In their first two albums, Old Friends From Young Years (1997) and Infest (2000), Papa Roach tended to incorporate influences from nu metal and rapcore. Since lovehatetragedy (2002), they moved to rap-devoid sounds like alternative rock (except for the songs "Anxiety", played along with Black Eyed Peas, and "She Loves Me Not").

Frontman Jacoby Shaddix said the following in an interview with the Dallas Music Guide regarding the band no longer using rapping in their music: "...the rapping's gone! I don't feel like rapping. I'm just over that...I just want to be a rocker. It's what I wanted to be when I was a kid"[1].

To many fans' surprise, "...To Be Loved" of their most recent album The Paramour Sessions features glimpses of the old nu metal sound, with what many would consider rapping in the beginning and end verses. "Roses On My Grave" is the only song featuring orchestral instruments, giving it a different flavour compared to the rest of The Paramour Sessions. The style for the rest of the album is primarily alternative rock,post-hardcore and pop-punk with some songs, like "Forever," having emocore influences.