By Patrick Douglas

The March release of “Metamorphosis” signaled a new era in the legacy of Papa Roach, one that includes a ballsier approach to the music as well as the addition of a new full-time drummer.

The rap-rock pioneers have all but ditched the rhyming aspect of songwriting and officially replaced it with a more melodic, alternative style on the new tunes ~ and the band couldn’t be more excited about it.

“I was just rollin’ around, jammin’ the record in my car stereo, just bumpin’ it, I’m just excited,” said frontman Jacoby Shaddix. “When we started to write the music for the new record, it was like ‘Oh, God, here we go again. I better f*ckin’ step it up again.’ It was a challenge.”

Part of the progression of the band has come from Shaddix’s evolution as a vocalist, something that was a key element in making the new album.

“Vocally, it’s challenging. I’m pushing myself as far as I can as a rock vocalist right now,” he said. “For me, it just feels natural. That’s all good because we pushed the art forward and it keeps everything fresh and it keeps it exciting for us.”

The band even penned a tongue-in-cheek melody about brief sexual relationships in “I Almost Told You,” which, according to Shaddix, was inspired by his friend, Society 1 singer and porn filmmaker Matt Zane.

“I was like ‘Here we go. We’re writing a crazy, trashy rock song and we proceeded to do so,” Shaddix explained. “In doing that, it just broke down some walls for us as a rock and roll band. It doesn’t always have to be doom and gloom or sorrow.”

“The thing about ‘Metamorphosis,’ we let it all hang out, from views on the world to our personal lives to sexuality,” he continued. “When we set out to make this record, we shot for the moon. That’s what makes this record exciting.”

Known for their hits “Last Resort,” “Broken Home,” “Between Angels and Insects,” and “Getting Away with Murder,” Papa Roach has experienced little turnover as a band. That all changed when original drummer Dave Bucker was removed from the group in place of former Unwritten Law drummer Tony Palermo.

“Metamorphosis” was the first full studio record recorded with Palermo behind the kit.

“Tony’s f*cking off the chain,” said Shaddix of his new drummer. “He’s a little bit of a different drummer. He comes from a punk background. He’s a little quicker than our old drummer, so we realized that ferocious speed and power on this record. It doesn’t sound too far out of the box of Papa Roach. We have the same core, but he helped us expand.”

Rock bands are expected to change somewhat over a decade and Shaddix as a whole is proud of the evolution of Papa Roach both musically on the albums and mentally in a live setting.

“We were very adversarial with our crowd back in the day,” said Shaddix, who also hosted the MTV show “Scarred.” “Our live show and our perception on life has changed a lot since then. It’s like more of a f*ckin’ let’s get down and have a good f*ckin’ time whereas before it was like, I just wanna beat the shit out of myself. It makes me wanna f*cking enjoy my life. Straight up.”

And staight up, the screaming fans at the March 12 show at The Palladium ~ when Papa Roach, along with Rev Theory and Charm City Devils, opened for Buckcherry ~ felt the difference in the band’s attitude and had themselves that f*ckin’ good time, this writer included.

“Rock and roll has given me the opportunity to be a free thinker and live my life my way,” he added. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”