Subliminal Criminals

On August 14th Long Island hardcore band Stray From The Path released their newest

record, Subliminal Criminals via Sumerian Records. If you are a fan of Stray From The

Path at all, then you are familiar with their vicious commentary on everything from the

current political scene in America to the hardcore music scene. Subliminal Criminals is a

follow up to their 2013 album, Anonymous, and is an album that any Stray From The Path fan is sure to love.

Being a Stray From The Path record, I knew that it was going to be great from the start.

Drew York is in your face with opinions and thoughts immediately when the album

opens. The first song “The New Gods,” has an amazing guitar intro. I personally feel that

this song is a great opener for the album about the 1% of wealthy Americans. This is not

the best song on the album but helps anyone new to Stray From The Path, or old fans,

know what they’re getting into. They cover a lot of issues in this album including all of the scandals with musicians using their platform to pick up underage girls. The album is much like Anonymous in it leaves no important issue untouched. They make their stance very clear in every song.

The third song “Badge and a Bullet Part II” (the first part being on the previous record)

dives right into the issues surrounding police brutality in our country. Both Part I and Part II cover police who think they’re above the law. The opening lyrics of Part II are “It may not be about race/ but it is about color/ May have most of them fooled but not me

motherfucker.” This not only immediately draws the audience’s attention but also picks

up right where the first part left off. Drew York is saying that the “blue uniforms” don’t

mean much to him because they don’t know justice. It’s always interesting to listen to

their songs because they show how on top of the news they are by discussing current

issues of society.

This album is not short on political messages or guest vocals. Guest vocals featured on

Subliminal Criminals include the likes of Sam Carter from Architects, Rou Reynolds

from Enter Shikari, and Cody B Ware. “Eavesdropper” is a powerful track with Rou

Reynolds about the government spying on ordinary citizens. This song is a banger of a

track that would translate well live and create multiple mosh pits, and is personally one of my favorites on the album. Drew York mentions both the 1st Amendment & Edward

Snowden. This whole album features massive guitars and drums behind the disapproval

of the government through their potent lyrics.

The most groundbreaking song on this record to me though is the commentary on the

current scene, called “D.I.E.P.I.G.” One of the most important lines of the song

comments on Jake McElfresh (whose solo project is Front Porch Step), “Taking out the

trash/ leave it on the front porch step.” This song was exclusively streamed on

Alternative Press to call attention to the scandal in the music industry.

(http://www.altpress.com/features/entry/stray_from_the_path_attack_sexual_pred

ators_on_d.i.e.p.i.g_exclusive.)

Overall, this album is definitely worth checking out as it continues on the themes that

Stray From The Path is known for. I fully expect every song from this record to translate

well live and mix well with the hits from their previous records like “Rising Sun” from

their 2011 record with the same name and “Badge and a Bullet” from 2013’s Anonymous.

Stray From The Path is currently in the middle of their fall headliner The Subliminal

Criminals Tour supporting the record with special guests Comeback Kid, Being As An

Ocean, Deez Nuts and Major League. The band is known for their live shows as much as

their politically charged albums. Whenever Stray From The Path plays a show, whether

it’s a hometown show in New York or elsewhere, the audience is moshing, crowd

surfing, and stage diving when possible. York and his fellow bandmates command

nothing less than 100% of energy from their audience. If The Subliminal Criminals Tour

will be your first time seeing Stray From The Path, the entire line up will be well worth it.

Expect nothing but 100% energy from every band on the bill. For information about the

tour check out whereisourliberty.com