big transition from previous Stray From The Path. Seeing so many negative comments since this albums' date of release, puzzled me to wonder what fans had really been expecting. Stray's last full-length Sumerian Record release, "Rising Sun" (2012), was not much different than Anonymous. In many ways, it could just be seen as an installment.
The album opens with an introduction to the "Anonymous" theme, with a song titled "False Flag". It builds up, and hits hard like expected. By the third track "Radio", featuring Jesse Barnett of Stick to Your Guns, you're probably hooked. They pull you in with aggression, and the fast-pace drum work sets up for what many consider to be the best song on the record. "Scissor Hands", the fourth track on the album, re-introduces Drew York's old vocal styles and ideas. We hear the first "Blegh", the first direct use of the "F-word", and all the while being perfectly backed by the high screams of Jason Aalon Butler, of L.A post-hardcore band "Letlive". The 3 tracks that follow, "Black Friday", "Counting Sheep", and "Slice Of Life", are in my opinion the 3 best tracks of the 10 track record. The eighth song on the album, "Tell Them I'm Not Home", unfortunately gave me a bad taste. It didn't turn my opinion on the entirety of the album, but did show evidence to one of SFTP's minor flaws on this album. Throughout the record, repeated guitar riffs, choruses, and especially lyrical repetition, become a serious annoyance to any listener. Off of that, the ninth track "Landmines", re-boots the RATM feel in my opinion, but played out well with a sick drumming style. The final track on the album, "Anonymous" is pretty much just a final push. It builds up with John F. Kennedy's "Conspiracy Speech", and concludes with an aggressive riff, revolt based lyrics, and a well played out ending, to a pretty good record.
Don't say I didn't told you so ;)
Because the problem with Anonymous is not that it's the work of a talentless band -- if anything the band's sound is as refined as its ever been -- it's simply that Stray From the Path have vocalized their painfully consistent message over the course of three albums now, and their songwriting just hasn't kept up the same overall quality and ingenuity as it did back in 2009 on MYOH. The singles "False Flag" and "Badge & Bullet" are simultaneously both as generic sounding as the band has ever been, while also validating pretty much any and every Rage Against The Machine comparison you could make of Drew's vocals. Furthermore, whereas MYOH had cleverly biting lyrics such as "negative and violent, we're all so important," Anonymous leaves us with overly repetitious phrases like "pull the pin on the f***** grenade!" that are as nonsensical as they are abundant.
However, this isn't to say Anonymous doesn't have its moments of greatness here and there. Track "Scissor Hands" features Jason Butler of post-hardcore band Letlive., and his higher range weaving in between Drew York's growls and signature "blehs" add a viciously entertaining touch. Furthermore, tracks "Slice of Life" and "Radio" are relentless, with saw-blade guitar work and driving rhythms, displaying everything Stray From the Path do so well when they give themselves a little room to breathe.
But the problem is that there simply aren't enough tracks that work this way on the album, and it's unfortunate because the Brooklyn natives clearly have it in them to release another record at the very least as exciting and refreshing to the genre as MYOH was in 2009.
The album was pretty good, and overall definitely worth a listen.
Stray From The Path release their 7th full-length, and this time have a bit more to say. Formed in 2001, the sound they branded hasn't really strayed from the path at all over the years. They have been writing in a similar format instrumentally, and vocally for over a decade now. Although, "Anonymous" is just about as evolved as any fan could have asked for. With each album beginning to sound more and more like Rage Against The Machine's "Evil Empire" (1996), this one takes the cake. Both singles SFTP released prior to the albums drop, hold a serious acquaintance to the early RATM sound. One of those tracks being their recent music video 's "Badge & A Bullet", Stray From The Path lyrically attack "The System" and "Corrupt Law Officials". Ironically much alike RATM, but not a big transition from previous Stray From The Path. Seeing so many negative comments since this albums' date of release, puzzled me to wonder what fans had really been expecting. Stray's last full-length Sumerian Record release, "Rising Sun" (2012), was not much different than Anonymous. In many ways, it could just be seen as an installment.
The album opens with an introduction to the "Anonymous" theme, with a song titled "False Flag". It builds up, and hits hard like expected. By the third track "Radio", featuring Jesse Barnett of Stick to Your Guns, you're probably hooked. They pull you in with aggression, and the fast-pace drum work sets up for what many consider to be the best song on the record. "Scissor Hands", the fourth track on the album, re-introduces Drew York's old vocal styles and ideas. We hear the first "Blegh", the first direct use of the "F-word", and all the while being perfectly backed by the high screams of Jason Aalon Butler, of L.A post-hardcore band "Letlive". The 3 tracks that follow, "Black Friday", "Counting Sheep", and "Slice Of Life", are in my opinion the 3 best tracks of the 10 track record. The eighth song on the album, "Tell Them I'm Not Home", unfortunately gave me a bad taste. It didn't turn my opinion on the entirety of the album, but did show evidence to one of SFTP's minor flaws on this album. Throughout the record, repeated guitar riffs, choruses, and especially lyrical repetition, become a serious annoyance to any listener. Off of that, the ninth track "Landmines", re-boots the RATM feel in my opinion, but played out well with a sick drumming style. The final track on the album, "Anonymous" is pretty much just a final push. It builds up with John F. Kennedy's "Conspiracy Speech", and concludes with an aggressive riff, revolt based lyrics, and a well played out ending, to a pretty good record.
Don't say I didn't told you so ;)