Papa Roach: Metamorphosis

Mar 22 2009 by Paul Cole, Sunday Mercury

PAPA ROACH

Metamorphosis

(Polydor)

wIT feels a long time since the heady days of Nu Metal but Papa Roach, just added to the Download festival bill, are survivors. They’re still in business after stepping back to the future, dropping their rap references for old-fashioned heavy rock. It’s illustrated by aptly titled Change Or Die and single Hollywood Whore, which nods to classic Motley Crue. But the main reason Jacoby Shaddix & Co have lasted the distance is their knack of pairing half-decent lyrics with crisp crunch, here carried off well in Lifeline and Had Enough. Not their best but certainly a metal metamorphosis. JD