The time of metamorphosis for Papa Roach

Life does not stand still and everything around us changes. Thus, temporarily everything changed in the story of the American band Papa Roach. After its formation in 1993, the group transformed from an obscure rock quartet, which did not even win the school talent show, into the star of local significance. Later, the time of the lineup substitutions came, Papa Roach saw drastic metamorphoses, and the names of the band members were unchanged till 2008 – soloist Jacoby Shaddix, guitarist Jerry Horton, bassist Tobin Esperance and drummer Dave Buckner. Later, it was high time to grow for the band – in spite of the fact that the Warner Brothers workers appreciated the potential of Papa Roach, they finally refused to sign the band. Nevertheless, the more decisive label Dreamworks Records signed the contract with the group and did not lose – the debut disc Infest became the real breakthrough of the musicians into the world of rock music. The career of Papa Roach got bigger each year, but in 2006 they saw the change for the worse. That year, Howard William Roatch, the relative of Jacoby Shaddix, in whose honor he called the band, committed suicide. However, the dedicated to the deceased disc The Paramour Sessions demonstrated the perfect shape of the musicians. In 2007, the collective saw a tense situation, resulting in the leave by Dave Buckner. He was substituted by Tony Palermo at the drum kit. It seems like this year the Papa Roach members decided that it is time for the next changes and released the long-play titled Metamorphosis.

The new musical direction on Metamorphosis

When such a big band as Papa Roach releases a new disc, you always got interested – what can the artists make new after selling over ten million albums all over the world? Can they really create something astonishing? Yes, they still can do it. First of all, you will not find the so-called rapcore on Metamorphosis, which seems at least curious. Neither has the disc those soft ballads, which were so characteristic of the last two releases by Papa Roach. And the listener gets questioned again – what does this disc contain? Well, the answer is clear from the first chords. Metamorphosis has the well-done, energetic hard rock in all its dimensions – from the dewy-eyed power ballads to the outrageous fast-tempos. Some songs could be appreciated to their merits at the concerts of Papa Roach. First of all, you should notice among them the 80s-inspired catchy single Lifeline and the straight-line, filled with disgust track Hollywood Whore, written about Britney Spears and Paris Hilton. The other highlights of the disc are the sexual tune I Almost Told You That I Loved You, which is destined to be the strip bar hit for its sensual rhythm, and romantic balladry piece Carry On. Such tracks as March Out Of The Darkness and Night Of Love have all you loved in Papa Roach on the eve of their fame – including energy and pressure. The up-tempo melody Into The Light is sure to be remembered for the guitar riffs by Mick Mars, the Motley Crue guitarist, who guest-starred for Metamorphosis.

The concentrated hard rock energy

Initially, the Papa Roach members planned to title the new attempt Days Of War, Nights Of Love – according to the titles of the first and eleventh tracks as they go. However, they finally chose to call it Metamorphosis – may be, to stress the importance of all those changes that took place within the band itself and its style. Well, the participants of Papa Roach change the title of the disc in the final moment not for the first time, as they also like to do with the titles of the tracks. The same time we understand once again that the creative search is not an easy process. Although the artists finished with rapping, which was one of the clue components of their songs, the quality of the long-play Metamorphosis did not suffer. Talented people have talents in everything, and the brand new approach of Papa Roach to the composition of the songs proves in again. Besides, there is no wonder that the album is a concentrated charge of hard rock, as this disc became the embodiment of a long-time dream for Jacoby Shaddix and his Papa Roach colleagues – they all wanted to create the near-classical rock. It seems like even the cover of Metamorphosis was designed to demonstrate that youthful uplift in the hearts of the band members. It is fulfilled in strict monochromatic gamma, but at the same time it has the airs of jolly and energy. All in all, describing Metamorphosis in a couple of words, one can say it is the unstrained rock power, multiplied by the professionalism of the artists.

Ninelle Kazakoff

04.03.2009

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