Testify

P.O.D. are back with their fourth studio album for Atlantic Records

Years before Switchfoot, Relient K, and other faith-based bands started making a lot of mainstream noise, there was P.O.D. Since 1999's The Fundamentals Elements of Southtown and their 2001 breakthrough Satellite, the San Diego rockers have attained a level of success and artistry that outshines many of their rapcore contemporaries. At the pinnacle of their career, the hard rock heavyweights went through a transitional period, replacing a guitarist who'd left the band, adjusting to a new sound, and preparing for the next chapter after their multi-platinum success. After 13 years as a band and more than 7 million albums sold, P.O.D. are back with their fourth studio album for Atlantic Records. The aptly titled Testify displays P.O.D. at their fiery best. It is easily the band's most ferocious recording since Satellite and the closest to the "P.O.D. sound" that became their trademark. Testify sees them unfurling their wings to embrace metal, commercial rock, pop, hip hop, rapcore reggae and dub. Of course, such eclecticism would be pointless if the songs were no good. However, yet again Messrs Sandoval, Truby, Daniels and Bernardo have managed to craft a collection that contains no weak links and no fillers. As an album, Testify is united by the unswerving quality of its songs as well as its musical diversity.

Sharp melodies, powerhouse rhythms, quickfire vocals and moshpit-baiting riffs

That all is wonderfully right in the P.O.D. camp is in evidence from the moment Roots In Stereo high-kicks the door down. Featuring Hasidic Jewish reggae man Matisyahu, it rocks, it rolls, it raps and it rastas before unleashing one of those arena-sized choruses that P.O.D. have become experts at devising. Lights Out bolts out of the starting gate soon afterwards and is another thoroughbred of a song, with chunky, muscular, hard rockin' guitar licks from Jason Truby and an aggressive, in-your-face chorus. Elsewhere, Sounds Like War, Mistakes And Glories, Teachers and Say Hello continue the musically belligerent but oh-so-alluring theme with sharp melodies, powerhouse rhythms, quickfire vocals and moshpit-baiting riffs. That many winning tracks on one album would be more than most bands could ever wish for, but then P.O.D. aren't "most bands". After all, "most bands" wouldn't have a hope in heaven of surpassing the aforementioned highlights with something out of a completely different musical book. Yet, Strength Of My Life does just that with its shimmeringly cool, pure reggae vibe, glorious melody and euphoric, life-affirming lyrics. The ultimate shocker, though, is This Time, a song so singable and breezy it won't be surprising if it somehow becomes a radio single. On The Grind, meanwhile, features the sinister rapping of Boo-Ya T.R.I.B.E. and The Psycho Realm's Sick Jacken. Mark My Words, which was lyrically inspired by C.S. Lewis' The Lion, The Witch, And The Wardrobe, is the last of the 13 tracks and one of the strongest.

Testify proves there's steam left in this engine

While they play around with the infectious grooves of reggae and Latin music and the heavy deliverance of hip-hop and rock, San Diego's hard rock four-piece P.O.D. defined a universal message. They're born-again Christians and such a thing is central in their music. They're not entirely classified as a Christian band though. Longtime followers of P.O.D. – aka "the Warriors" – will rejoice in many of the band's trademark sonics. The overall musical exploration on Testify blends some of the edge and radio-friendly sensibility of 2001's Satellite with the pop and reggae dabblings of 2003's Payable On Death for what can easily be labeled as P.O.D.'s most diverse effort to date. Testify proves there's steam left in this engine and they may still have more to contribute to the rock scene for years to come.