Metamorphosis [PA] (CD - 2009)

Papa Roach: Jacoby Shaddix (vocals); Tobin Esperance (guitars, bass guitar, programming, background vocals); Jerry Horton (guitars, background vocals); Tony Palermo (drums, percussion, background vocals).

Audio Mixer: Mike Shipley.

Audio Remasterer: Ted Jensen.

With METAMORPHOSIS, its fifth major-label studio outing, the former nu-metal ensemble Papa Roach aims to reinforce the notion that it is a straightforward hard-rock group, a point hit home by the album's heavily posed cover photo. While the band is content to compete with bands such as Hinder and Nickelback (see the soaring anthem "Lifeline"), it's also not afraid to contemplate the perils of a hedonistic lifestyle, as on the moral-minded mid-tempo "Hollywood Whore." Papa Roach also manages to unveil a few power ballads (most notably the emotive "Carry Me"), a move that may further discourage any lingering fans of its rap-metal era, but please the rock-radio masses. minimize