LIVE REVIEW: Stray From The Path @ The Roundhouse, London

It’s been a steady – arguably slow – rise for STRAY FROM THE PATH, having resolutely done things their own, uncompromising way for twenty years. Now armed with one of their best records in Euthanasia, they’re getting their flowers at last with their biggest headline tour to date and a huge evening at London’s historic Roundhouse, and they’ve brought friends from across the world with them. 

Opening are Japanese metalcore newcomers KNOSIS, featuring former CRYSTAL LAKE vocalist Ryo Kinoshita. They’ve only released a handful of songs to date and play most of them, though not before starting their set as a barbershop quartet, all singing in unison. Then they throw in what sounds like an old 50s pop song that glitches and warbles before Kinoshita screams “what the fuck” and an outrageous snare bomb drops in. Unfortunately, they’re hampered by a poor mix where drums and bass drown out the majority of their songs, which end up careening between blast beats and skittering electronics without anything audible to hold them together between. They also throw in a single MACHINE HEAD riff and NINE INCH NAILS‘ March Of The Pigs, which are awkward bedfellows before considering the bands’ electronic driven metalcore. As good a vocalist as Ryo Kinoshita is, he can’t save this.

Rating: 5/10

Australian up-and-comers VOID OF VISION have a low bar to clear and thankfully they soar over it. Mixing samples and atmospheric synths with crunchy modern ‘core while vocalist Jack Bergin dons his best Rob Halford cosplay, they’re a prime example of the creative direction some bands in the scene are pushing in rather than continually aping Sempiternal. With the majority of their setlist comprised of Chronicles-era material, the crowd are more than up for the demands to get involved. There’s pits almost from the start while the crowd surfers really get started during Hell Hell Hell and keep it up the rest of the set. Buckets of haze and a handful of atmospheric metalcore anthems later, they’ve got the crowd plenty warmed up. 

Rating: 8/10

Main support MAKE THEM SUFFER aim to prove to The Roundhouse why the Aussie scene is regarded by many as a hotbed of modern metalcore. Opening with a searing Ghost Of Me, its barrage of drums is over loud, though new crooner Alex Reade‘s chorus takes flight and redeems a rough start. The crowd go even harder for them, crowd surfers a near constant sight during Bones and a cataclysmic Hollowed Heart. Regular drummer Jordan Mather isn’t with them today, as they admit he’d just got off a 20-hour flight and felt he wouldn’t be up for it, which vocalist Sean Harmanis shows solidarity with by getting the crowd to boo him roundly in a moment of light-heartedness amidst the bludgeoning. The biggest issue isn’t one unique to them; there’s been a less than stellar mix all night so far, the drums for MAKE THEM SUFFER in particular being a sticking point as they often overpower the others, especially when there’s heavy double kick or rapid snare passages. It’s frustrating to see a band that are this tight as a unit not reach their potential through no fault of their own, but it doesn’t stop the crowd adoring every minute. 

Rating: 8/10

At last it’s time for the main event, and STRAY FROM THE PATH refuse to disappoint. Guillotine‘s cascading opening fill gives way to rampaging groove and the mosh call of “you stupid fuck” echoes from thousands of throats. III’s damning indictment of the police is a raucous send up, while Goodnight Alt Right seethes and rages against the rise of fascism. For every person that complains of politics in music, STRAY FROM THE PATH offers a middle finger, as does every person in the crowd as they go feral for their unapologetically left wing lyricism and outspokenness. A guillotine behind the monstrously talented Craig Reynolds makes their stance even clearer, as he provides the rhythmic backbone of their sound, deceptively complex patterns and fills delivered like they’re nothing.

Frontman Drew York rockets round the stage as he spits venomous barbs all the while Tom Williams pours scorn through the guitar, panic chords and churning breakdowns aplenty. For their largest UK headline show to date, they command the stage and room with ease, pulling the crowd close for an incendiary Loudest In The Room, while Needful Things sees York lead the crowd in chanting its chorus back deafeningly. It’s a masterclass performance from a band who’ve never shied away from being confrontational, and a finale of Ladder Work and encore First World Problem Child with KNOSIS‘ Ryo Kinoshita guesting ensures the band and crowd pour every ounce of themselves into a night of riotous, righteous metalcore. 

Rating: 9/10

Check out our photo gallery from the night’s action in London from Anne Pfalzgraf here: 

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