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- Bands:
POD - Duration: 00:32:41
- Available from: 05/03/2023
- Label:
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Mascot Records
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POD anno Domini 2024:– still “Alive”. It is no coincidence that we mention the symbolic song of “Satellite” because since then the San Diego band had gotten a little lost, putting together a poker of albums that were decent but lacking the spark that had made them successful; this until the rebirth first with “The Awakening” and then with “Circles”, two works that marked the return to the current nu metal track.
After a six-year break, the longest in thirty years of recording career, here comes “Veritas”, the eleventh seal that confirms the newfound state of form of the Californian quartet (in the meantime left mysteriously orphaned by drummer Alex Lopez), never like this time straight to the point with songs that rarely exceed three minutes in length.
Among the best episodes certainly worth mentioning is the triptych of guests: if Randy Blythe (Lamb of God) gives that quid in addition to the old-school rap metal of “Drop” and Tatiana Shmayluk of Jinjer takes the place of Maria Brink in “Afraid To Die” (halfway between “Criminal Conversations” and “Youth Of The Nation”), the duet with Cove Reber of Saosin on the rocking hardcore of “This If My Life”.
The positive energy typical of Jah’s disciples is also present in the rest of the setlist: the hip-hop groove of “I Got That”, the rap-core of “Dead Right” and the massive choruses of “We Are One (Our Struggle) ” update after a quarter of a century the vibrations of the seminal “Fundamental Elements Of Southtown” with the flow of a Sonny on the ball and the incisive power chords of Marcos Curiel, while the more alternative and radio-friendly vein of the second half of his career is well represented by the more extended “Breaking”, “Lay Me Down (Roo’s Song)” and “Lies We Tell Oursevelves”.
Little space this time for reggae digressions or instrumental interludes, in line with a more direct approach which translates into the shortest album of their career: if the mission was to add a handful of pieces capable of not disfiguring alongside a setlist full of classics, this can still be considered accomplished.
