Having a cover as your biggest hit can pose something of a problem for a band especially when that cover was so well done that it almost becomes synonymous with the band to a greater extent than to the original artist. Smooth Criminal has certainly defined the career of Alien Ant Farm but that would do a disservice to the rest of their catalogue of songs especially those from their Platinum selling Anthology debut of from which half of the show’s set was drawn from including hit single Movies and Wish from the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 video game soundtrack.
Lead singer, Dryden Mitchell’s cheeky personality fitted the Punk Pop tunes perfectly and when he conducted the crowd to a rendition of Happy Birthday to his wife Cassie, who was mortified at getting dragged on stage from the wings, the crowd responded accordingly.
Of course, Smooth Criminal elicited the biggest cheer of their set with the crowd bouncing as they sang the stratospherically high notes in the absence of zany bassist Tye Zamora.
P.O.D (Payable On Death) are something of an unknown quantity in the UK but in the The States, their flag flies much, much higher with 11 studio albums, a clutch of Gold and Platinum discs and three Grammy nominations to their name so it was good to see the Academy suitably packed for an evening of Nu Metal mayhem.
Talk about making a bold statement, opening trio Boom, Rock The Party (Off The Hook) and Panic Attack literally roared from the starting blocks in a big, bombastic explosion of raw power as vocalist Sonny Sandoval hurled himself around the stage as if trying to free himself from some invisible strait jacket.
A quick glance to the crowd during the ferocious Rockin’ With the Best could see a swirling mosh pit responding to the onstage fury and hard-hitting Rap Metal assault. To the casual observer it all seems rather aggressive but P.O.D’s Christian message is in sharp contrast to their musical approach with its deep, heavy groove, piledriving riffs, venomous rapped vocals and huge chant along choruses. It’s pretty lively stuff and not for the feint hearted.
Circles saw things mellow down a little with a more melodic approach from Sandoval and the ballad, Beautiful saw the Academy lit up with mobile phones, old school lighters and even a gas cooker fire lighter!!
With Alien Ant Farm’s Dryden Mitchell joining the party with a beer in the middle of the crowd it was left to Satellite, hit single Youth Of The Nation and Alive to show that P.O.D also have some memorable hooks and top tunes to go with their more direct Rap attack.
Review and Photos By Mick Burgess
Be the first to comment