Papa Roach mean business. More than 30 years after they first formed, the California rockers know exactly who they are — and they played like it. Returning to London for the second year in a row, this time, on their Rise of the Roach tour at the O2 Arena, the band relished every moment of bringing the heat with a confident set of crowd-pleasers.
“Get out of your seats. This is a rock show!” screamed frontman Jacoby Shaddix. The curtain dropped and the band exploded into “Between Angels and Insects” with no time to waste, before raging straight into “Kill the Noise” as the 50-year-old mainman called for circle pits and arms in the air.
Wearing a black studded denim jacket emblazoned with “ROACH 1993” across the back, Shaddix nailed his vocals without letting his relentless stage presence slip. It didn’t take long before he was glazed with sweat, subtly wiping his face between choruses while keeping the pressure on. The momentum only grew as they ripped through “Tightrope,” “Getting Away with Murder,” and “BRAINDEAD”.
The set was spliced with anthemic tunes and well-received golden oldies, but it also made time for what they dubbed the “nu-metal time machine” – delivering energetic snippets of Korn’s “Blind,” Deftones’ “My Own Summer (Shove It),” Limp Bizkit’s “Break Stuff,” and System of a Down’s “Chop Suey.” It was a sharp, crowd-pleasing nod to the era that shaped them.
Later, Shaddix welcomed LANDMVRKS frontman Florent Salfati to the stage for one of the band’s newer tracks, “See U in Hell”, with Salfati’s fiercer, heavier vocals adding an extra layer of bite. Shortly after, Sleep Theory’s Cullen Moore joined him for “Born for Greatness,” impressively matching Shaddix’s all-American vigour with similar energy.
While the arena floor saw a handful of mosh pits break out, the true energy came from the raised horns and synchronised arm-waving — largely from a crowd that has clearly grown up alongside Papa Roach.
During “Blood Brothers”, a montage of the band’s early performances played across the sun-reflector-shaped stage. It was precisely the kind of detail that would have resonated with the long-timers in the room – of which there were plenty.
But the band definitely weren’t, and don’t, rely on a sense of nostalgia. They are a powerhouse in the world of rock, still capable of captivating fans with infectious energy and unforgettable hooks.
“Last Resort” the band’s crowning glory, remains as explosive as ever – but the set around it proved they’re still a band with plenty of fire. Here’s to another 30 years.
