The band created this record during the pandemic, and every ounce of frustration and personal pain has filled it to the brim. Internally struggling with their love for performing after having their livelihoods stripped away, battling with their mental health, being kept apart by distance and inability to travel and so much more was suddenly sprung onto them, and the world continued to plummet into dark places amidst the unprecedented global situation. Despite everything, including a literal broken back, Stray From The Path channeled everything into reigniting their fire and the end result is one of the most terrifying blazes of their career.

Some of the work on show here is their heaviest to date. First single ‘Guillotine’ set the tone for the type of record they’d cooked up, putting those that make profit and benefit from corruption right at the centre of their crosshairs. With savage chugging riffs, pulsating drums and and vocalist Drew Dijorio’s frenzied screams of “off with their fucking heads,” it provided a precise targeted barrage that, after hearing the rest of the album, only scratched the surface of their collective wrath.

‘III’ – a bludgeoning groove heavy track that serves as the third instalment of their ‘Badge & A Bullet’ series of tracks – unleashes hell on law enforcement shadiness, showing disgust for the waves of support it receives through blatant wrongdoings. ‘The Salt In Your Spit’ is a moody and urgent dissection of political malfeasance, with disjointed riffs and hateful lyrics all building towards a doomy and deadly breakdown. There are very few points to catch your breath, with tracks like the vicious album opener ‘Needful Things’, the rhythmically towering ‘Law Abiding Citizen’ and the gut-churning urgency of ‘Chest Candy’ providing hit after hit of targeted hostility, the latter unloading on the predatory tactics of military recruitment in the USA.

There is a very brief mid-point haven in the form of ‘Bread & Roses’, a slow-burning belter that features Stick To Your Guns leading man Jesse Barnett, who lends his velvety vocals to the band’s first ever track with clean singing. A lighter moment it may be, but Dijorio’s vocals are just as spiteful as the rest of the record and the breakdown is unrelenting too, showing that you’re never truly safe from their rage. Closing epic ‘Ladder Work’ traverses everything they’ve covered on the record, presenting colossal guitars, crushing drum-work, bleak lyrics and vitriolic delivery providing an apocalyptic end to an undeniably powerful album. If nothing that you’ve heard here has made your blood boil, listen again.

Stray From The Path have become one of alternative music’s loudest voices for the misrepresented, the mistreated, the discriminated and so much more, and this album amplifies that voice to volumes far louder than anything they’ve done before. The production is absolutely sublime – proof yet again that Will Putney is the absolute king of this genre – and it emphasises every single shred of fury. Every sludgy and groovy riff, every earth-shattering snare hit, every venomous vocal shriek; it’s all been fuelled by the same things that piss us off, and you really can feel it bubbling away in every note. Drummer Craig Reynolds recorded this album with a broken back and he still manages to hit his drums like he hates them, and it all adds to the knockout punch that this album provides.

This is impactful, important and utterly destructive music in its finest and purest form. Like all their records, ‘Euthanasia’ points a gigantic finger at all of the corruption, deceit and inequalities in the modern world, but it provides their strongest argument yet that you should join them in fighting back against it all. If you’ve ever wondered what it might feel like to be speechless yet simultaneously feel the urge to start using your own voice more often, then listen to this album. 

DAVE STEWART

Black Stone Cherry, Shinedown, Thunder, Volbeat, You Me at Six, The Bronx, Marmozets, Milk Teeth, Rolo Tomassi, Boston Manor, Jonathan Davis, The Temperance Movement, Thrice, Baroness, L7, TesseracT, Hatebreed, Cancer Bats, Dragonforce, The Struts, Monster Truck, Less Than Jake, Greta Van Fleet, Whiskey Myers, Thy Art Is Murder, Cradle of Filth, Inglorious, Kreator, The Maine, Stray from the Path, Jamie Lenman, Miss May I, Employed to Serve, Shvpes, Bury Tomorrow, Puppy, Higher Power, Dead Cross, Stick to Your Guns, Blessthefall, The Bottom Line, Emmure, Plini, Myrkur, Knocked Loose, All Them Witches, Malevolence, Zeal and Ardor, No Hot Ashes, Gold Key, The Hyena Kill, Sun Arcana, Tigress, Death Blooms, The Faim, Turbonegro, Corrosion of Conformity, Savage Messiah, Myke Gray, Von Hertzen Brothers, Woes, Powerflo, Sleep Token, and Koyo will join the likes Ozzy Osbourne, Avenged Sevenfold, Guns N’ Roses and more at the Donnington Park based rock/metal festival, which takes place from the 8th to the 10th June. More bands will be revealed soon.

Tickets are available to purchase now on the festival website.

It’s been a bit of a rocky road for Californian band Being As An Ocean. Following the self release of the bands fourth studio album ‘Waiting for Morning to Come’ the bands guitarist Tyler Ross announced that he had bought the rights to the album himself, which caused a lengthy delay in its release. Fans were finally treated to it some 5 months after the original release date and it didn’t disappoint. However the guys never fail to deliver live and their set tonight was no different, the fact that they were supporting may have taken some by surprise but their emotionally charged energy is a joy to behold on any stage, at any time.

Joel Quartuccio’s lyrics have a way of reaching down into the depths of your soul and pulling you into the moment that few can match. The band produce a sound so heavy in places that you almost feel trapped, being drawn in and then hit in the gut by brutal riff after riff. Needless to say the crowd react in the only way they know how with pit after pit after pit. They may have been a support act but Being As An Ocean bring pure excellence to the line up tonight and set up the final set of the night perfectly.

With barely a moment to recover the senses Stick to Your Guns take to the stage, instantly making it their own and launching into a number of tracks from ‘True Views.’ The crowd react in true hardcore fashion with wave after wave of circle pits and crowd surfing. The energy in the room only seems to increase with every breakdown the band throw at them, peaking with classic track ‘Amber’ which sees almost the whole room turned into one big sea of movement.

It was reported that vocalist Jesse Barnett had been suffering with a throat infection but this was certainly not reflected in any way throughout a robust set, which only goes to reassert the bands commitment to providing the best night possible to their fans. After supporting sets with the likes of Architects and Parkway Drive it’s almost a breath of fresh air to see the guys step out of the shadows of some of the biggest hardcore bands around and into their own spotlight. Something that they are long deserving of. 2017 was certainly a huge year for Stick to Your Guns and may they only go from strength to strength in 2018.

CHRISTOPHER LEE

The Hard Aches – ‘Brain Drain’

The melodic punk duo from Adelaide released this new single a few weeks back and are currently on tour all over Australia in support. One of the catchiest bands around at the moment; killer melodies.

The Dopamines – ‘Ire’

‘Ire’ is taken from The Dopamines new album, ‘Tales Of Interest’. Upbeat, modern punk rock with hooks galore. Dig deep in to these guys’ back catalogue – you won’t regret it!

Terrible Love – ‘Doubt Mines’

Based all across the South East of the UK are Terrible Love. One of the isles’ most exciting new punk/hardcore bands. Having been picked up by Big Scary Monsters, a new EP is on it’s way in January. Keep a close eye on these.

Cold Wrecks – ‘Therapy’

Cold Wrecks, from Brooklyn NY, describe themselves as “Dad rock for pop-punkers, pop-punk for emo kids, emo for dads.” I couldn’t put it any better. Their fantastic new split EP with Trash Boyz is out now through Brighter Days Records.

Stick To Your Guns – ‘The Better Days Before Me’

One of the realest, hardest touring modern hardcore bands are back with their new album, ‘True View’, out now through End Hits Records. Hardcore with a real message. Catch them on tour in the UK before the end of the year.

Rise Against – ‘House On Fire’

The Chicago punk legends are back in the UK this month, supporting their new record, ‘Wolves’. 11 tracks of trademark, politically-infused punk rock.

The Dirty Nil – ‘No Weaknesses’

After winning everyone’s hearts on every festival in the UK and Europe this summer, The Dirty Nil have been on my stereo relentlessly since, and should be on yours too. The Canadian trio are loud, swaggy and know how to write a tune. Awesome.

Pizzatramp – ‘Pollyticks’

These riffy, rapid thrash-punks are causing quite a stir in the DIY punk scene. The trio from South Wales have a handful of releases out now through TNS / Plasterer Records. Catch them on tour around the UK over the next few weeks.

Guillotine – ‘Sapphire’

These chaps, signed to Failure By Design have just come off a full UK tour with Brutus. This tune has been rattling around my head since its release late last year. These guys are destined for big things.

Such Gold – ‘Ceiling Stare’

Such Gold are one of the most under-rated bands in punk rock. Having smashed it for years all over the world, punk label Bird Attack Records picked them up. The new EP, ‘Deep In A Hole’ is out now. Riffs, killer melodies and relentless pace.

It will be released this Friday 13th October via Pure Noise Records (US) and End Hits Records (EU).

band will also be playing the following UK shows with Being as an Ocean and Silent Planet.

NOVEMBER
27 NOTTINGHAM Rescue Rooms
28 GLASGOW The Garage
29 MANCHESTER Club Academy
30 LONDON O2 Islington Academy
DECEMBER
01 BIRMINGHAM O2 Institute 2

It is taken from their upcoming sixth album, ‘True View’, which will be released on the 13th October via Pure Noise Records (US) and End Hits Records (EU).

The band will also be playing the following UK shows with Being as an Ocean and Silent Planet.

NOVEMBER
27 NOTTINGHAM Rescue Rooms
28 Glasgow The Garage
29 MANCHESTER Club Academy
30 LONDON O2 Islington Academy
DECEMBER
01 BIRMINGHAM O2 Institute 2

It is taken from their upcoming sixth album, ‘True View’, which will be released on the 13th October via Pure Noise Records (US) and End Hits Records (EU).

The band will also be playing the following UK shows with Being as an Ocean and Silent Planet.

NOVEMBER
27 NOTTINGHAM Rescue Rooms
28 Glasgow The Garage
29 MANCHESTER Club Academy
30 LONDON O2 Islington Academy
DECEMBER
01 BIRMINGHAM O2 Institute 2

Following up their 2016 EP ‘Better Ash Than Dust’, it will be released on the 13th October via Pure Noise Records (US) and End Hits Records (EU). The band have also released a lyric video for the first single, ‘The Sun, The Moon, The Truth: Penance of Self’, which you can view below.

The band will also be playing the following UK shows with Being as an Ocean and Silent Planet.

NOVEMBER
27 NOTTINGHAM Rescue Rooms
28 Glasgow The Garage
29 MANCHESTER Club Academy
30 LONDON O2 Islington Academy
DECEMBER
01 BIRMINGHAM O2 Institute 2

Last year, the band released their EP ‘Better Ash Than Dust’.

Meanwhile, Being as an Ocean will be releasing their fourth album, ‘Waiting for Morning to Come’, this summer on Equal Vision Records, whilst Silent Planet released their second album, ‘Everything Was Sound’, last year on Solid State Records.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wD5IG-X42lQ

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wD5IG-X42lQ

NOVEMBER
27 NOTTINGHAM Rescue Rooms
28 Glasgow The Garage
29 MANCHESTER Club Academy
30 LONDON O2 Islington Academy
DECEMBER
01 BIRMINGHAM O2 Institute 2