P.O.D.
When Angels & Serpents Dance
INO Records
Grade – C+

The new album from P.O.D. marks the return of guitarist Marcos Curiel. Curiel departed from the band nearly four years ago. What I have read is that the renewed chemistry is working and the band is fired up about their new material.

“When Angels & Serpents Dance” is an impressive thirteen tracks long. The band has also tried to make an effort to diversify their sound. In some ways it does not always work as the slower tracks come across as repetitive and drawn-out. The lead track, “Addicted” also sounds exactly like “Alive” to the point that you could almost swap the lyrics between the two songs.

My favorites are the old-school P.O.D. like “Condescending” and the rapid-fire “God Forbid,” which has this cool Dr. Who intro before breaking into a thrash of guitars. And then there is the cool retro sounding “Roman Empire,” a mesmerizing guitar solo that is followed by the title track.. The CD also features a few guest artists including Mike Muir of Suicidal Tendencies on “Kaliforn-Eye-A” and the Marley Sisters (as in Bob Marley) on the reggae influenced “I'll Be Ready.”

My reaction to “When Angels & Serpents Dance” is mixed. I like the old-school P.O.D. rock, but the softer tracks just did not fit well.

- Ken W.