Review Summary: Taproot has returned to their roots
Stephen Richardson has stated in many reviews that “many bands can do one thing their entire career and do well at it (like AC/DC), we just aren’t one of those bands” from the rap/nu-metal laden beginnings of “Gift” to the more art rock-ish “Welcome” to the more alternative “Blue Sky Research” and finally to the progressive mellow “Our Long Road Home”. Taproot has explored every pathway in the rock/metal catalog, which makes it even stranger for them to make a return to form of sorts in “Plead the Fifth”.
Those who loved “Gift” will ultimately find something to enjoy to here. The lyrical content has gone from the “I love you” phases of the last two albums to the pissed off scornful rants of the first two. The baritone guitars the band used to be so fond of has indeed been dusted off for this release, and the riffs are some of the heaviest the band has ever written not too hard to find on an early Slipknot release or a Sevendust record. Stephen has not brought back the ill-advised rapping style of “Gift” instead he occasionally uses a shouting that would be not hard to find on a pop punk record (maybe Victory Records influenced them?), while it indeed does not elevate any song, it doesn’t slow it down either.
With a setup like this and new energy in the bands writing process you’d think this be great record. However while it does have to be the most hit/miss Taproot release to date, most of the songs in the middle of the record while among the best they’ve written while everything else is definitely a miss. “Fractured (Everything I Said Was True)” admitted is a HUGE guilty pleasure of mine, it’s a great catchy song with surprisingly good lyrics. Songs like “Trophy WiFi” “Stolage” and “911ost” are all again some of the hit songs on this release combining well executed catchy choruses, with hard hitting riffs. However it’s songs like “Game Over“ and “Left Behind” that the band just seems to fail and signs of filler show. Another odd thing is the band seems to be picking up the art of Soulfly-like samples in songs like “Release Me”, doesn’t distract at all, but definitely an odd choice.
Taproot have managed to pick up some slack while gaining new weight. Like it or not this is the loudest, catchiest, and grooviest release Taproot has kicked out yet. While you will probably skip through half of “Plead the Fifth” you’ll probably come back listening to the other half for weeks to come.
Recommended Tracks-
Fractured (Everything I Said Was True)
Release Me
Stolage
911ost
Trophy WiFi
Songs to Skip-
Game Over
Words Don’t Mean a Thing
Left Behind
No View is True
