Taproot: Welcome : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone

Album Reviews

On their second album, Taproot battle new metal's scheduled obsolescence. Welcome exhibits many of that genre's traits: gunk-gunking guitars, self-flagellating lyrics ("You act like me 'cause you're embarrassing") punctuated by vomited monosyllables. But those touches seem like vestigial traces in Taproot's otherwise evolving body of work. The Michigan quartet has developed a catchier melodic sense and learned the power of economy since 2000's murky Gift. Churning riffs give way to spacious verses showcasing odd time signatures, stacked harmonies, atmospheric pet sounds and occasionally even strings. Stephen Richards' "me, me, me" lyrics suggest the band still has some maturing to do, but Welcome marks a self-preserving transition from new metal to art metal.

ROBERT CHERRY
(RS 908 - October 31, 2002)