After two years of work and nearly 10 months of building up excitement with fans, Papa Roach are celebrating the release of their eleventh studio album Ego Trip today.
An album that sprouted almost by mistake in the throes of a global lockdown, its seeds were planted when the quartet entered a COVID-secure mansion in Temecula, California in the summer of 2020. What started as an escape and an exercise in keeping the creative juices flowing, in a world that had completely ground to a halt, quickly grew into something bigger. Purposeful, provocative, and just the right side of the line between confident and cocky with frontman Jacoby Shaddix offering no apology for the title.
“I really hope the album title stops a few people in their tracks”
Ego Trip is Papa Roach -completed by guitarist Jerry Horton, bassist Tobin Esperance and drummer Tony Palermo - at its boldest and most brilliant. Shaddix reveals the inspiration behind the album.
“Throughout my life I’ve embarked on this constant journey to unravel this...thing, this eternal paradigm; this struggle between the light and the dark. I see it alive in the world and it’s something I’m constantly trying to find balance in with regards to my own life. Who is at the wheel of my ego? Is it the high-frequency version of myself, the one who is more spiritual and self-aware, or is it the low-frequency version who can be selfish, self-centered and self-seeking? Throughout the process of making this record, we had some really profound conversations about life, who is at the helm of our egos and what it is that drives and motivates us.”
Fans have had a chance to dive into singles Cut The Line, Stand Up, Dying To Believe, Kill The Noise (which held the no. 1 position on the USA's Mainstream Rock Charts for over a month) and genre-bending banger of a single Swerve featuring Jason Aalon Butler (Fever 333) and Sueco over the last few months.
Ego Trip offers up more treats where those singles came from with a handful of new songs including No Apologies a catchy, quintessential, modern rock anthem that the band are known for.
All 14 tracks were pulled from a 2020 writing session with the iconic rock band and a tight-knit creative team including familiar collaborators Colin “Doc” Brittain, Nick Furlong, Jason Evigan and new team members WZRD BLD and Andrew Goldstein.
On top of these past releases, Papa Roach have connected with fans through unique partnerships with TikTok, San Francisco 49ers, Twitter, ESPN UFC and more. The band also took over the iconic Shakey’s Pizza on Santa Monica Blvd in Los Angeles for a one-of-a-kind release party last night. It's all part of the mission of sharing this momentus Ego Trip as far and wide as possible.
Tracklisting
1. Kill The Noise
2. Stand Up
3. Swerve feat. Jason Aalon of Fever 333 & Sueco
4. Bloodline
5. Liar
6. Ego Trip
7. Unglued
8. Dying To Believe
9. Killing Time
10. Leave The Light On
11. Always Wandering
12. No Apologies
13. Cut The Line
14. I Surrender
Ego Trip is available to stream and purchase today via New Noize Records, the band’s re-launched label with its roots in 2001, in partnership with ADA Worldwide here.
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