Papa Roach Holds Together Nicely Throughout "Coming Apart"

Tight slice of mainstream rock brought to us courtesy of Papa Roach. "Coming Apart" knows how to make all the right notes sound laser precise. It's through Jacoby Shaddix's vocal talents that what could have been a passable track is instead the cornerstone of vital barbaric roar. It's certainly a small package possessing an explosive bang as is evidenced by the three minute, twenty second duration. Drums splatter the scene like a noted mafioso out for bloody vengeance, the bloodier the better. Tony Palermo, a member since 2007 definitely earns his stripes here. He and Jacoby master preciseness and bring said wrathful skills to a rolling boil. Careful not to leave out Jerry Horton. He displays unwavering focus as his guitar destroys everything in its path. If you like machines that have a crackerjack engine under the hood then "Coming Apart" will suit your needs amply. Tobin Esperance puts meat on the bones via a bass sequence that barrels into your comfort zone and lays to ruin any delusion of safety you might have had. This song scoots along at a clip that necessitates both arms and both legs inside the vehicle lest they get sheared off. What I notice about "Coming Apart" which differs markedly from "Forever" is the latter sinks into your bones steadily whereas the former refuses to waste ink while you get comfortable. At the outset it's clear Jacoby walks the walk of an anguished man. The first few lyric lines set an undeniable tone for the raw emotional wound that unfolds in the stanzas to come. We sense what amounts to short term conflict resolution in lines one and two. "I'll follow you out of the dark. I tried it my way but I keep falling apart." I don't get that Jacoby looks like a beaten man but someone convinced of a more hopeful way to escape the mounting desperation locked within his soul. The next six lines aren't warm and fuzzy either. Try this on for size. "All that I see is the wickedness around me. I refuse to believe the apocalypse inside of me. I can't even trust myself. I'm burning in my skin. Standing at the gates of hell. But nobody will let me in." Chilling admission, eh? Who among us couldn't relate to "I stand here again. Forsaken in a place that feels like I can never win. Be it in love, career, family planning, or being comfortable in one's own skin the possibilities for feeling left out in the rain are extended for miles. Ten seconds in the mishmash of bass, lead guitar, and drums signals havoc but it's havoc you want to play voyeur with, to peek inside the darker workings of the human cranium. Bass and drum soon fly off the curb at the thirty second mark. The ruckus they kick up sends your tongue rolling out of your mouth and leaves you begging for heaping additional helpings. As musical feasts go "Coming Apart" pours out cornucopias of goodness piled as high as imagination can take us. The video's imagery tends towards the profusely evocative. The early mob scenes are a jaw dropping added touch. Don't get too confused though. Jacoby rises to the occasion as our fearless leader beating back the brush so we can see the unrest embossed panorama clearly. How thoughtful of Papa Roach to say what they have to say succinctly and then wrap things up. You'll find this nifty little offering on the band's new "F.E.A.R." album. In conclusion "Coming Apart" holds together nicely. What a dazzling thrill ride.