Papa Roach - F.E.A.R.

The electronic element became even more pronounced on PAPA ROACH's album, F.E.A.R. ("Face Everything and Rise"), which boasted an even more radio-friendly, industrial-tinged pop-metal sound; it was released on January 2015. Starting out as a punk- and rap-influenced band, the northern Californian group Papa Roach eventually grew into a straight-ahead hard rock ensemble with strong heavy metal leanings. Consisting of Coby Dick, Jerry Horton, Dave Buckner, and Tobin Esperance, Papa Roach formed in 1993 and began releasing EPs soon after, including 1994's Potatoes for Christmas and 1995's C*a Bonita. By 1996, the group had replaced original bassist Will James with Esperance and hired a new manager; the following year, Papa Roach released their first full-length album, Old Friends from Young Years, which became a surprise hit on local radio. The California rockers recorded the album in Las Vegas with producer Kevin Churko and his son Kane, known for their work with Ozzy Osbourne, Five Finger Death Punch, in This Moment and Hellyeah. Frontman Jacoby Shaddix explained, "We wanted to work with a producer that worked in that heavier realm and kind of check him out a little bit." He added, "So there's elements of hard rock, elements of heavy metal, elements of pop, elements of... it's just all over the place, man, but it's another classic Papa Roach record. I'm very proud of it."