Review: Papa Roach- Crooked Teeth

What separates the bands who fall off from the ones with long, successful careers is evolution. It’s as simple as that. When a band has the exact same sound or 20 or more years with no change whatsoever, fans get bored and move on. One band who has been able to evolve but still stay true to who they are is Papa Roach and their latest record- Crooked Teeth shows exactly that. Opener “Break The Fall” kicks things off with a bang. It’s got the classic Jacoby Shaddix rapping vocals with the vintage Papa Roach rock and metal track but it’s more modern. If you’re a longtime fan, you’ll be right at home from the start but if you came in later in the band’s career, you’ll still love it. Then there’s the title track, which is a lot heavier than the opener and shows the band going balls out with the metal. This may be one of the heavier tracks the band has recorded and is an adrenaline rush from the very start. “Born For Greatness” shows the band going back to the days of The Connection with a more electronically-infused track while “American Dreams” is very upbeat rock track that fits in with material from Metamorphosis. “Periscope” shows the band bringing in pop princess Skylar Grey whose voice compliments Shaddix’s and is one of the many standout tracks from the record while “Help” is one of the catchiest songs the band has ever written. Then throw in “Sunrise Trailer Park,” which features Machine Gun Kelly and is one of the most visual tracks they’ve done yet and you have a very complete album. This track is honest, detailed and very lyrically vivid. In the end, Crooked Teeth is one of the strongest, complete and most fun yet powerful albums of Papa Roach’s career. They’ve taken all the ingredients from each record during their career and cooked up an amazing combination of music. Whether you’re a fan of Infest or F.E.A.R., there’s something for you on this record. Rating: 9/10 -Reggie Edwards