Villains is the third studio album by American metalcore band Stray from the Path, released on May 13, 2008, through Sumerian Records and Victory Records. The album was recorded at God City Studio in Salem, Massachusetts, and produced by Kurt Ballou, guitarist for Converge. It marked a significant stylistic shift for the Long Island quintet, departing from their earlier technical metalcore sound in favour of a more direct and stripped-down hardcore approach.
Recording and production
Villains was recorded in 2007 at God City Studio in Salem, Massachusetts. The year 2008 represented one of Ballou's most productive periods as a producer; Decibel magazine placed five of his productions in their annual top 40 list that year, with releases from Torche, Genghis Tron, Blacklisted, Have Heart, and Trap Them also among his 2008 output.
Music and themes
Villains represents a marked departure from Stray from the Path's earlier technical metalcore approach. Where prior releases featured layered, complex arrangements, Villains trades that intricacy for brevity and directness, with its eleven tracks completing in just over twenty minutes.