Platinum-selling rock juggernaut P.O.D. — Sonny Sandoval [vocals], Marcos Curiel [guitar], and Traa Daniels [bass] — have announced their 11th album Veritas, which was named one of the most anticipated albums of the year by Revolver. It will arrive May 3 via Mascot Records. Pre-order it at the link below. Watch the video and stream the new single “I Won’t Bow Down” right now!Continue reading
Tag Archives: POD
P.O.D. Shares New Video, Books UK Tour Dates For This Winter
Riding high on the power of their brand new album Circles (Mascot Label Group), P.O.D. Has shared their new video for ‘Listening Fro The Silence’. The track and accompanying video is a meditation on mental health issues, a common problem today with not enough attention focused on it. Watch the clip below. The band also booked an extensive tour of the UK and Ireland this winter with Alien Ant Farm. Continue reading
P.O.D. Shares Title Track From New Album – “Circles”
San Diego rockers P.O.D. have streamed the title track from their upcoming new album Circles, their first for their new label Mascot Records/Mascot Label Group. Dropping on November 16th, ‘Circles’ brings the lyrics, grooves and fire P.O.D. fans are used to. Check it out! Continue reading
Aftershock Festival 2015: Live At The Gibson Ranch, Sacramento, CA
The beautiful and warm Gibson Ranch was the scene for the 2015 Monster Energy Drink Aftershock. Not only does Aftershock always boast on of the best lineups of any festival in America, the gorgeous NorCal location allows for all kinds of attractions and activities making this the most well-rounded fest you could attend as well. The festival officially sold-out the entire weekend with over 25,000 in attendance each day.
The top of the bill for Saturday boasted some big big names, to be true. Headliners Slipknot are possibly the preeminent metal concert experience in the world right now, just based on the spectacle of their stage show and the epic music they bring. They also had a lot of people checking out their Haunted Scream Park for constant Halloween scares all weekend long too. Other big musical hitters such as Shinedown, Marilyn Manson, Breaking Benjamin, Seether, Bring Me The Horizon and Black Veil Brides had fans drooling, packed in crows of people, and offered up a little something for everyone from across the range of active rock and metal genres. Especially with BMTH and Black Veil Brides, you are really seeing the future of music unfold before you, and the youth of the fans was served in the audience.
As much as Saturday had some “hall of fame” worthy acts, there was a lot of up and coming talent on early in the day such as the Beartooth performance, and strong showings from Red Sun Rising and September Mourning too. There will come a time when some of these headline bands wont be around anymore and the next generation of stars needs to rise up now. Some of them were on hand at Aftershock this weekend.
Saturday was a really a day to explore the festival grounds. Tons of people took in the great food options (BBQ, Tex Mex, Burritos, Pizza,and Vegetarian choices looked astounding), Tequila tastings from six major purveyors of fine spirits and NXT wrestling. The balance between fun for families and grown folks was strong, and a real testament to why this fest has been able to last so long and get better every year.
If you weren’t totally destroyed by Saturday’s overload of the senses, Sunday also had a list of great bands to see and hear and fun things to. Early in the day two more killer bands helped set things off in the always fun Dance Gavin Dance and the surprising Pink Slips. The Pinks Slips are a band you need to check out as we expect to see them higher up on the bill on fests like this for years to come. After checking out issues, it was time to see Sevendust rip up the East Stage. They are a live band like few others and they played a short, yet heartfelt set.
All Time Low and Yelawolf really set the stage for later in the day. Stone Temple Pilots led by Chester Bennington (Linkin Park) for what would turn out to be one of the last full show for them together, played all the hits to huge crowd response. Fan may be conflicted about Chester’s time in the band, but he did justice to the history of that band
Coheed and Cambria was next, playing behind their new record, and they leaned heavy on new songs. Despite the festival and the over atmosphere of the place, it didn’t seem like their crowd was in the house. Or maybe they were waiting on Jane’s Addiction to hit the stage. Jane’s, like STP knows the fans want the big hits and that is what they brought. Perry Ferrell and Dave Navarro, despite their many public scraps, seem just made for each other as poet/conduit and axe-slinger duos go.
Defotnes were the next to last act of the weekend and true hometown heroes as they are right from Sacto. The band put on a great show with front man Chino Moreno running all over the stage and moving his body as much as his silky, elastic vocal range. With a new album coming in 2016, it would seem this band is destined to headline a future Aftershock fest. Bringing the epic weekend to a close, Faith No More brought the botanical theme of their recent Sol Invictus (Reclamation/Ipecac) tour with them. Playing the massive hits such as ‘Be Aggressive’, ‘Epic’, ‘Midlife Crisis’ and ‘Easy’, sprinkled among new songs and deep cuts, the band showed why their reunion so worthy needed and the accolades so deserved. Until next time Aftershock, well be back!
Slide show photos by Meg Loyal Photography
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Festival Preview: Monster Energy Aftershock
Yet another entry into the “can’t miss American festivals” is the Monster Energy Drink Aftershock. Taking place in Sacramento California, the awesome NorCal weather, coupled with the proximity to San Francisco makes this fest awesome. The scenic Gibson Ranch is the place to be right now. In addition to some amazing bands, there are things like Slipknot’s Haunted Scream Park and NXT Wrestling events to drink in when you are done rocking out!
Saturday’s lineup boasts a top of the bill of Slipknot, Shinedown and Marilyn Manson which few other events can even match this year. Following them are Breaking Benjamin, Seether and Bring Me The Horizon, Black Veil Brides, Clutch, Hollywood Undead, Suicidal Tendencies, POD, Pop Evil, All That Remains, Helmet, Snot, Beartooth, September Mourning and many more.
Sunday has none other than Faith No More, continuing their Sol Invictus (Ipecac/Reclamation) tour cycle. Sunday has other stalwart 90s bands such as Deftones, Jane’s Addiction and Stone Temple Pilots. Other top Sunday bands on the bill include Coheed And Cambria, All Time Low, Death From Above 1979, Eagles of Death Metal, Sleeping With Sirens, Yelawolf, Failure, Glasjaw, Sevendust, Issues, The Sword, `68, Red Fang and many more.
You can still get tickets for Aftershock here.
P.O.D. – The Awakening
For a veteran radio rock band producing a heady concept album may seem strange, but San Diego’s P.O.D. has made a career of making left turns seem right. They have been able to shift chameleon-like from their early days as So-Cal hardcore punks, to Nu Metal, to active rock torchbearers while still writing big hits. When you are a band at this level, the choice to make a concept album at this stage of the game is a curious move, but a welcome one.
Following a day in the life of the main protagonist, with all the moral choices a person has to make daily, The Awakening (T-Boy/Universal) is tied together with little vignettes in the form of the intros and outros of tracks. Some of the acting is hammy in places, but in the context of the album, it works. Without being too preachy, the long running Christian act continues to ply its faith through lyrics firmly on each track. Opening with the posi-rock of ‘Am I Awake’, the track sets the tone. I expect arena rock ready hit single ‘This Goes Out To You’ to be heard in the PA system of every NFL stadium this fall. It’s an homage to the SoCal lifestyle the band grew up with and their fans.
The broody ‘Rise of NWO’ is going to be a hit with the bro in your life that follows Facebook groups and Reddit threads about The Illuminati, and False Flag nuts. The track is heavy and features Sonny Sandoval’s deft rhyming. Marcus Curiel, along with help from drummer Wuv Bernardo have done some of the best guitar work in the history of the band on The Awakening. ‘Criminal Conversations’ features In This Moment’s Maria Brink in the lens of an adulterous relationship. Musically the ballad works, and I can see it being a hit with fans, but I wasn’t crazy about the collabo. One exciting thing about the album is the band reconnects with its punk roots on ‘Speed Demon’ and ‘Revolución,’ which features Lou Koller from Sick Of It All. The most surprising track on the album is ‘Want It All’. In addition to the heart tugging vocals and lyrics covering the “why are we all here” stuff, it is a slick Jazzy tune, complete with smokey horns and vibraphone parts that chill you way out.
The Awakening feels like a comeback album for a band that didn’t need to make one. It’s cool to see them challenge themselves and their listeners at a time when many other bands just mail it in.
7.0/10
KEITH CHACHKES
Video: POD Releases This Goes Out To You Video, New Album Next Week
Photo courtesy of BWR PR
POD has released the video for their single ‘This Goes Out To You’ from their upcoming album The Awakening (Atlantic). You can watch the video at this link or below:
The clip for “This Goes Out To You” was directed by San Diego-based filmmaker Gavin Filipiak. Shot on location in the bands hometown, it is a tribute to P.O.D.’s community and local culture featuring “Cholo Goth” duo Prayers, Roller Derby darlings San Diego Derby Dolls, dancers Hob.e, Prime Tyme Ron Myles and Jason Sensation, as well as vintage cars from various local clubs organized by Tribal Streetwear.
The Awakening track listing:
01. Am I Awake
02. This Goes Out To You
03. Rise of NWO
04. Criminal Conversations (feat. Maria Brink)
05. Somebody’s Trying to Kill Me
06. Get Down
07. Speed Demon
08. Want It All
09. Revolución (feat. Lou Koller)
10. The Awakening