Album review: P.O.D. – Veritas
Mascot Records [Release date 05.05.24]
It has been 30 years since they broke onto the scene with their debut album. Being a keen Nu-Metal fan, this was very exciting for me and highly anticipated. I was hoping that the album would live up to the standard of the stellar 2001 release “satellite”.
Wow!!! This did not disappoint! It was as if I was transported back into my pre-teen years with my baggy jeans, backwards cap and skateboard in tow.
You know when bands have been around for a while and sometimes the vocals can change over time, and you may think to yourself “this is good but wasn’t as good as their best album”, well I can confidently say that vocally it’s just as insane as back in 2001! With incredible collaborations from Randy Blythe, Tatiana Shmayluk and Cove Reber, this is one heck of a vocally charged album and arguably now in my eyes their best work.
Musically it delivers the Nu metal thrash and angst that is associated with P.O.D and then some. It gives the distinct sound we have grown to love but still keeping it incredibly fresh and will be a contender with other rock genres and popular bands out on the scene at the moment and quite possibly knock the contenders out of the park with this album.
I do firmly believe that Nu Metal is going to be big in summer 2024, and this album is going to be spoken about by many and for all the right reasons.
My jaw was on the floor!! I have grown up and loved this band for many years. If I was to describe listening to this album it would be getting slapped aggressively by the most badass vocals and instrumentals then being taken into a time travel tornado of Nu Metal greatness.
Although every single track for me was incredible, and it was almost impossible for me to choose standouts, the standout tracks were without a doubt “I Got That” to me it completely embodied the classic 2001 P.O.D. sound I know and love.
The vocals from Tatiana Shmayluk on “Afraid To Die” gave the track a vocally seductive edge. Big thumbs up.
“Breaking” absolute belter of a track, gritty, angsty, and one I will be belting out on a very regular basis.
“Lay Me Down” my favourite track of the whole album. It was vocally, lyrically and musically stunning.
“I Won’t Bow Down” I can see this being a fan favourite, and a crowd pleaser at future live shows. This is one to thrash around to for sure! “We Are One” is just lyrically badass.
“This is Our Struggle, This is Our Fight” anthem for the underdogs! You know what they say, never underestimate the underdogs. This is another fist in the air belt it out song from the album.
I have no doubt in my mind that when P.O.D tour to promote this album, with how much the album went above and beyond my expectations, it will be incredibly popular. Plus no doubt a sold out tour, which I for one will do my very best to make sure I’m in attendance.
This is one hell an album that needs to be heard! This is Nu-Metal at it absolute finest. ****1/2
Review by Lucy Parr
Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK
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Power Plays w/c 11 November 2024
ARCANE MOON Hello Sun (indie)
S8NT ELEKTRIC XTC (Long Branch Records)
ARCANA KINGS Here We Go (Curtain Call Records)
KLOGR face The Unknown (Zeta Factory)
BEYOND UNBROKEN Dance With The Dead (FiXT)
REVENGIN Decadent Feeling (Wormholedeath)
Featured Albums w/c 11 November 2024
09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)
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