Spring Break
No 'Metamorphasis' to be found in Papa Roach
1 and a half out of 5 stars
Travis Moore
Issue date: 3/26/09 Section: Focus
"Metamorphosis" is an album title that doesn't really mean anything. It's like "Revolution" or "Crossroads" or "The (anything but 'White') Album"; it's just a name that implicitly reboxes the same basic crap in a prettier, more "genuine" package.
It should surprise nobody, therefore, that Papa Roach's new album "Metamorphosis" is not much of a metamorphosis at all. It offers that familiar brand of "I'm suburban, hear me roar" attitude from the guys who helped popularize metal-pop back when we were all stupid enough to think it stood for something important.
But unlike those tracks from System of a Down's "Toxicity" you pull up on your iTunes for a nostalgic buzz when your roommate's not around (Yes, we all heard you.), "Metamorphosis" feels sort of pathetic. It desperately clinging to cheap, metal-lite hooks in a last-ditch swipe at pop-cultural relevance. You've heard it all before, and chances are good you won't like it any more now.
It never plumbs any emotional depth beyond "People die in war" and "I disapprove of war," but for whatever it's worth, "Metamorphosis" is very accessible, even fun at certain points. "I Almost Told You that I Loved You" is a steamy sex anthem dripping in gritty, yowling guitar and high-gravity percussion. Tracks like "Change or Die" and "State of Emergency" are rousing and vigorous, like an army being led by the man with the megaphone into the flaming maw of somewhere-or-other, and it's all palatable at face-value.
It's when you stop to ask where the hell he's taking you that the album's studio-polished guitar grinding falls apart: the lyrics are bad. They're abysmally bad. Middle-school-poetry-slam bad. And they're relentless.
In fact, if you haven't already, you could probably decide whether or not you're interested in "Metamorphosis" solely on your opinion of the following lines:
"Hollywood Whore / Passed out on the floor / I can't take it no more!"
That's from "Hollywood Whore." Try this one:
"How could you deceive me / I'm begging you to leave me / Go to hell."
If either of these touched you, go buy this album now. Seriously. You will not be disappointed - there are plenty more winners where those came from.
Alternately, if you're in it for the hooks and willing to overlook the terrible lyrics, then "Metamorphosis" might have something for you - especially since Papa Roach have finally shed the rapcore elements of their music. It is perhaps the only metamorphic thing about the album, and that's always a merciful decision.
Just keep in mind that the purchase is only encouraging a group that won't die with its dying genre, a group that refuses to truly "change" despite making it the album's namesake. It is a roach that, after years of irrelevance, still refuses to just be squashed.
It should surprise nobody, therefore, that Papa Roach's new album "Metamorphosis" is not much of a metamorphosis at all. It offers that familiar brand of "I'm suburban, hear me roar" attitude from the guys who helped popularize metal-pop back when we were all stupid enough to think it stood for something important.
But unlike those tracks from System of a Down's "Toxicity" you pull up on your iTunes for a nostalgic buzz when your roommate's not around (Yes, we all heard you.), "Metamorphosis" feels sort of pathetic. It desperately clinging to cheap, metal-lite hooks in a last-ditch swipe at pop-cultural relevance. You've heard it all before, and chances are good you won't like it any more now.
It never plumbs any emotional depth beyond "People die in war" and "I disapprove of war," but for whatever it's worth, "Metamorphosis" is very accessible, even fun at certain points. "I Almost Told You that I Loved You" is a steamy sex anthem dripping in gritty, yowling guitar and high-gravity percussion. Tracks like "Change or Die" and "State of Emergency" are rousing and vigorous, like an army being led by the man with the megaphone into the flaming maw of somewhere-or-other, and it's all palatable at face-value.
It's when you stop to ask where the hell he's taking you that the album's studio-polished guitar grinding falls apart: the lyrics are bad. They're abysmally bad. Middle-school-poetry-slam bad. And they're relentless.
In fact, if you haven't already, you could probably decide whether or not you're interested in "Metamorphosis" solely on your opinion of the following lines:
"Hollywood Whore / Passed out on the floor / I can't take it no more!"
That's from "Hollywood Whore." Try this one:
"How could you deceive me / I'm begging you to leave me / Go to hell."
If either of these touched you, go buy this album now. Seriously. You will not be disappointed - there are plenty more winners where those came from.
Alternately, if you're in it for the hooks and willing to overlook the terrible lyrics, then "Metamorphosis" might have something for you - especially since Papa Roach have finally shed the rapcore elements of their music. It is perhaps the only metamorphic thing about the album, and that's always a merciful decision.
Just keep in mind that the purchase is only encouraging a group that won't die with its dying genre, a group that refuses to truly "change" despite making it the album's namesake. It is a roach that, after years of irrelevance, still refuses to just be squashed.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
paparoach_adddict
posted 4/28/09 @ 4:40 PM EST
fuckkk you! papa roach is the best band ever. this album was the best yet, it was amazing. you obviously have no taste in music.
your mom
posted 4/29/09 @ 4:34 AM EST
haha. welll....as much as I completely disagree, this article was great for a laugh.
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