This tangent leads us to one of my favorite tracks on the record “Bread & Roses” featuring the vocal stylings of Stick to Your Guns vocalist Jesse Barnett where he’s utilized as a melodic source for the chorus. I’m glad to see bands take bold stands in regard to some of these sensitive topics even if it angers those who might support certain views, ideations or lifestyles. To each their own of course, but the reality is that the government does not care if your arm gets blown off, they care about control, oil and money. In a short commentary on the subject, the way this country treats these individuals who ‘serve the country’ is horrendous and the fact that we have homeless veterans is a travesty even if I might disagree enlisting in the first place. The line “Send ‘em to the furnace/ “Thank you for your service”/ is particularly haunting essentially indicating the governments willingness to file the young people who enlist into these harsh conditions leaving them scarred mentally and physically with just a thank you letter.
The track “Chest Candy” comments on the military complex of America in a very direct manner shouting “Tell me the ***ing truth/Who do you recruit?/Drifters and disposable youth.” Tom’s guitar work on this track is a true standout with the riffs coming off extremely brutal especially coupled with the thick basslines and powerful drum work. The breakdown callout “Off with their ***ing heads!” is absolute savage and Drew’s snarl when shouting these lyrics is passionate and charged. The first single “Guillotine” follows suit with themes of greed, gluttony and financial impropriety. A couple particularly biting quips include “Kill/Kill because you can/But now you better ***ing pray you got a body cam” and the aggressive callout “Part 3 cause *** 1,2/And if you fly that blue flag, then *** you too.” The little audio clip of the New York City police officer right before the immensely potent blast beat section is a clever inclusion and adds to the stinging quality of the lyricism for the track. Given the uptick in police brutality, unregulated police activity and the nature in which officers act when in uniform, there is an abundance of material in which to base these lyrics off.
#Subliminal music series
The following track “III” is the third installment in the bands “Badge & A Bullet” series of songs and this one is even less forgiving to the men and women in blue. The album continues with “May You Live Forever” which smashes you over the head with its off-time rhythms and powerful open chord strums. Many of Craig’s intense rhythm patterns border on progressive or mathy but they meld perfectly with the straightforward and groovy nature of Tom’s riffage. The album takes no time to explode with the opener “Needful Things” which examines the state of the country through the lens of the older generation holding back the progress of the younger generation with the tagline “Are you in or in the way?” A common occurrence is the ferocious drumming of Craig Reynolds who is now a big part of the songwriting process with Stray with both guitarist Tom and he livestreaming on twitch the writing process of some of the tracks for this record.
Drew York sounds as ready to take my lunch money as ever. They sound invigorated musically with some of their most vicious riffs and breakdowns to date lyrically each line stings and punches and vocally Mr. Each track hones in on a controversial topic, takes a stance and doubles down aggressively and passionately.
Stray’s sealed and branded form of political, groovy metalcore hits harder than ever considering the news headlines and turmoil of the world in these most recent couple of years. Stray From the Path is the band and “Euthanasia” is the record, their tenth to be exact. It’s hard to believe that a band can be ten records into their career and somehow create some of the most fueled, fiery and inspired music that they’ve ever conjured.
Review Summary: Are You In Or In The Way?
0 kommentar(er)
