Last Tuesday, October 22nd, Curitiba witnessed the return of one of the pioneers of international nu metal, POD . An extremely energetic performance with a well-structured and balanced setlist, alternating classics from the 2000s with new songs from their latest album, the exceptional Veritas . The group, composed of Sonny Sandoval on vocals, Marcos Curiel on guitar, and Traa Daniels on bass, brought in Zachary Christopher to replace their original drummer, Wuv Bernardo .
The band returned to the capital of Paraná after a long seven-year wait. The venue chosen for the band's sixth encounter with the Curitiba audience was the grand Tork N' Roll, a venue that has been standing out with each international show. When alternative metal bands need a place in the city with excellent infrastructure and a quality team, Tork is always the right choice for these occasions.
The audience, which turned out in good numbers, was eager to reunite with the Americans from San Diego, California. The Spanish introduction to the opening track of the album Veritas , which thanks the audience for their presence and invites them on a musical journey, is the band's starting point as they leave the dressing room and take the stage to begin distributing energy and dopamine to the crowd.
POD's performances always start with a bang. The heaviest songs are always chosen to open the shows and give the audience a thermal shock. This time, the chosen song was "Drop," the opening track from Veritas . This song features Randy Blythe from Lamb Of God in the studio version. "Drop" also sets the tone for most of the show: Sonny's intense vocal performance and stage presence; Marcos Curiel's precise and technical riffs and solos, along with plenty of interaction with the audience; and Traa Daniels's always restrained but commanding presence and cohesive, groovy execution.
Next comes another new song, “I Got That,” before making way for some of the band's older hits, captivating the millennial audience with the nostalgia these songs evoke. The trio “Set It Off,” “Boom,” and “Rock The Party (Off The Hook)” are special to the band's old-school fans and were very well utilized.
Among the songs that remained in the middle of the setlist, "Satellite" deserves special mention. The title track from the 2001 album is beloved by all for its catchy and simple chorus that makes everyone hit high notes in their sing-alongs. The song is also highly appreciated for the feeling that Sonny always delivers in its performances, making everyone feel chills from the emotion the music evokes.
Another highlight that was a pleasant surprise on the setlist is “Murdered Love.” The track, which also shares the name of the 2012 album, is extremely heavy and brutal, with Sonny aggressively exploring the entire stage, his microphone cable ricocheting everywhere. The song even features backing vocals by Sick Jacken , vocalist of the hip-hop group The Psycho Realm . The single is pure Nu Metal, its mix of broken verses and a chorus blending rap with screamed vocals is the perfect recipe to drive the audience wild.
Between songs, Marcos Curiel proves to be very communicative and loves to chat with his bandmates and the audience. He even conducts research on which songs the audience would like to hear during the show. The guitarist doesn't always receive the same level of fan attention as his vocalist colleague, but it's undeniable that Curiel's charisma is contagious, and he's also super approachable with the audience.
The performance had another curious event, thanks to Marcos himself, who noticed a sign written by a fan who wanted to sing one of the favorite songs of the band's most hardcore fans. And so it happened: A fan went up on stage to sing along with the band the song "Southtown," from the 1999 album * The Fundamental Elements of Southtown*. Definitely one of the highlights of the performance and one that further demonstrates the humility and loyalty the band has towards its fans. A memorable scene that will be etched in the fan's memory.
The show's finale is always finished with exceptional quality and intensity. The double bill of "Youth Of The Nation" and "Alive" (the latter featuring Benx, vocalist of the band Zion'z) allows the audience to release any remaining energy, as these are the band's most radio-friendly songs, two classics that will have even those unfamiliar with the group singing along at the top of their lungs. It's the perfect way to end a beautiful performance filled with emotion and feeling.
At the end of their performance, with many thanks and guitar picks and drumsticks thrown to the crowd, the band returned to their dressing room for a well-deserved rest. But when they were ready to go back to the hotel, they made a point of greeting the audience who had the patience to wait for them one last time that night. A very approachable band that has unconditional affection for its fans and makes sure to show it clearly. A true lesson in humility from one of the most beloved bands in the scene.
This was POD's fourth visit to Curitiba (2008, 2014, 2017, 2024), not counting a cancelled show that was supposed to happen in 2010. The expectation and hope of everyone present is that the band will soon return to Paraná, as the Curitiba nu metal scene still shows enough strength to put the city back on the band's tour map in the near future.
POD in Curitiba – Setlist:
1. Drop
2. I Got That
3. Set It Off
4. Boom
5. Rock the Party
6. Lost in Forever
7. I Won't Bow Down
8. Satellite
9. Murdered Love
10. Circles
11. Soundboy Killa
12. Addicted
13. Sleeping Awake
14. Southtown
15. Will You
16. Afraid to Die
17. Youth of the Nation
18. Alive
READ ALSO: Sonny Sandoval, from POD, explains the drummer's absence in recent years.
