Reviewed by: Meg

Artist: Papa Roach

Album: The Paramour Sessions

Genre: Alt Rock

Papa Roach is:
 Jacoby Shaddix – Vocals
 Jerry Horton - Guitar
 Tobin Esperance – Bass
 Dave Buckner – Drums

Papa Roach’s latest offering “The Paramour Sessions” marks the band’s fifth full-length release. Recorded between October 2005 and February 2006 in the historic Paramour Mansion in Hollywood Hills, (where other known artists Gwen Stefani and H.I.M. have laid down tracks), the new album is an interesting mix of love, hate, confusion and acceptance, versus the typical dark and melancholy music Papa Roach is known for.  Instead, this album takes on a more rock feel, abandoning the older rap-rock/nu-metal sound the band boasted on their earlier releases.

The album explodes with the band’s first single  “…To Be Loved”, a high energy punk rock aural assault. A significant departure from their typical radio single style, this song is a nice breath of fresh air. Even putting the lyrics aside, the music itself is enough to get your moving. Complete with “Whoa uh oh oh’s ”, this track is a great opener for this highly addictive disc.

The energy continues with the second track, “Alive” a high octane head bangers dream. It comes careening in with the sound of a pick scratching strings before launching into a frantic guitar panic attack. Shaddix’s vocals lash out with a feeling of urgency and a bit of edge during the verses before smoothing out for the big melodic chorus. A simple in-your-face drum line carries the whole piece while the guitars and bass race around the framework. The guitar nimbly runs through the spotlight right before the song wraps up with a quick, to-the-point ending.

One of my favorite tracks on the new disc is “Forever”. A truthful expression of a darker side, the listener follows through the story of loss, loneliness and addiction.. Shaddix’s voice takes on a deep soulful quality as it floats over the simple drum and bass line. A whaling guitar creeps in and accents Shaddix’s words right before the chorus explodes. . The song has a very full sound that really connects with the listener to create a visual and auditory story.

The album closes with a hauntingly beautiful piece called “Roses On My Grave”. Taking a look at the reality of mortality and love, Shaddix sings over a mesmerizing string arrangement. The instruments compliment the story perfectly, accenting the emotional peaks with gigantic cymbal crashes and supporting the troughs with powerful rumbling low-end bass. While the lyrics paint an interesting picture, I’m far more inclined to get lost in the magnificent musical soundscape offered up. The piece ends abruptly, causing a moment of panic while your ear frantically aches for a little more nourishment.

Overall “The Paramour Sessions” is a solid 13 track rock album with several additive tunes. I wasn’t sure what to expect with this album and it was nice to be pleasantly surprised. While not lyrically complex or deep, it does seem very straightforward and honest with energetic, and in some cases emotionally moving music. At some points the album seems a little too cliché, repetitive and sophomoric with lyrics, but I can overlook those instances for the stronger musical pieces that emerge. Fans of Papa Roach will definitely notice this slight change in direction for the band, but will still probably appreciate a good handful of tracks at the very least.  While not likely to be in heavy rotation, the album is worth a listen.

Rating: 7.5/10

Track Listing:
1. …To Be Loves
2. Alive
3. Crash
4. The World Around You
5. Forever
6. I Devise My Own Demise
7. Time Is Running Out
8. What Do You Do?
9. My Heart Is Fist
10. No More Secrets
11. Reckless
12. The Fire
13. Roses On My Grave

Website: www.paparoach.com