Review Summary: After three years, Papa Roach returns with another studio album. Again a little different, again great.
Papa Roach are a band that I like and that I also enjoy because their sound is always changing from album to album, whether it's more or less, they are always trying to push their boundaries and come up with new and fresh ideas. Nu-metal, rap-rock, hard rock, alternative metal, electro rock, punk-rock/pop are all genres they are or have been in.
Their 11th studio album Ego trip proves that. We've got Kill the Noise, a classic Papa Roach burner that combines Jerry Horton's cutting riffs, Tobin Esperance's fat bass line, Tony Palermo's reliable and driving drums and Jacoby Shaddix's relentless character vocals, with the fact that when it comes to his Shut Up scream you're like that's exactly the shit I want from them. Then the other tracks Dying to Believe which features an electric backing and the punk-rock Cut the Line are similar.
Next we have another motivational anthem along the lines of Born for Greatness, Stand Up where the band goes from hip-hop parts to a rock chorus and then to a raucous rave climax.
While it's a shame that there's perhaps an overly obvious attempt to make this another Born for Greatness which is one of the biggest hits of recent years but despite the considerable similarities the track pulls you in through the band's relentless energy and Shaddix's sincerity which comes through in his vocal work.
The album has 14 tracks. Besides the aforementioned typical Papa Roach burners with precise riffs and motivational rock-hip-hop anthem, there are the epic and powerful sounding Unglued and Killing time, the electro-rock-pop Bloodline, Liar, the title track Ego trip, the punk-rock Always Wandering and No Apologies, and the acoustic ballad Leave a light on. It's all rounded off wonderfully with I surrendar which seems to have fallen off the Crokeed Teeth album.
And there's also that track with the saxophone, great riff and tik-tok star, Swerve. The first single released promising that Papa Roach are back, fresh and ready to party.
And so they are. Papa Roach are all about having fun, there are no wanked out solos on the album to perhaps prove any skill of their own, every riff, bass line, played percussion serves to create a sincere banger that you will happily haedbang to and scream your lungs out and sweat all over your clothes at the gig.
With the release of the singles before the album itself, I expected the best Papa Roach album in 10 years to be coming. Shaddix then said it was the best album of their career. No and no. After all, Infest, Lovehatetragedy and The Paramour Session are unmissable. And the reason why I'll probably still put my money on the pidestial Crooked Teeth from recent years is the relative shortness of the songs where only 3 are significantly longer than 3 minutes. At the same time, such as Bloodline Line, Ego trip, Always Wandering or the closing I surrendar could have used one more verse, one more riff.
But it doesn't change the fact that Papa Roach's 11th album is a great ride from beginning to end. Of course, whoever never liked the band or needs complicated riffs and revelatory lyrics, will not be convinced by this album and it is not enough to say Dont Swerve in my Lane. However, those who want a fun explosive ride full of honesty will walk away satisfied.
Papa Roach are entering the 4th decade of their career successfully, full of energy and it doesn't look like they plan to slow down even with 4 or 5 crosses left.
