Since their breakthrough track “Last Resort” in 2000, Papa Roach have been the spokes-band for teenage angst with feelings of anger, heartbreak and transition.
But now that the early teenage audiences that brought the band to big-time popularity have grown up, you’d think that Papa Roach would have done some growing up too, right?
Cue The Connection – their answer the old saying “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
The Connection’s first single “Still Swingin’” pretty much sums up the album entirely. With bits and pieces of hard rock, progressive rock and rap rock, it’s a big ol’ mess.
While the song’s chorus has anthem-like potential among Papa Roach’s existing fans, it finds itself surrounded by a lack of instrumental consistency and meaningless lyrics.
The album continues with “Where Did The Angels Go” and “Before I Die”, two tracks that strongly resemble 2005 album Getting Away With Murder, while straying to a fresher sound with the seemingly political “Silence Is The Enemy”. Though the latter stands out as a step forward for Papa Roach, it fails in its obviousness and lack of current context.
“Walking Dead” attempts redemption over earlier tracks. Though the lyrics remain average in line with the rest of the album, guitarist Jerry Horton and drummer Tony Palermo give their best to make this The Connection’s stand out track.
Sadly, the album does not continue into a strong streak, leaving listeners with the weak closer “9th Life” that features the same inconsistencies as the opening track.
For the most part, Papa Roach try to take both and progressive and classic approach with The Connection, and though commendable for trying something new, it is most likely to leave people confused.
Sure, original fans will appreciate Papa Roach’s homage to that which made them successful, but The Connection will more than likely fade into obscurity, dragging the once artistic Papa Roach behind
