Not only has the band long since abandoned their rap-rock stylings, but, more recently, they parted ways with drummer and founding member Dave Buckner.

Nearly seven years ago, as part of the Eminem-led Anger Management tour, Sacramento, Calif.'s Papa Roach, supporting its sophomore release Lovehatetragedy, played to a raucous sellout crowd at what was then the UMB Bank Pavilion in Maryland Heights (now Verizon Wireless Amphitheater). When the band played its anti-suicide anthem and biggest hit to date, "Last Resort," frontman Jacoby Shaddix, then known as Coby Dick, held the mic toward the audience, and seemingly everyone in attendance roared back, singing the chorus in sync.

Clearly, things have changed a lot since then.

Not only has the band long since abandoned the rap-rock stylings that brought them to the masses, but, more recently, they parted ways in a not-so-amicable fashion with drummer and founding member Dave Buckner.

And for a band that once helped pack a 20,000-seat amphitheater as a co-headlining act, their upcoming appearance on February 17 at the nearly 8,000-capacity Family Arena in St. Charles will see them serve as opening act to Buckcherry and Avenged Sevenfold.

But, according to Shaddix, none of the changes, be those in the band's personnel or in their popularity, will be more noticeable than those found on its upcoming release Metamorphosis. Of the record, which is slated for March 24 release, he says it will be "a raw, gritty, savagely emotional record.

"It will not be as slick and commercial as the last record [2006's gold-selling The Paramour Sessions]," he said. "By no means do we regret the past; we just have the urge to go crazy and get experimental."

"This record will punch you in the face," added drummer Tony Palermo, formerly of Unwritten Law," then it'll lift up your spirits. It's real, it's raw, and it has the most intense and emotional content I ever been involved with."

Metamorphosis also marks the band's first collaboration with producer Jay Baumgardner since its 2000 debut, Infest, which is still the band's best-selling release to date.

Overall, Shaddix, said the goal with Metamorphosis was "to make a record that captures the intensity and personality of our live shows." | Eric Alexy

Buckcherry, Avenged Sevenfold, Papa Roach and Saving Abel at the Family Arena Feb. 17. Tickets are $41.25 adv/$44.25 dos, and available online at http://metrotix.com/.

---