Papa Roach - The Connection

Anything will be better than the previous Papa Roach debacle Time For Annihilation. This album couldn't be that faceless right? Well lets have a run through of what The Connection brings us and that question will be answered by the end of my review.

The intro track ah they are bring back the 80's style again, remember when every metal album had an intro track? Does this add to the effect of the album and the answer is sort of but who cares lets get to the actual music right? "Still Swinging" is that first song and subsequently the first single as well. The song has great verses but lacks some in the chorus and sort of sounds like something Linkin Park would do in those verses. This song is a grower because the first time I heard I didn't care for it but after a few listens I've come to like it and I really like the breakdown @ 2:11 it is cool and shows some growth in a positive forward motion as well.

The band's hard rocking sound is ever present with "Where Did The Angels Go" one of the highlights on The Connection. The excellent pop rock inspired "Silence Is The Enemy" follows and Papa Roach have officially made a return to form, so far they are connecting with me. I love the new additons to their sound with the keys and such swirling around. It adds a dimension that makes their brand of Nu-Metal/Hard Rock much more enjoyable. The band's production level has really been stepped up bringing them into the modern era without robbing them of being Papa Roach we all have come to love. Sure they don't sound like "Last Resort" Papa Roach but rap rock is pretty much over now and I think that is a good thing in the end. The band have picked up some tricks from bands like the previously mentioned Linkin Park and The Muse and to some degree Nickelback and Shinedown as well. I'm totally OK with this slight direction change in sound because their fundamental sound is still intact.

As to be expected not every song is killer it does get bogged down a little with lesser songs "Wish You Never Met Me" a very Emo sounding song that just misses the boat. I wish I never heard it to be honest. The band jumps back on the track with "Give Back My Life" which is very good Papa Roach grinder and probably a future single/video for them. If I didn't know better I'd almost think this was Three Days Grace with the heavy riff that steers song into the stomping chorus. After another solid rocker the band spread their wings and soar with the near power ballad "Leader Of The Broken Hearts" that brings in that 80's feel again but never sounds derivative or old just has the solid elements from the glam rock generation when music was as pretty as the people who played it.

The sonic power of "Won't Let Up" is huge and the grasp of Jacoby's lyrics is actually quite deep. This song really blew me away upon first listen because there is something immensely crushing about the piece. The group just got the right mix to create a sound that feels like an enormous wave crashing down on you and this is not as easy as one would think to achieve because it takes more than distortion and volume to make it all happen properly. The albums closing number "As Far As I Remember" is a slow burner that builds to near epic status showing just how far this band has come since their debut in 1997 and their breakthrough album Infest in 2000. Obviously this is not the same band that first came together but the career they have built from nothing is a solid achievement and this album is a solid brick in the foundation of Papa Roach. The next chapter wow what can they have left maybe a seriously fun party rock record who knows but after this album I'm looking forward to hearing where the duo of Jacoby Shaddix and Jerry Horton take the freight train roaring to for sure.