“Deftones may reject the nu metal label, but…”: Papa Roach Reveal Their Picks for the Greatest Nu Metal Tracks, Including Last Resort
By Website Content Manager
No pretense of humility here
Iconic nu metal group Papa Roach recently shared their picks for what they consider the most essential songs in the genre.
In a new video posted across the California quartet’s social media accounts, each member revealed their personal choice for the greatest nu metal track. Frontman Jacoby Shaddix went first, selecting Break Stuff by fellow nu metal pioneers Limp Bizkit, though he admitted he was tempted to pick his own band’s iconic Last Resort, which has been certified six-times Platinum in the U.S.
Bassist Tobin Esperance chose Blind, the 1994 single by Korn that helped define the nu metal era. “The first time I heard that opening intro, I thought, ‘Wow, this is unlike anything I’ve ever heard before,’” he recalled.
Drummer Tony Palermo selected My Own Summer (Shove It) by Deftones, adding, “I know Deftones don’t like to be labeled nu metal, but Shove It belongs up there.”
Finally, guitarist Jerry Horton, with no pretension of modesty, declared that Last Resort is the pinnacle of the genre.
Formed in Vacaville in 1993, Papa Roach self-released their debut album, Old Friends From Young Years, in 1997 before signing with DreamWorks Records in 1999. Their breakthrough came with 2000’s Infest, led by Last Resort, which quickly topped the UK Rock & Metal and US Alternative Airplay charts.
The band’s most recent album, Ego Trip, arrived in 2022, and they are already working on its follow-up. In a recent interview with Wikimetal, Shaddix revealed the new album is in its final stages, with a release planned later this year. He confirmed that singles like Wake Up Calling, Braindead, and Even If It Kills Me will appear on the record.
“This next album is quite a journey,” Shaddix said. “With Ego Trip, we found our rhythm, and this new one continues that path, only diving even deeper.”