Stray From The Path have been knocking over tea cups and spitting in the coffee’s of the powers that be for quite some time, but have majorly ramped it up for their seventh studio album ‘Subliminal Criminals’, an angry punch in the mouth to the shit we are fed (literally and metaphorically) through TV, Radio, Politics, Food and Health in this ever increasing Orwellian world.
‘Outbreak’, the first song recorded and the stand out track on the album is an attack on the healthcare system and how illness is now a money making scheme run by huge transnational pharmaceutical companies and government; an ode to recent press here in the UK where doctors have been lambasted for handing out antibiotics like sweeties, to keep patients happy, whilst not addressing the root cause and increasing the resistance of the virus, thus threatening our future wellbeing. The seriousness of the claim is accompanied by a beast of a vocal drop by Drew York where he declares “outbreak, subliminal criminals, fuck this system”.
It’s about time someone picked up the mantle left by Rage Against The Machine, both lyrically and musically, and this volatile offering from Stray From The Path could be just the ticket. There is more than just the odd Rage reference musically, opening track ‘The New Gods’ begins with a screeching guitar intro akin to Morello and York’s vocals sound punchy and raw like Da La Rocha. But Stray are their own beast and the heavier Hardcore low end highlights the depth of this band, and that they deserve their own plinth.
‘Badge & A Bullet Pt II’ offers a discourse of anti police sentiment, “trigger happy lunatics walking a beat” and questions whether justice is common place. It is of course referencing the increase in police brutality in the US, with the rise in gun and taser usage, and the various killings of members of the general public.
The aural and lyrical intensity is turned up in ‘D.I.E.P.I.G.’, a song belted out at Front Porch Step a.k.a. singer/songwriter Jake McElfresh who has been accused of sexual harassment by several young girls. The song doesn’t beat around the bush either, “hey predator, what do you say”, “take him out to the slaughter house, it’s time for you to D.I.E.”. York’s vocals are incredible throughout, rapid like machine gun bullets with perfect diction, often lacking in the genre, giving it a cool, smooth finish it so strongly deserves.
The album is not short of cameos either with ‘First World Problem Child’ featuring Sam Carter, a song about rich, white kids moaning about their privileged position, Carter’s recognisable vocals giving the song a dimensional shift and an added sting in the tail. ‘Eavesdropper’ features another British frontman in Rou Reynolds from Enter Shikari, his unique vocals initially being spoken before his familiar tone adds volumes to a song about hacking and the increase in public surveillance.
This album is a welcome one, it hits hard and it hits true. There are a lot of things that are going on in our society and if Punk and Hardcore can’t address it, then we really are in trouble. If you prefer songs about falling in love or heartbreak, then Stray’s new release probably isn’t for you, but if you care about the world, the people in it, justice, and freedom then ‘Subliminal Criminals’ might just provide the necessary canvas for an aural revolution, and who knows what else.
DAVE BULL