Evolution Has Been Kind to the Roach

When Papa Roach released Infest, of course it became a huge hit. Rap-metal was all the rage in 2000. But it didn't take long for what was such a cool, in-your-face style to become watered down. Now it's looked at as the century's first sub genre of laughable butt rock.

But Papa Roach was smart. They realized rap-metal was losing steam, so they began phasing it out on 2002's Lovehatetragedy. Now with 2004's Getting Away With Murder, the rap is nothing more than a memory. This is straight-up hard rock, a more stable genre, though one that's often a challenge to stand out in. Their past success gives them a head start, but the music on Getting Away With Murder is good enough to ensure Papa Roach's continued success.

A look at the lyrics shows tremendous growth. Stop Looking/ Start Seeing is a call to fight for our rights. Tyranny of Normality attacks our culture's apathy in matters of truth: "The ethical slaughter of truth needs to be retired." Not Listening - sent out to the Commander in Chief - shows Jacoby Shaddix, sick of being fed lies, ignoring what he hears and blazing his own trail.

Musically, Getting Away With Murder is 38 minutes of nonstop, burly rock. Heavy guitar riffs drive the album while Shaddix's vocals convey the anger with raspy sneers and hefty screams. For the most part, they keep things interesting with solid hooks, as evidenced by the title track as well as Blood (Empty Promises). Closing track Do Or Die is one of the album's catchiest, resembling Bon Jovi on steroids yet staying heavy enough to keep with the album's overall style.

They even keep things heavy during Scars, their dive into ballad territory. There's still plenty of power on this track, but the chorus has Shaddix sounding vulnerable as he sings "I tear my heart open/ I sew myself shut/ My weakness is that I care too much." They risked sounding sappy but instead walked away with a track that adds variety to the album while retaining its strength.

One of the biggest standouts is Be Free. Sure, its sound is familiar (though I can't pinpoint it right now). Sure, it’s packed with alcoholism clichés, including the eye-roll inducing "sick and tired of being sick and tired." But darned if this isn't some of the catchiest rock I've heard lately. If you can manage to overlook the triteness, you'll be cranking Be Free more than any other track on this album.

While I loved Infest back in the day and still enjoy popping it in every now and then, I have to say that they've made all the right moves since. Papa Roach have proven that they are a competent hard rock band that can change with the times and remain relevant. Getting Away With Murder is no classic, but it is a strong rock album that shows that Papa Roach just may have as much staying power as the roach itself.