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"With “Veritas”, P.O.D. return to a more traditional neo-metal style, embellished by all their experience and their now well-established style between melodic rap, metal and raging screamos."
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3/5
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A pillar of neo metal for over 25 years, P.O.D. returns in early May 2024 with “Veritas”, their eleventh studio album, more than five years after “Circles” whetted our curiosity. Where the previous album showed the San Diego combo's willingness to explore pop and funk territory, “Veritas” marks a return to a neo metal faithful to the origins of the movement, as practiced by Limp Bizkit, Papa Roach and P.O.D. at the dawn of this century.
Powerful rhythms, metal riffs and expressive vocals, somewhere between West Coast rap and screamo. The impression of narrative power created by Sonny Sandoval's vocals style is reinforced by a well-balanced modern production that gives pride of place to the rhythm section and Marcos Curiel's riffs. The song structures remain interesting, as the band skilfully blends aggressive rapped verses and aerial breaks with raging screams and melodic choruses. This pattern is repeated on many tracks, such as 'Breaking' and 'Dead Right'. The downside is that they all end up sounding a bit the same. There are also a few clichés, with 'Lies We Tell Ourselves' and 'Feeling Strange' sounding like something straight out of a US teen movie, with their simplistic choruses and sluggish tempos.
The most striking tracks of this livery are the introductory 'Dr'op' and its power, reinforced by the presence of Randy Blythe (Lamb Of God), and the more swaying 'Afraid To Die', on which Tatiana Shmayluk (Jinger) is used against the grain with her delicious clear vocals. Special mention should also go to the heady 'I God That', typical of the band's late-90s period, with its recognizable energy, and to 'I Won't Bow Down', hypnotic to perfection with its anthemic chorus and indus effects reminiscent of Marylin Manson.
After a brief escapade, P.O.D. clearly return to the roots of their neo metal in its most traditional form, embellished by all their experience and their now well-established style. Lovers of their “Satellite” / “The Fundamental Elements Of Southtown” period will be over the moon, as the effectiveness of “Veritas” will delight them and allow others to discover a band still little-known in France. “Veritas” sounds like a return to the roots of traditional neo metal for Sonny Sandoval's band, and it's almost a shame, because the beginnings of the “Circles” turn perhaps promised them an opening to a wider audience. But is this really their aim? Nothing could be further from the truth. - Official website
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TRACK LISTING:
01. Dr op
02. I Got That
03. Afraid To Die
04. Dead Right
05. Breaking
06. Lay Me Down (Roo'S Song)
07. I Won'T Bow Down
08. This Is My Life
09. Lies We Tell Ourselves
10. We Are One (Our Struggle)
11. Feeling Strange
LINEUP:
Marcos Curiel: Guitares
Sonny Sandoval: Chant
Traa Daniels: Basse
Cove Reber: Chant / Invité
Randy Blythe: Chant / Invité
Tatiana Shmayluk: Chant / Invité
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READERS
4/5 (1 view(s))
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STAFF:
3/5 (1 view(s))
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