Stray From The Path: Clockworked
Stray From The Path have never been a band to go quietly, and with their eleventh, and final, album, Clockworked, they’ve proven that even in departure, they have plenty left to scream about. Dropped on May 30, 2025, Clockworked hit listeners like a Molotov cocktail through the headphones. The band, known for its politically charged hardcore and relentless energy, made the surprise release the same day they announced they’d disband by the end of the year. It’s a bold and raw goodbye, capturing both the urgency of their message and the energy that’s defined their two-decade career.
Musically, Clockworked is Stray From The Path at their tightest and most aggressive. Produced by Will Putney and recorded in just a week, the album is ten tracks of pure, unfiltered rage. Kubrick Stare and Shot Caller also made the cut for their Slamdunk setlist, getting fans all hyped up and excited a few days before the release of the album.
If we need to describe the album, there’s definitely elements reminiscent of Rage Against The Machine but in a lot more intense way. Each track feels explosive and somehow urgent. The opener, Kubrick Stare is a bit more experimental, setting the tone with its crushing riffs and snarling vocals, while Shot Caller and Fuck Them All To Hell are definitely on the more political side of things, taking direct aim at political corruption, corporate greed, and societal apathy. But this album isn’t just anger for the sake of it. There’s nuance and vulnerability too. Can’t Help Myself, for example, is one of the most emotionally raw tracks the band has ever released, diving into themes of addiction and personal struggle. It adds an important layer to an album otherwise steeped in protest and defiance. Stray From the Path have always balanced outward rebellion with inner reckoning, and here they achieve that balance at a new level of maturity.
While staying true to their core sound, Clockworked ventures into even more apocalyptic territory, building on the energy of their previous album, Euthanasia. The production sharpens every edge, bringing out the best in each member of the band. Craig Reynolds delivers drumming that’s both precise and chaotic, while Tom Williams’ guitar work cuts through with clarity. Drew York’s vocals have never sounded more commanding, shifting effortlessly between fury and conviction. Linking it all is Anthony Altamura’s bass, adding a dense, pulsing weight that drives the grooves home. It’s arguably the tightest Stray From the Path have ever sounded - a testament to their growth as musicians and their refusal to compromise their intensity.
Thematically, Clockworked reflects the paralysis of modern life - constant scrolling, inescapable news cycles, and a sense of powerlessness in the face of global turmoil. But rather than retreating, the band doubles down. There’s no resignation here - just resistance. The title, Clockworked, and its accompanying artwork underscores that sense of being trapped in a system beyond our control, yet still daring to fight it.
It’s also interesting to note that the album includes guest vocals from two well-known bands who bring something special to the mix. Florent Salfati from the French band LANDMVRKS appears on the title track, Clockworked. His voice adds a sharp contrast to Drew York’s, and helps the song stand out. Jeff Moreira from Poison the Well on the other hand joins for Bodies in the Dark, bringing a darker, more emotional edge to the track. These guest spots don’t feel forced - they fit naturally into the songs and help add more variety and feeling to the album without taking away from the band’s core sound.
As final albums go, this one doesn’t attempt to tie everything up neatly together. It’s not nostalgic or sentimental. Instead, it sounds like a band still pushing forward, still evolving, still angry and that’s what makes it so powerful. For fans of hardcore, political punk, or just music that punches hard and says something real, Clockworked is essential listening. It’s both a culmination and a challenge, daring its audience to stay awake, stay angry, and stay human. In going out on their own terms, Stray From the Path have crafted a final album that feels as vital and dangerous as anything they’ve ever done.
