With the release of their second album (Infest) with Dreamworks Records in 2000, Papa Roach was riding on top of the world. Millions of people were exposed to their single, Last Resort, a blend of rap-metal and rock. However, they weren't content with that.

Papa Roach Is:
Jacoby Shaddix (Vocals)
Jerry Horton (Guitar)
Dave Buckner (Drums)
Tobin Esperance (Bass)

In June of 2002, Papa Roach released Lovehatetragedy. This deviated from Infest in the sense that the rap-metal was mostly gone. After selling 3 million albums of their first major studio album, they changed the formulae; in addition, vocalist Coby Dick decided to use his real name, which was Jacoby Shaddix. Why? Papa Roach went through an identity change in the two years between studio albums, apparently. And in this reviewer's opinion, not for the better.

Lovehatetragedy kicks off with M-80 (Explosive Energy Movement). Thrashing drums and Shaddix's vocals highlight this song. Doesn't really have much of a point, but it sounds all right.

Life Is A Bullet is a bit slower than the first song, concentrating more on Shaddix's moody side. The lyrics aren't first-rate ("Life is a bullet/the bloodstains prove it..."), but it's not too bad of a song. Nothing spectacular, though.

Time and Time Again is a fast-paced song with lyrics sounding a bit like Linkin Park. The drums in this song are nothing more than really an echo of the vocals. Guitar work, such as it is, really only appears on the chorus. This song seems like it's been done before.

Walking Through Barbed Wire has a metal sound to it. The vocals aren't as dark as the music sounds like it should have. Shaddix does a pretty good job here.

Decompression Period is the closest Papa Roach gets to a ballad on Lovehatetragedy. Shaddix declares that "I need some space/to clear my head/to figure out my life/with or without you..." While the song isn't necessarily quiet, it does have its moments, which lends credibility to the band.

Born With Nothing, Die With Everything is almost anthemic in its lyrics. Shaddix chants the chorus simply, with the same guitar work from every other song in the background. This song is an angry, angst-ridden track, which seems to be the band's signature on this album.

She Loves Me Not was the first single from the album. It brings back a little of the rap-metal that Papa Roach did so well on their last album. It's catchy, and Shaddix's rapping is relatively solid. The backing instruments sound a little more original here than in the earlier songs of Lovehatetragedy, however.

Singular Indestructible Droid is another of those dime a dozen energetic but lame tracks on the album. Shaddix's screaming is reminiscent of Slipknot in parts, except it's not as openly hateful.

Next is Black Clouds, which is slower than some of the others. It has a brooding sound, but the vocals are mind-numbing yet again. Just because it rhymes, doesn't mean it needs to go in a song.

Code of Energy sounds musically like Time and Time Again. Lyrically, it's more angry vocals with some screaming. Nothing new here.

Lovehatetragedy is the title track and album closer. There's some more angst here, with Shaddix almost whining. By now, this is old and really pathetic.

The band shows absolutely no musical diversity throughout this album. The only thing they can play are the same guitar chords and beat the drums. A chimp could play the instruments better than Papa Roach. Jacoby Shaddix, name change aside, downgraded his vocals from Infest to make them absolutely boring, hackneyed, and banal.

Don't even bother with this album. There are only three tracks that are passably tolerable. The rest all sound alike and make Papa Roach look like sellouts. With pretty much no rap-metal on this album, there's nothing to carry it.

Other Albums By This Artist
Old Friends From Young Years, 1997
Infest, 2000
LOVEHATETRAGEDY, 2002
Getting Away With Murder, 2004

This review is © T. Pascarella, 2004. All rights reserved.

All mistakes are mine and mine alone. Corrections/suggestions/comments/questions are welcome and appreciated.

Recommended: No