P.O.D. and producer Howard Benson just entered a Los Angeles studio to begin work on the band's third album, but frontman Sonny Sandoval is sure the as-yet-untitled disc will be out November 4th.

"Having the date sets the tone of how serious we are and how determined we are to do another great record," Sandoval says. "We're serious about this record and we want people to know that. We're not messing around."

The album will be P.O.D.'s first with guitarist Jason Truby; founding guitarist Marcus Curiel left the band in February. "Having Jason in our band adds a fresh new perspective and a different fire," bassist Traa says.

In fact, on Truby's first day as a P.O.D. member, the band wrote "Sleeping Awake," the first single from The Matrix Reloaded, as well as two other songs. That started a burst of productivity that has resulted in anywhere from thirty to fifty songs, depending on who's doing the counting. "We just want to have a lot of different stuff," says Traa, who says the band will likely choose twelve for the album. "And there is a lot of different stuff."

According to the band, Truby, who has toured and played with P.O.D. on many occasions, was the only logical choice. "If it hadn't been Jason, it would have been nobody," Sandoval says. "We definitely weren't going to try and audition people . . . or put up an ad."

After they finish recording, P.O.D. plan to do some club shows before their August 31st date at Colorado's Red Rocks, where they will share a bill with 50 Cent, Korn and the Doors 21st Century.

STEVE BALTIN
(May 8, 2002)