Papa Roach

Nu-metal luminaries Papa Roach have never shied away from brute lyrical honesty, even if it exposes deep personal vulnerability. Vocalist Jacoby Shaddix wrote 2000’s “Broken Home” in response to his parents’ divorce, while that same year’s rap-rock touchstone “Last Resort” captures the desperation of a friend who was on the brink of suicide. This willingness to engage with emotional turbulence goes a long way toward explaining Papa Roach’s longevity. Shaddix and several school friends started playing together in 1993, naming their band after a nickname for Shaddix’s step-grandfather. The Vacaville, California, group weathered several lineup changes on the way to self-releasing an album and several EPs before landing on DreamWorks for their 2000 major-label debut, Infest. Besides featuring hits such as “Last Resort”, Infest boasted strident punk energy and streamlined arrangements that amplified the power of Papa Roach’s angst. The band built on their success by evolving their sound; subsequent albums contained plaintive ballads (“Scars”), jagged hard-rock attacks (“Crooked Teeth”) and ominous pop with chilly electronic production (the hip-hop-influenced “Top of the World”). The one constant through line is lyrics that confront tough, relatable topics—as on the title track of 2019’s Who Do You Trust?, a song expressing paranoia and skepticism when dealing with the rich and powerful.