Myspace Malediction: Stray From the Path

Continuing the recent tradition of the brutal combination between hardcore and metal, Stray From the Path represents the latest influx of metalcore that is bringing back the roots of hardcore and crossover, instead of completely absorbing into an all out death/thrash/melodic death metal band like so many of their peers have been doing. While they don’t necessarily break the mold, Stray From the Path don’t rely on clean cut vocals, melodic hooks, or Napalm Death riffs to get the job done–they are instead still a hardcore band who merely seek brutality and chaos to get the job done. I recently got to take a moment with guitarist Tom Williams to discuss the latest and greatest from the band including their latest tour, their new album, and their upcoming appearance at the New England Metalfest.

AMR: How would you describe the Stray From the Path sound?

Tom: Devastating. Complete Terrification.

AMR: What are your main influences past and present?

Tom: Sidekick ID, Apple computers, pizza, Wendys, stolen trailers, Rage Against the Machine, Cats, Keibler the dog, glarf, and the dream of eating sushi on tour.

AMR: This past summer you embarked on your Raise Hell North American tour that, while containing quite a few dates, seemed to focus on a handful of states instead of single dates all across the country. I like this tactic because it allows you to really saturate larger states and get your name out. Was this the band’s motivation?

Tom: Well we wanted to hit every state as much as possible, so we made it 6 weeks long and hit most of the country up. The tour was pretty sweet, but our van sucked and Frank White hallucinated a lot because of the heat and we had no air conditioning. Raise hell.

AMR: Just last week you began your latest tour that will last through this spring in anticipation for the release of your new record Villains coming out on Sumerian Records in May. Would you consider 2008 to be your breakout year?

Tom: Fuck yeah dawg, 2008 is going to rule. Our record drops may 13th, on one of the best labels out right now. We are going to be on tour non stop, and raising hell. The only way we will be home is if the New York Rangers are in the Stanley Cup Finals, in that case I will need to fly home.

AMR: Being a New England boy, born and raised, I have been attending the New England Metal and Hardcore Festival in Mass going on six years straight, and from my perspective, it almost seems like all the major acts these days got their springboard from New England Metalfest (i.e. God Forbid, Killswitch Engage, Shadows Fall, Diecast, All That Remains, As I Lay Dying, Converge etc) after their respective performances. Do you find this to be a big opportunity for Stray From the Path, or will you be treating it equally to every other show on this tour?

Tom: Well we are all really stoked on it, because we are playing the same day as Meshuggah which rules. But I would bet all our money that kids will go watch like From Autumn To ashes or something like that instead. [Cody's Note: From Autumn to Ashes? Ha! This should be fun.] But I can assure you, our set will be relentless.

AMR: Who will be your touring companions this time around?

Tom: We will be on tour w/ The Warriors, Elysia and The Ghost Inside. We will be announcing tours after New England Metal Fest very shortly.

AMR: Tell us about your new album, Villains. What can the un-initiated listeners expect?

Tom: Its relentless as fuck. Its faster than anything we have done, its more devastating than anything we have ever made and the record sounds amazing. It was recorded @ God City studios and it came out exactly how we wanted it to.

AMR: Is there anything else you’d like to add for our readers?

Tom: Were going to be on tour forever, so come out to shows. Our new record drops may 13th on Sumerian Records, and will be in stores everywhere. Thank you all so much dawgs!!

http://www.myspace.com/strayfromthepath

Written by CODY