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Don't be confused by the title - this isn't a
selection of Papa Roach favourites with a hundred
piece orchestra, more a reference to the place the
album was recorded. It sees the band continuing with
their stance of straight ahead rock, the ghost of rap
well and truly exorcised.
Describing their style as straight ahead rock does
the band a disservice though, as for the large part of
this record they have the same impressive vitality and
energy as always. That they're not quite as successful
in the UK now may be down to an obsession with the
softer end of rock, but the California band's fiercely
loyal fanbase will be lapping this one up without
complaint.
It's off to a flyer. "I want domination, I want
your submission" hollers Jacoby Shaddix on ...To
Be Loved, his call to arms given a stadium sized
chorus to boot. Sure enough, the resilient stance
continues but the lyrics take a turn for the darker.
"I'm going to fast, I'm going to crash" is the belting
vocal for Crash, but this time the ensuing chorus has
less to recommend it.
Heading for a sticky end seems to be something of a
theme, a part borne out by the song titles alone. Time
Is Running Out, Reckless, Roses On My Grave - none of
them predicting a happy ending. Tightly mixed by
Chris Lord-Alge, delivery is crisp and
muscular.
There's no doubting the band have softened their
approach on a couple of tracks here. The affecting
Forever keeps just above power ballad status, the
verses inviting the lighter wavers but the chorus
slipping into the next gear and pushing on. The Fire
doesn't start with much smoke - a light intro that
seems to hint at bossa nova, believe it or not, until
the slab of a chorus kicks it aside.
By far the strangest track here is Roses On My
Grave. No drums here, other than the odd timpani roll,
with full bodied strings reminiscent of Thomas
Newman upping the tension. The Shaddix vocal
sounds odd in this context though, crying out for
Dave Buckner's drums, which cut through so well
elsewhere. Finally they arrive, but it's in full blown
end credits style, overproduced within an inch of its
life. Finally two bonus tracks offer an energetic
Scars, live in Chicago, and the thrusting SOS, as in
Same Old Story.
It's the same old story in a sense for Papa Roach,
but they deserve credit for pushing the boat out a bit
alongside the more conventional chorus based rock.
It's not always successful, but several tracks on The
Paramour Sessions will find the inner resolve and the
fans, of which there are many, will be fully
satisfied.
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