Germany’s Elwood Stray are back! After having released two EPs and multiple singles since 2017, they now reveal their full-length debut album “Gone With The Flow”. „Outcast“ opens up with a wild and fat modern metal sound. Huge momentum in between chuggy break sections creating an anthemic pop rock sound, combined with a modern metalcore side and stomping beats. Elwood Stray’s strong clean vocals first shine through in “Playing Along” and easily catch up with the band’s hardcore driven sound, which is also to be found in heavyhitting tracks like “Negative” and “No Cure”. The latter even drifts into nu-metalcore waters with one of the most uncompromising breakdowns you’ll ever hear.
Apart from their heavy side, that often shows in a nasty attitude, there’s a decent amount of modern rock elements in some tracks (“Decay”) beside the refrains. A short homage to film scores is found in “Four Shells”, a calm interlude that perfectly prepares for the melodic hardcore-driven “Seasons” – a song that every fan of the genre will absolutely love. The album culminates in “Pendulum”, the album’s emotional climax and perfect closer to it.
1. Outcast
2. Playing Along
3. Half-Life
4. Decay
5. Uncertain Me
6. No Cure
7. Four Shells
8. Seasons
9. Relieved
10. Negative
11. Pendulum