It’s not often that I regret reviews, but one that stands out in my mind is the one I wrote for Circles. Not that it was overly critical, but compared to my first impressions, the album grew on me considerably, ending as one of my most listened-to albums of that year (particularly in the wake of seeing the band live), and with hindsight I would have given it a higher grade than I did at point of writing.
Listening back, what stands out on Circles is just how far the band had come from their fourth album, the gazillion-selling Satellite, with every aspect of the P.O.D’s musicianship refined and expanded. On Circles, the heavy moments were heavier (just look at how hard Rockin’ With The Best and Soundboy Killa go); the chilled moments brought the California coast to vivid life; and the whole band’s performance is vitally on point, to the extent that the album still gets aired regularly. That said, the production was very clean – something which is demonstrably not an issue with the monstrous Veritas.
A seriously impressive record, and boasting guest spots from Randy Blythe, Tatiana Shmayluk, and Cove Reber, on Veritas P.O.D display none of the complacency you might expect from a band whose music was more-or-less ubiquitous in the early 00s, and their passion and commitment remains undimmed.
Opening with Drop (featuring Randy’s inimitable roar), P.O.D. come in hard, delivering a potent blend of crunchy nu metal riffs, soaring melodies, and brutal metal, all of which sits comfortably alongside Rockin’ With The Best in P.O.D.’s pantheon of bruising opening numbers. Keeping things taut, I Got That offers smoother rhymes, although the guitars have a satisfying crunch that will keep the pit happy. Seriously, with an opening pairing this vibrant, you’d be hard pressed to ever say this was a band well into their third decade, and you can feel they still have an all-encompassing love for the music they make. Next up, Jinjer’s Tatiana lends a hand on Afraid To Die, providing a sultry counterpoint to Sonny’s typically on-point lyrics and adding depth to the addictive chorus. Of course, Tatiana has long demonstrated remarkable range, and she unleashes a ferocious roar towards the song’s climax. The dynamic Dead Right sees Sonny deliver a splenetic performance and, while the band throw in some calmer moments, these only pave the way for a bruisingly beautiful chorus. The first song to lean back a little on the classic P.O.D. sound, Breaking has a soulful vibe, for all the palm-muted riffing on display, while the chorus has ethereal melodies washing over it. The first half of the album wraps up with the mid-tempo Lay Me Down (Roo’s Song), an album highlight that showcases a different set of dynamics, with a chorus to die for and some great lead work.
Opening the second half, the blistering I Won’t Bow Down is every bit as defiant as its title, and it kicks things up a notch after the more reflective mood of Lay Me Down. The fast-paced This Is My Life is an uplifting metallic blast, with a brilliant guest spot from Dead American’s Cove Reber, who really digs into his lines, providing the perfect foil for Sonny. Perhaps the most unexpected number on the album, Lies We Tell Ourselves adopts a sonic approach similar to Brit-rockers A (and, to an extent, Bloodhound Gang), and it works surprisingly well. With the album racing towards its conclusion, We Are One (Our Struggle) provides a shot of adrenaline before Feeling Strange rounds this varied collection out on a reflective note, providing the album with a splash of SoCal sunshine in the process.
A heavier album than Circles, Veritas goes hard for the majority of its run time, but that’s not to say it lacks variety or dynamic. P.O.D. have lost none of their gift for delivering memorable choruses, and a number of tracks (Lay Me Down and Lies We Tell Ourselves in particular), see the band open up their sound to take in a range of elements. The guests, meanwhile, are well used, adding additional depth, without overshadowing the band’s performance.
Over the course of thirty-odd years, P.O.D. have refined their core sound, and Veritas sees them deliver a record that plays to their strengths, while throwing in enough curveballs to keep things fresh. However, the band’s real strength comes from their enduring passion for the music – something that is clearly evident across the record. It never sounds like they’re not having a blast kicking out these jams, and it’s that sense more than anything else that will keep listeners coming back to Veritas across the year. 9/10
