I had tons of friends in bands (Slaves on Dope, Flaw, Dope, Stereomud, Drowning Pool, etc.), saw the same awesome people at every show, excellent albums were being released seemingly weekly, and it was just a great time to be a heavy music fan.įast-forward to today, and it’s even harder to believe that those albums I listened to on cassette in my 1987 Chevrolet Cavalier station wagon are turning 20 this year. To be honest, it’s a time in my life I reminisce about quite frequently. I had little responsibility, more disposable income, and was attending multiple shows weekly. Back then, I was heavily immersed in the nu metal scene and damn proud of it. Album DescriptionIt’s hard to believe that the year 2000 was 20 years ago, but here we are in 2020. See More Your browser does not support the audio element. If they had dropped Gift two years earlier, Taproot would be pioneers. Taproot will have its loyal following of disillusioned wannabe rebels and pack arenas for years. That's what this music is for and always has been. A legion of 16 and 17 year olds will put this album on, crank it up, bang their heads, and pound away their frustrations. Unfortunately, overall, Gift lacks personality, making the album a decent but disposable and unmemorable listen. This guys are just about hard rock & roll, and they do excel as musicians. There are no gimmicks like clown masks or fake b-boy posing. These guys seem serious about their music, which is refreshing. Lead vocalist Stephen Richards, while having an adequate range, seems to try his hardest to imitate Jonathan Davis of Korn. It's all here: heavy riffs, distorted rapping vocals, 'life sucks' lyrics, and angry growling.

You don't want to compare Taproot to those other bands, but because of the timing of its release, it's impossible not to. There are just too few surprises on Gift.

Following the success and popularity of Korn, Limp Bizkit, Static-X, System of a Down, and Slipknot just to name a few, Taproot suffers by comparisons.

Unfortunately, Taproot's Gift is a late arrival to this party. Dropping in a time when rap-rock is all the rage, as it sells albums like mad, garners instant publicity from MTV, and packs stadiums in a new generation of concert festivals, Taproot is guaranteed media exposure and a large built-in fan base. Taproot's timing is both a blessing and a curse. Having built a heavy underground following through its live performances, early self-released albums, and website, Taproot stepped into the national spotlight with a debut bound to please 16 and 17 year olds everywhere. In a time when Michigan exploded as a hotbed of electronica and white-boy hip-hop innovation, Ann Arbor's Taproot emerged to restore Michigan to the riff-laden, rock & roll glory of the Ted Nugent '70s. Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.

Taproot gift full album