ALBUM REVIEW: Internal Atomics – Stray from the Path

Two years ago, STRAY FROM THE PATH were at the forefront of mainstream media for both all the right and all the wrong reasons. Lead single Goodnight Alt Right from 2017’s Only Death Is Real was splitting opinion right down the board and proving so divisive that the band themselves admitted they were struggling to find other acts to tour with once the album had dropped. But, as the Marvel Cinematic Universe has taught us, the good guys win in the end and STRAY FROM THE PATH’s blanket denial to back down in the face of adversity has resulted in a rising of their stock and a left-wing message resonating with a world watching a rise of fascism not seen for nearly 90 years. All this means Internal Atomics, their ninth studio album out today via UNFD, is laced with anticipation and pressure to see if the band can continue the momentum that’s taken them so far in recent years.

If Only Death Is Real was STRAY FROM THE PATH’s attempt to open eyes to the threat of the extreme right, then Internal Atomics is the subsequent rally cry to unite against the evils of the world. Not that there’s any softening of their style in attempting to achieve this, though: this is a bludgeoning half hour of hardcore punk that is wholly uncompromising in its delivery and impact. Long touted as the 21st century successors to RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE for their anger-fuelled attacks on the establishment, Internal Atomics does much to stake that particular claim. Across the record are one-liners that fly out to punch the listener round the head, from Fortune Teller’s hook of “fire, walk with me” to the furious rebuttal in Kickback of “it’s not your fault, it’s just who you are; bullshit”, pointing out that nobody should be given a free pass for their views or opinions if they are directly causing more harm than good; there’s also a wicked cameo from Brendan Murphy of COUNTERPARTS just prior to this refrain as well.

There are also plenty of religious references: The First Will Be Last, although not directly attacking the church, lifts its title from the teachings of Jesus whilst Second Death goes in on the sexual exploitation imposed by priests on young children, vocalist Drew York singing “the power of Christ compels you/to carry out your evil obsession/the power of Christ compels you/no God would ever hear your confession” with such venom that you can almost feel the Almighty punching the air in delight that the issue is being addressed with total conviction. More sombrely is Holding Cells for the Living Hell, discussing the battle York’s mother faces on a daily basis with her mental health and his own anguish that he feels helpless in his efforts to keep her stable. “She used to save me from the monsters underneath my bed/How can I save her from the one inside her head” he laments, a rawness to his delivery ensuring his message hits home as hard as possible.

Unlike previous efforts though, Internal Atomics is laced with a degree of positivity within its lyrics, commenting that despite the struggles currently facing many across the globe, there is still a window of opportunity to change things around. Opening track Ring Leader, for example, encourages those who have been led astray by the words of people in power to take it back, particularly when York says “the circus is nothing without the clown/we gave them a stage but we can tear it down”. Double Down, which features KUBLAI KHAN frontman Matt Honeycutt produces the catchy “you and I are not the same/we’ll never let you be a part of our reality”, which supports the words of Ring Leader as the first step to realising that change is possible. More potently, however, is closing track Actions Not Words, which finishes with the words “the choice is yours/change the world” in a thunderous breakdown that brings Internal Atomics to a shuddering yet triumphant conclusion.

A quick look at the YouTube video for Goodnight Alt Right shows it has been disliked 57,000 more times than liked, but this only goes to show how much STRAY FROM THE PATH are rubbing the right people up the wrong way. With Internal Atomics, they’re going to achieve the same results, only this time through rallying the people to stand up for the good of the world. Keep politics out of metal, some individuals moan; when it produces material this good, it can stay for as long as possible.

Rating: 9/10

Internal Atomics is out now via UNFD. The band will be touring Europe and the UK in December.

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