Trapt exploded onto the modern rock scene in late 2002 with the #1 radio single "Headstrong" introducing them to the radio listening public. This was, of course, followed by the singles "Still Frame" and the more introspective "Echo" in 2003, which did just about as well on the charts...and then they mostly disappeared. Sure, the aforementioned songs still got air time, and an EP with a few live tracks came out in 2004 to tide people over, but now, 3 years after the debut, are Trapt still relevant?If the success of Papa Roach is any indication, I'd say so. After all, one of the first times I heard "Stand Up," the lead single from the new disc, my first thought was, "Oh, Papa Roach released something new." In fact, it was only the fact that the radio station then played "She Loves Me Not" that reminded me of the difference. But then again, it's that same modern rock/emo/nu-metal (the dreaded "N" word) sound that propelled Trapt's debut to platinum status, so that's not necessarily a bad thing. "Stand Up" is already on its way up the charts and chances are, its hook-laden modern rock sound will catapult it to the top.
Diving into the rest of the CD, there's more here of what made the first disc such a success: catchy, energetic riffs with just enough bite to satisfy the average rock listener but still clean enough to convert new fans, clean sing-along vocal melodies with the occasional grungy background, and lyrics about human experience that most listeners will find one way or another to associate with. And there's still plenty of my favorite thing about Trapt, too: a bassist who actually does something. Not to knock other bass players, but bassist Peter Charell keeps the bass prominent in both the verse and the bridge of a lot of songs and goes a long way toward separating them from the rest of the pack. Overall, Trapt hasn't deviated much from the formula of the debut; they've just refined it and become better songwriters, making smoother transitions and using more dynamics.
With all of the bad connotations of the term, it's dangerous to say you liked a nu-metal release. Even so, I'll admit it: Someone in Control is a good CD for what it is. Obviously, if you're looking for pummeling riffs and rums, insane tempos, complex guitar solos, and all the other trappings of real metal, this isn't going to do anything but leave a bad taste in your mouth. On the other hand, if you're ready for the next helping of mid-tempo, radio friendly modern rock, Trapt is still sure to please.
