Fear; it’s something we all have to face in our lives. Perhaps as a child you were afraid of the dark or maybe you freaked out at the first sign of a spider. As adults, our fears may be more serious and can take us down a dark and dangerous path if we’re not careful. With their latest album, “F.E.A.R.,” Papa Roach has chosen to put a positive spin on the concept of fear. The album title is actually an acronym for “Face Everything And Rise” as the band urges us to put our fears behind us and rise to the occasion as we face life’s challenges.
With 2015 marking the 15th annivesary of their “Infest” album, Papa Roach is still bringing us that signature vibe that made them popular with a record full of killer hooks and huge choruses. With the father son duo of Kevin and Kane Churko producing, the band steps out of the box a bit with some electronica and funky grooves as well as showing a level of maturity that only comes from life experiences. The title track kicks things off and is a huge stadium anthem setting the tone for the rest of the record. The next two tracks, “Skeletons” and “Broken As Me, ” are hard hitting with the guitars of Jerry Horton on fire and the rhythm section of Tobin Esperance on bass and Tony Palermo on drums pounding along. Frontman Jacoby Shaddix showcases his rap and rock vocal stylings throughout, most notably on “Gravity” an introspective piece about his marriage which features a guest appearance by vocalist Maria Brink. Closing out the record is the absolute beast of a song “Warriors” with rapper Royce da 5’9″ helping out.
With its infectious rhythms and positive message, “F.E.A.R.” delivers exactly what Papa Roach fans want to hear. Check this one out today. Come on, what are you afraid of?
