Image: Papa Roach Live [Cat Eye Photography]
Hardly any rock band has made the leap from early 2000s nu-metal to the modern rock world as consistently as Papa Roach. With a mix of raw rage, emotional depth, and anthemic sound, the band around frontman Jacoby Shaddix has accompanied generations of fans for over two decades. Whether aggressive, vulnerable, or defiant: these five songs show what continues to make Papa Roach so relevant today.
Help
“Help,” from the album Crooked Teeth (2017), is an emotionally powerful modern rock song in which Jacoby Shaddix openly addresses mental strain and self-doubt with the words, “I think I need help / I’m drowning in myself.” The song is a clear, musical plea for help, raw and honest.
Between Angels and Insects
The high-energy track “Between Angels and Insects” from the album Infest (2000) delivers sharp social criticism of consumerism and materialism with the central message: “There’s no money, there’s no possessions, only obsession.” The song even quotes the cult movie Fight Club with Brad Pitt: “the things you own, own you now.”
Getting Away With Murder
The title track of the album Getting Away With Murder (2004) takes a step further toward hard rock and away from nu-metal. Fittingly, the track also became the theme song of the wrestling series WWE Tough Enough.
Scars
“Scars,” also from the album Getting Away With Murder, is one of the band’s most personal songs according to Jacoby Shaddix. The chorus “I tear my heart open… our scars remind us that the past is real” gives an emotional insight into relationships where one person needs help.
Last Resort
“Last Resort,” from the album Infest (2000), is a brutal anthem about mental crisis and suicidal thoughts. Countless fans have shared that this song gave them a sense of connection and hope in dark times – and in some cases, even saved lives. As the band’s most well-known song, it carries an extremely powerful message.
