Welcome is the second album from Michigan-based nu-metal foursome Taproot, and despite it’s firm anchoring in all that crass, generic rock, it’s actually rather ambitious: quirky, experimental, funky and as hard as nails. Whilst not exactly crafting great subtelty from their stab at complex dance rhythms, nor as clever and slinky as those obvious aces of funk-rock, the Chilli Peppers, it’s an album that does promise to yank nu-metal out of its prolonged and desolate winter.
The usual primal growls and screams are still in evidence – as is the obligatory Exorcist-style metal cry – but tracks like ‘Art’ and ‘Sumtimes’ suggest they can more than adeqautely curl the generic rock stylings around ideas of actual worth – even if many of the tracks do sound like they are actually using the same ‘unique’ mould.
I never really understood metal first time around – and with every new generation of greasy, tissue grasping youngsters, I still never really get any clearer. Being this angry is only going to give you an ulcer – it’s not going to put you in touch with anything darker or more mysterious than that.
Find a girl, settle down – and start listening to Lemon Jelly. You’ll soon have forgotton all about that Ozzy nonsense.
Ozzy certainly has, bless him.