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.

At the dawn of the decade, Papa Roach were one of many angst-ridden, tattooed alt-metal bands who mixed in rap with their grim guitars. At the close of the 2000s, the quartet has shed the rap and the angst, ditching all the alt-metal accoutrements to become a knowing update of an '80s Sunset Strip sleaze rock outfit. This is indeed the Metamorphosis hinted at in the title of their fifth album, and while it's possible to debate whether this transformation was inspired by creative or commercial motivations, there is no denying one key fact: Papa Roach may be all about parties now but they're still kind of grim, perhaps a result of the decision to bring back producer Jay Baumgardner, who helmed their 2000 debut, Infest. Still, Papa Roach is a long long way from the depths of Hinder -- that decade of work does give the band a professional snap, plus it never quite seems that Jacoby Shaddix's heart is into slagging that "Hollywood Whore" he berates on the album's first single. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

At the dawn of the decade, Papa Roach were one of many angst-ridden, tattooed alt-metal bands who mixed in rap with their grim guitars. At the close of the 2000s, the quartet has shed the rap and the angst, ditching all the alt-metal accoutrements to become a knowing update of an '80s Sunset Strip sleaze rock outfit. This is indeed the Metamorphosis hinted at in the title of their fifth album, and while it's possible to debate whether this transformation was inspired by creative or commercial motivations, there is no denying one key fact: Papa Roach may be all about parties now but they're still kind of grim. Maybe it's down to the decision to bring back producer Jay Baumgardner, who helmed their 2000 debut, Infest, but Metamorphosis has a dire determination to its purported good times, its riffs grinding instead of greasy, its rhythms clenched where they should be loose. While Papa Roach is a long long way from the depths of Hinder -- that decade of work does give the band a professional snap, plus it never quite seems that Jacoby Shaddix's heart is into slagging that "Hollywood Whore" he berates on the album's first single -- they miss the whole point of this kind of rock & roll raunch: it should be more fun to listen to than it is to take out on the road. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine minimize