Diamonds in the Rough 05.24.09: Trapt!

Posted by Leo Rivera on 05.24.2009

Still standing a4ter the storm, this band is too contagious to stop!

Trapt is fronted by (the other) Chris Brown and the current lineup includes guitarist Robb Torres, bassist Peter Chare and drummer Aaron "Monty" Montgomery. Trapt originally formed in Los Gatos, California while in high school in 1997. What started off as a weekend hobby turned into a full fledged modern rock band that rehearsed five days a week and played any gig they could find in the state of California. After playing locally for the better part of five years and amassing a loyal following, Trapt was signed to Warner Bros. records in 2001. They moved to Vancouver, BC to record their debut self titled album which was released in November of 2002.



Backed on the strength of "Headstrong" (which became a huge hit and an anthem at sporting events across the U.S.). "Trapt" was the perfect debut album and launched Trapt into the mainstream right out the gate. While "Headstrong" became a #1 hit on both the U.S. Modern Rock and Mainstream charts, it was far from their only hit. Trapt was a solid offering from top to bottom, of infectious songs that spoke to the heart with memorable melodies and catchy choruses that were sung pitch perfect by the charismatic Chris Brown. The album was a perfect blend of melodic songs like "Echo" (which was a big hit on MTV2 and radio in its own right) and "These Walls" and straight ahead rockers like "Headstrong", "Still Frame" and "Hollow Man." It was not long before Trapt was certified platinum.

While the album was loaded with great songs, it was a song on the Dare Devil Soundtrack (2004) titled "Lost in a Portrait" that I will forever remember Trapt by. That was the moment that Trapt proved to me that they were going to be more than just a flash in the pan with one hit record. "Lost in a Portrait" is a harrowing biographical song that packs a punch in ways that the popier songs could not. It showcased Chris Browns impressive vocal range. It is my firm belief that if that song had been released as a single, it would have gone over huge.



In the fall of 2005, Trapt released their sophomore effort titled Someone in Control. The album was comprised of songs with a much harder edge to them and proved that Trapt had matured as a band and as musicians. Songs like "Disconnected", "Victim" and the hit single "Stand Up" showcased the aggression that had previously been hinted on "Headstrong" in 2002. "Stand Up" was a song that many could relate to, about a person who is sick and tired of being bullied and pushed around and finally stands up for themselves as Brown defiantly tells us to "Stand up, you have had enough!!" The single reached # 3 on the U.S. mainstream rock charts. While the song was considered a success on active radio, it failed to do as well as "Headstrong" and "Echo" had done, this could be attributed to the fact that the music industry landscape had changed drastically in the three years between Trapts first and second album. In 2002, MTV was still hot for modern rock music often playing videos and even documentaries on "Making the Video" (remember that show?) on bands like Creed, Linkin Park, Korn, and Nickelback and in 2002, Trapt were able to capitalize on MTV's (and other music networks) appetite for modern rock.

By 2005, the name of the game had changed, gone were the bands that were responsible for giving MTV a new lease on life and catapulting rock music to new heights at the turn of the century, and in its place were lame duck bands that tried desperately to look cool by pretending not to be (The Strokes, The Vines, The Hives, The Darkness, The All These Bands Sucked Big Time). Unfortunately Trapt was a victim of these circumstances, and it is especially unfortunate because Someone in Control was an incredible album. Songs like "Waiting" and "Lost Realist" could have been huge had the industry been behind that genre of music. But unfortunately in 2005, that was not the case.


Fortunately, Trapt still had the road, and they hit it as hard as possible in 2006, to reach out to their fans and share the stage with bigger bands in hopes of gaining some of their audience. They toured with Nickelback, Chevelle, Three Days Grace and Thousand Foot Krutch. They also headlined the 2006 Equinox Tour which also featured Shinedown. At this time, Trapt stood out from the pack as a live band to be reckoned with, the sonic guitars layered by Browns far reaching vocals were underscored by Monty's amazing drummer skills. This experience was documented when Trapt released Trapt Live! in 2007. The album featured nine live songs and two new studio tracks ("Stay Alive" and "Everything to Lose").

Trapt fell on hard times in 2007, they were dropped from Warner Bros. records and were largely inactive throughout the year, and then in March 7, 2008 they announced that they parted ways with long time lead guitarist Simon Ormandy (who was responsible for their unique live sonic side). They regained focus by signing to Nikki Sixx's Eleven Seven Label, just in time to release their appropriately titled third album Only Through the Pain. The first single "Who's Going Home with You Tonight" begins with a triumphant drum beat that only Monty can pull off, and signals off a return to the modern rock scene for Trapt. On April 15, 2008 it was announced that Trapt would be a part of the inaugural Motley Crue annual Crue Fest alongside Papa Roach, Buckcherry, and Six A.M. putting them right smack dab in the middle of the burgeoning modern rock scene.



Trapt continued their comeback in the fall of 2008, embarking on the Jagermiester Music Tour with Rev. Theory, and Hinder. They then followed up there momentum with the release of their second single "Contagious" a song that is just that. It is as infectious and catchy rock song that has come down the modern rock pike in some time. Trapt are currently on their headlining Contagious Tour with Red, Halestorm and Inept, proving that they are talented enough to still be standing after the storm.