Music to vent your rage to
There was a time when you could pick a band to suit your mood. Feeling depressed, then listen to Radiohead. Need some rock to propel you to the dance floor, then grab Franz Ferdinand and if you want to indulge an embarrassingly guilty secret then give Bon Jovi or Queen a spin. With this in mind it would seem logical that an anger fuelled stressful day is best managed by a session of P.O.D. turned up until the volume knob comes off in your hand. It makes sense that a band whose name means payable on death would offer the best course in anger management. Well not anymore if opening track 'Roots in Stereo' is anything to go by for it seems P.O.D. have been possessed by the spirit of Bob Marley reincarnated as Goldie Lookin Chain and led by Ali G. Yes, P.O.D. have unleashed their reggae rap track that may not help you to release any pent up rage but is a giggle nonetheless. Even hard men like P.O.D. can't manage to carry off the phrase "rude boy" in their song and you kind of wonder why they'd even try to.
Worry not though, 'Roots in Stereo' is a one off, in every sense, and although the reggaesque vibe returns on 'Strength of My Life', it is considerably more understated and of a completely different standard. By track two, P.O.D. are back doing what they do best. Guitars flaying, drums pounding and vocals that rage, roar and rap thunder out of the speakers as the full force of P.O.D. is exposed and unleashed. From 'Lights Out' to 'Teachers', P.O.D. offer the perfect soundtrack to teenage angst through their wailing, raging rock. Proving that there is more to them than riotous fury, P.O.D. are able to effortlessly incorporate insightful, mellow numbers into their album allowing the full calibre of the group to shine. 'If You Could See Me Now' is a reflective woeful track and as close to a ballad as P.O.D. are willing to get. Meanwhile, 'On The Grind' skilfully combines rap metal with vocal harmonizing in a hard hitting, direct approach that simply screams for public listening.
P.O.D. maybe one of the few survivors of the nu-metal wave but in 'Testify' they have created songs that the mosh pit was built for and perhaps now is the time for them to receive the recognition they deserve.