Satellite : P.O.D. : Review : Rolling Stone

If P.O.D.'s religious devotion inspired them to turn out the most soulful hard-rock record so far this year, then maybe more new-metalheads should get down with God. On Satellite, the San Diego Christian quartet's rap metal explodes beyond the confines of what has become a played-out sound. Like Rage Against the Machine, P.O.D. build their songs on a passion so fierce they're almost exhausting to listen to. But on tracks like "The Messenjah," they carefully mitigate that passion with slow-building dynamics - P.O.D. are masters at the deceptively simple art of building songs from a simmer to a boil. Filled with bulldozer guitar parts, aggro-funk rhythms and singer Sonny Sandoval's uncomplicated rapping, songs such as "Set It Off" and "Boom" are ineluctably moshable. P.O.D. have open ears, using a children's chorus to spooky effect on "Youth of the Nation" and weaving guest vocalist Eek-A-Mouse's reggae toasting through the beat-heavy "Ridiculous." On "Alive," dissonant, churning riffs and Sandoval's ascending vocals recall mid-Nineties melodic punk bands such as Quicksand, Helmet and Seaweed. Without resorting to ham-fisted angst, P.O.D. push all the right emotional buttons - truly some holy shit.

JENNY ELISCU
(RS 878 - September 27, 2001)