Infest is the second studio album and major-label debut by the American rock bandPapa Roach. It was released on April 25, 2000 through DreamWorks Records, and became the 20th highest-selling album of 2000 in the United States. The sound of the album is nu metal and rap metal. Many of the album songs contains rapping and hip hop influences. It was certified 3× Platinum in the U.S. on July 18, 2001, and peaked at 5 on the Billboard 200 chart. This album earned the band a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist. Infest has sold more than seven million copies worldwide with three million in U.S. and is their best-selling album to date.
Background
Papa Roach was formed in 1993, as a funk metal and rap rock band. In February 1997, Papa Roach released their first album, Old Friends from Young Years, though the album failed to get the band a record deal. Papa Roach release new demos in 1998, and a demo in 1999 featuring the songs, "Last Resort", "Broken Home", "She Loves Me Not", "Infest", and "Dead Cell". Papa Roach toured in 1999; the band had an underground fan base in California. Due to the underground success of the 1999 demo heard by in house producers Tim & Bob, Papa Roach were signed to DreamWorks Records.
Writing and recording
Papa Roach went to the studio in late of 1999 to record Infest. Though many songs including "Last Resort", "Broken Home", "Revenge", and "Dead Cell" had already recorded, the band re-recorded them and made some changes to the lyrics. "Broken Home" deals with Jacoby Shaddix's broken relationship with his father. Papa Roach decided what songs would appear on the album, though the band only wrote three of the songs: "Obsession", which would later renamed "Between Angels and Insects", "Blood Brothers", and "Never Enough". Papa Roach got Adam Goldstein to DJ for some tracks, including "Snakes". The closing track "Thrown Away" contains a softer, reggae-inspired version of the song "Tightrope", which starts at about 4:57. Papa Roach completed recording the album by early 2000.
Release
Infest was released in the United States and Canada on April 25, 2000 following radio play of "Last Resort". Infest debuted at No. 30 at the Billboard 200 albums chart. "Last Resort" became a massive hit throughout 2000 and peaked at No. 1 on the BillboardModern Rock Tracks chart. With the massive mainstream success of "Last Resort", Infest reached No. 5 at the Billboard 200 albums chart and was certified Platinum by the RIAA. The follow-up singles from Infest, "Broken Home", and "Between Angels and Insects", also charted. Following the success, Papa Roach went on several of tours. In 2000, the band performed at tours including Vans Warped Tour and the Anger Management Tour with Limp Bizkit and rap and hip hop acts such as Eminem, E-40, Xzibit, and Ludacris. In 2001, the band toured Ozzfest, where they performed main stage, on both the United States and United Kingdom tours. Papa Roach also played in some MTV shows during 2001. Infest was certified 3× Platinum by the RIAA and is Papa Roach's best-selling album to date. the album has sold over 8,000,000 copies worldwide, including 3,000,000 in the U.S.
