ALBUM REVIEW: PAPA ROACH Ask “Who Do You Trust?”
‘Who Do You Trust’ is the iconic Californian rockers, PAPA ROACH,10th album (out on Eleven Seven Music) and brings the band firmly into the present with new vibes erring in the lighter side with pop-rock tracks sitting nicely alongside their more traditional sound. Released on 18th January, it’s definitely different from the other 9 offerings and despite several listens I still can’t make up my mind what I really feel about it.
‘The Ending’ is a rap-rock anthem. Big sounding with Jacoby Shaddix sounding as good as ever . ‘Renegade Music’ follows in a very similar vein. Huge sounding and full of layers of sound, expertly played by superb musicians, cleverly arranged and a delight on the ears. ‘Not The Only One’ is such a variety of styles in one song, from a pop edged big chorus, flooding into a grime ridden buzzy riffs and rap.
The title track “Who Do You Trust’ is everything that Papa Roach does best. Stadium filling Rock, They’ve hit the right spot for me with this one. But then another change of vibe with ‘Elevate ‘. Light, uplifting gang chant leading into the rap vocal and layers of synth, guitars and drums. Bordering on pop-rock with melodic vocals and a clarity to the lyrics. However, t’s a sure-fire winner in the sing along stakes. I couldn’t get it out of my head.
‘Come Around’ grows and grows to another fab vocal. You have to give it to these guys, they do sound fabulous. It is another strong track as is ‘Feels Like Home’ which has energy and some nice fuzzy riffs and yet another great chorus, big, loud and memorable. ‘Problems’ is a nice track, I’m waiting for the big punch that doesn’t really come despite the potential, it does grow but it just misses the mark. ‘Top Of The World’ I like, heavy with rap but the melody is big, riffs are buzzy and grimy and it is an enjoyable track.
‘I Suffer Well’ is a full-on punk track and is just fabulous, this album is so varied and this is a nice change from the very pop feeling of many of the tracks and it is so short at under 2 minutes that it punctuates the album like a big right hook. ‘Maniac’ has synths, buzzy riffs, feedback and a strong lyric. Which leads in nicely to the final track, ‘Better Than Life’ which brings this very diverse album to a close with more electro rock overtones.
I can’t make up my mind if the diversity in this album is a good thing or not. The majority of the tracks are all so short at just over the 3 minute mark you can’t quite get your teeth into some of them. Papa Roach have always set challenges for themselves and have been at the forefront of creativity for over 25 years so reinventing their sound again is no surprise, I’m just not sure how it will sit with older Roach fans but they will gain some new ones with this album I’m certain.
Review by : Lindsay Smith-Boam
First published on Metal Planet Music
Papa Roach are:
Jacoby Shaddix, Jerry Horton, Tobin Esperance and Tony Palermo
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Catch the band on their tour:
GOIN’ BACK TO CALI TOUR:
Jan 18, 2018 – Sacramento, CA – Ace of Spades (SOLD OUT!)
Jan 19, 2018 – San Francisco, CA – The Regency Ballroom (LOW TICKET ALERT!)
Jan 22 – Los Angeles, CA – The Roxy (SOLD OUT!)
Jan 23 – Los Angeles, CA – The Roxy (SOLD OUT!)
Jan 24 – Los Angeles, CA – The Roxy (SOLD OUT!)
ATTENTION! ATTENTION! TOUR
w/ Shinedown and Asking Alexandria
Feb 20, 2019 – Estero, FL – Hertz Arena
Feb 22, 2019 – Fayetteville, NC – Crown Complex
Feb 23, 2019 – Knoxville, TN – Civic Coliseum
Feb 24, 2019 – Huntington, WV – Big Sandy Superstore Arena
Feb 26, 2019 – Dayton, OH – Nutter Center
Feb 28, 2019 – Baltimore, MD – UMBC Fieldhouse
Mar 1, 2019 – Hershey, PA – GIANT Center
Mar 2, 2019 – Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun Arena
Mar 5, 2019 – Youngstown, OH – Covelli Centre
Mar 7, 2018 – Ft. Wayne, IN – War Memorial Coliseum
Mar 8, 2019 – Milwaukee, WI – Fiserv Forum
Mar 9, 2019 – Green Bay, WI – Brown County Arena
Mar 11, 2019 – Minneapolis, MN – Target Center
Mar 12, 2019 – Fargo, ND – FargoDome
Mar 15, 2019 – Lincoln, NE – Pinnacle Bank Center
Mar 16, 2019 – Cedar Rapids, IA – US Cellular Center
Mar 17, 2019 – St. Louis, MO – Chaifetz Arena
Mar 19, 2019 – Wichita, KS – INTRUST Bank Arena
Mar 20, 2019 – Loveland, CO – Budweiser Gardens