Long-running California outfit
Papa Roach build upon their rejuvenated rock, rap, and pop sound with their engaging 11th studio album, 2019's
Who Do You Trust? As with 2017's equally inspired
Crooked Teeth, here the band worked with producers
Nicholas "Ras" Furlong,
Colin Brittain, and
Jason Evigan (
5 Seconds of Summer,
Sleeping with Sirens,
All Time Low,
David Guetta) on a set of swaggering, high-energy tracks that capture much of the group's early career exuberance. Having spent much of the 2000s working through their more traditional '80s punk and hard rock influences, the band (singer
Jacoby Shaddix, guitarist
Jerry Horton, bassist
Tobin Esperance, and drummer
Tony Palermo) have returned to a more balanced stylistic approach that retains all of their heavy-hitting, Sunset Strip guitar wallop while still allowing for some rhythmic swagger. Particularly compelling are the bombastic, '90s rap-rock intimations of the title track and "Renegade Music," both of which pleasingly bring to mind
Rage Against the Machine. Similarly,
Shaddix, who is never afraid to shred his vocal chords, takes a more measured approach, moving from intense rap sections to smooth singing on "Elevate," and offers an emotive croon on the heartfelt "Come Around." Elsewhere, the band dive headlong into the passionate and hooky, emo-sounding anthem "Feel Like Home," and draw upon their hardcore punk roots on the driving "I Suffer Well." There is even a semi-ballad here in "Problems. " All of this works nicely and reinforces the notion that after over 20 years into their career,
Papa Roach are handling maturity pretty well. ~ Matt Collar
