Photo courtesy: Eleven Seven Music
Rating: 2.8
Oh, nu-metal. Just when you think it could stay in the 90s, it always sneaks right back up on you. Nu-metal was a popular genre of music in the 1990s inspired by hip-hop and metal. To be fair, I’m a sucker for the fusion of some heavy riffs and a rap verse here and there (see my catalog with old Linkin Park and Korn). But as the times changed, so did the attention to the genre (and the style of each Nu-metal band). Linkin Park is now stuck re-branding themselves, while Korn teamed up with Skrillex to give us something we have to attempt to translate as music. Even though these said bands have received more backlash for their music compared to their early origins, it’s made them more popular and has helped them monetarily speaking.
The reason why I bring up all of this is because Papa Roach is also a father of the Nu-metal genre. This band from California has been around since 1993 and was one of the bands that brought Nu-metal to the mainstream. Their breakthrough was the 2000 album Infest, which has their most famous song “Last Resort.” They’ve arguably had a solid career, releasing eight albums in their 22 years of existence, with F.E.A.R. (Face Everything and Rise) being the latest album.
Right from the beginning, you know Papa Roach is up to a little bit of something different. On the song “Fear Everything and Rise,” vocalist Jacoby Shaddix works his smooth vocals with some reverb over a pretty catchy instrumental. The immediate idea I get while listening to this for the first time is something that aims to inspire everyone listening, and it’s accomplishing that early on. “Skeletons” is a great follow-up to the opening track because of how Shaddix brings up personal issues and he betters himself from them. But once we get into “Broken As Me,” you get some techno with some heavy chords, reminiscent of a lot of other metalcore bands. This is the feel of the album, with the last songs being more influenced by hip-hop verses, including a feature from rapper Royce D on “Warriors.”
F.E.A.R gives you glimpses of how Papa Roach hasn’t lost their original Nu-Metal touch. Guitarist Jerry Horton’s riffs are heavy enough to complement bassist Tobin Esperance. You get your cliché four power chord choruses with a catchy line or two from Shaddix, with some rapping as well (see “Gravity”). They’re also able to mix some new sounds here and there to add more to the sound they’re known for. Unlike previous Papa Roach albums, F.E.A.R. is a full project. These are ten tracks that compliment each other, and that each tell a personal story most of the listeners can relate to. The heaviness on this album is something you’re not used to as a Papa Roach fan. Maybe the fact they walked into the studio with no music pre-written was a reason why we got this result, but it’s refreshing to hear bands trying new ways to create new music.
What Papa Roach fails to do on F.E.A.R. is push away from the Nu-metal that made them who they are. I know, you’re reading this confused as to why I would recommend a band leave their old sound. But if you look at the mainstream scene now, there are no traces of nu-metal hitting the radio stations. All the fathers of Nu-metal went a complete 180, and it sounds like Shaddix and crew are struggling with letting go. The lyrics also show that. While Shaddix wrote most of his lyrics in the studio, they’re all the same storylines from previous works and it sounds like he’s still stuck in the last decade (rapping about how you’re past the drugs and money isn’t good to get a sympathy card from me either). And while I’m one for breakdowns (I’m a huge metal head if you don’t know by now), they shouldn’t be lead by a keyboard. In that case you’re mixing three genres into one and it sounds way too processed.
Overall, F.E.A.R. is another Papa Roach record that shows a band willing to experiment but in the end afraid to take another step. Mostly bands aren’t recommended to change their style, but with Nu-metal long gone, it might be their only hope to stay relevant. You’ll still have your die-hards waiting in line to buy this album or download it (legally, of course) online. It’s better than their last two albums, but I wouldn’t play any of these songs again on my music player.
