Papa Roach – Metamorphosis

I’ve always liked Papa Roach but with “Metamorphosis” it’s really simple… they can do a lot better. They played it safe and rehashed every single idea they’ve had over the years (luckily except for the raps) and called it their new album. And did they already fit in so well with the Buckcherries and Mötley Crüe’s of this world before their passage on last year’s Crüefest? Or did that ‘metamorphosis’ happen later on? Hell, Mick Mars even contributes a solo to the song “Into The Light”. I’m not sure. Fact is I couldn’t slip into the new batch of songs as easily as I did in the past.

Album number six for the Roaches opens with “Change Or Die”, a slogan that rings hollow considering what follows. Things take a turn for the better with “Hollywood Whore” and “I Almost Told You That I Loved You”. If you can get past the inane lyrics that is. But once the band starts to sound like Hinder in “Lifeline” or heads for Nickelback’s neck of the woods with the cheesy ballad “Carry Me”, it seems like we’re a long from home.

If you ask me “Metamorphosis” is the perfect example of a band with an identity crisis and – judging from the back cover – a very crappy stylist.
Score: 5 out of 10
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