Papa Roach - Are going to be huge again!

June 21st 2015

Dessel, Graspop Festival, Belgium

****

Papa Roach show off what they can do on the live stage!

Graspop Festival

Papa Roach **** (Main Stage 2) have a history of their popularity going up and down, they were at the dizzy heights of their fame when they released their second album 'Infest'. Which contained the singles 'Between angels and Insects, Broken Home, Dead Cell' and the World famous anthem 'Last Resort'. This was the follow up to their debut almost independent release 'Old friends from young Years', a record that got them noticed but not really into the chart stardom that they would get from 'Infest'.

It came out on small label Onion Hardcore, and original copies turn up on eBay from time to time. Their also a band that always know when to shine on the live stage, pulling out their best performances for the most important occasions. New album 'F.E.A.R.' is no doubt the bands best release since 'Infest', and it see's them finally mature into a band. That could possibly come back to this festival in a few years as the headline act. 'F.E.A.R.' is the bands ninth release and, and a record that is appealing to new fans and rising the bands status.

They open with the first track off this new album 'Face everything and Rise' which let's the crowd know that Papa Roach have arrived in Belgium, and it's going to be one hell of a set. I think Jacoby Shaddix vocals are also so much stronger now, so the songs on 'F.E.A.R.' have an added power to them... that other releases did not have. I really enjoy Papa Roach every time I see them, but I actually have seen them play this festival better (Yeah! if you where at this performance, you would have thought... 'How is that possible?". And this is why they are on four stars and not five... because I have to go on previous times I have seen them live.

Like when they just kept going in the rain at Graspop in 2007, it was a really powerful set that will never be forgotten. Continuing on with one of their biggest hits the Iron Maiden inspired 'Between angels and Insects', a song that always works so well on the live stage. 'The Connection' for me was a very strange album by Papa Roach, that I didn't get into so much. They play the second single off this record 'Where did the angels Go' a heavy song with a great riff to it, that must have been inspired by the more Industrial bands of the Nu-Metal era.

Like maybe Static-X and Fear Factory, it is simplistic but complicated at the same time like all Industrial tracks should be. So by the time they break in to classic popular tracks off the brilliant 'Infest', like 'Blood Brothers' and 'Broken Home' the whole place has totally erupted. The crowd is a sea of crowd surfers and pumping fists, ready to go crazy for their favourite song. Belgium really do love Papa Roach, and the band love this country and you can see that by the way they look out into the festival surroundings like they can't believe their eyes.

I really like how Papa Roach play songs from all their albums, it keeps everyone happy. Like 'Kick on the Teeth' from 'Time for Annihilation' and 'Getting away with Murder' of the record of the same name, being tagged in alongside new track 'Falling Apart'. And none of them seem out of place, which is a very rare thing indeed. With most bands their is one or two albums that they pretend they don't exist, by not playing any material off them.

But I think Papa Roach really show how strong they are by playing material from all era's of the band. 'Scars' just sound incredible in the hot sun, but it's songs like 'Lifeline, ... To be Love' and the mega hit 'Last Resort' and already firm live favourite the new hit 'Warriors' that make the whole place go crazy. Like their are no more bands other than Papa Roach on the bill. So end off Papa Roach's set in the best way, and if this was not enough for you. Then you can see them on a co-headline tour with Five finger death Punch, later in the year.