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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