'Only Through the Pain'
What The Critics Say
Trapt is back with their third studio opus titled "Only Through the Pain." With alternative flair on cuts like "Who's Going Home with You Tonight?" and "Black Rose" the band plays well to the genre. The slickly produced "Ready When You Are" is a radio-ready hit. The tune boasts an infectious chorus while guitar nuances interplay nicely. When Trapt plays to their strengths you can hear a '70s vibe as in "Forget About the Rain" and when they rock - it comes out nicely as heard in"Cover Up." The disc boasts earthy guitar tones that liven the palette, via the production of Garth Atreyu (L7, Rage Against the Machine). With "Only Through the Pain," Trapt mixes together several levels of modern rock; whether it's touching on a funky groove or laying out the rock, the band sounds poised to hit the next level. ~ Steven Douglas Losey, All Music Guide
'Someone in Control'
What The Critics Say
Trapt's self-titled 2002 debut went platinum and more on the strength of modern rock radio faves "Headstrong" and "Still Frame." The attraction was obvious -- the quartet's sound was a pristine blueprint of 21st century southern California proto-metal, the onslaught led by Incubus, Linkin Park, and Hoobastank, bringing the same blend of massaged post-grunge verses and knots of affected screaming and band saw guitar. Even their name, Trapt -- it read like market research, a monosyllabic summation of adolescent discontent, extreme sports, and jabs to the solar plexus. It's more of all of that on 2005's Someone in Control. But while Trapt still work inside their established formula, they also constrict it, so songs like "Disconnected (Out of Touch)," "Waiting," and "Influence" rip with more internal tension. "Lost Realist" is also strong. It's a little predictable, especially when the strings come in. But its meshing of Goo Goo Dolls plaintiveness with post-grunge crackle is a nice progression for the quartet. ~ Johnny Loftus, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Trapt, yet another nu-metal entry from southern California, proffers an eponymous major-label debut that is as enthusiastic as it is plagiaristic. There is an organic feel to the disc that separates it from their more angst-ridden peers, specifically those who rely on electronic gadgetry over a simple guitar-bass-drums setup, though the congenial feel fits in alongside Incubus, especially with a propensity toward pensive moments that evoke a softer image than most, one that would fit into emo if the band wasn't so obviously aesthetically a rock band; "These Walls" actually sounds like Nickelback at its most adult rock-radio-friendly, for example. Trapt isn't original, per se, as much as it does a good job melding its pronounced influences more seamlessly than most; the band would get a better recommendation if the record had songs that stood out a bit more. ~ Brian O'Neill, All Music Guide
