Papa Roach’s Tobin Esperance: ‘F.E.A.R.’ Is ‘A Heavy Record,’ But ‘Spiritual Too’

The calendar can't hit 2015 soon enough for Papa Roach fans. After continuing their success with 2012's 'The Connection,' the band has been putting the final touches on its follow-up during a good portion of 2014. Earlier this year, frontman Jacoby Shaddix revealed that the album would be titled 'F.E.A.R.' and that it's on course for an early 2015 street date. Now bassist Tobin Esperance has offered a few more details on what to expect.

Speaking at the Leeds Festival overseas to Ransom Fee Media, the bassist explained, "It's a heavy record, but there's something very spiritual about it too. It's definitely that 'light at the end of the tunnel' kind of thing. It's positive. It has some moments where it's really heavy, but it's a positive record."

He added about the recording of the disc, "For the first time ever, we just walked into the studio with no songs written and we literally just started from scratch and wrote a song and then recorded it, and said, 'That one's done,' and moved on to the next one. Which we've never really recorded a record like that before. But it really captured the energy, the spontaneity of all of our ideas, just right there on the spot. We weren't forced to overthink anything; we just laid it down and moved on to the next one."

The band recorded the album in Las Vegas with producer Kevin Churko. As for the sound, Esperance stated, "I think one thing that's definitely noticeable about this new record is, sonically, it just sounds f---ing huge -- it's just monstrous. It's the biggest, heaviest-sounding record we've ever done." To check out the full interview, watch the RFM video above.

Frontman Jacoby Shaddix revealed to Loudwire earlier this year that 'Just as Broken as Me' and 'Never Have to Say Goodbye' were among his favorite tracks on the forthcoming release. Other song titles to have surfaced in recent months include 'Gravity' and the title track, 'Face Everything and Rise.' Stay tuned for Papa Roach's 'F.E.A.R.,' set to drop in early 2014.

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