Circles
P.O.D. · 2018
37 min · 11 tracks · alternative metal
A vibrant blend of heavy riffs and melodic hooks reflecting the band's roots in Southern California's diverse music scene.
Top tracks — play these first
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Circles — The title track encapsulates the album's themes of reflection and resilience, marrying heavy instrumentation with poignant lyrical imagery about life's cyclical nature.
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Home — This closing track offers a contemplative look at belonging and identity, showcasing the band's ability to blend emotional depth with powerful melodies.
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Rockin’ With the Best Start here — Opening with high energy, this track sets the tone for the album, blending rap-rock elements with an infectious chorus that celebrates the band's roots.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album blends heavy riffs with melodic elements, showcasing solid craft but lacking standout compositions.
What we noticed
- The first three tracks feature heavy guitar riffs and rapid tempos, while the fourth track introduces a slower, more introspective tone.
- Several songs incorporate melodic hooks that contrast with the heavier instrumentation, creating dynamic shifts within tracks.
- Composition 25% of the score
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6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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5/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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5/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Little footprint beyond its audience. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady mid-tempo momentum
- contemplative yet energetic spirit
- for road trips
- uplifting anthems for reflection
Maybe skip if you
- prefer instant gratification
- seek complex, varied structures
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Late Career Highlight — Marks a strong return after a hiatus, showcasing continued vitality in their sound.
- Themes
- Southern California roots· cyclical life reflections· identity and belonging
- Career context
- Circles is P.O.D.'s first studio album in eight years, following their 2012 release, Murdered Love. At this point, the band was navigating a return to prominence after a significant hiatus, aiming to reconnect with both old fans and new listeners while embracing their established sound.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Linkin Park· Korn· Skillet
Tracklist
- 1 Rockin’ With the Best Start here 2:43
- 2 Always Southern California 3:11
- 3 Circles 3:28
- 4 Panic Attack 3:02
- 5 On the Radio 3:11
- 6 Fly Away 3:11
- 7 Listening for the Silence 3:52
- 8 Dreaming 3:03
- 9 Domino 3:29
- 10 Soundboy Killa 4:06
- 11 Home 4:02
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
One More Light
Linkin Park
Explores themes of loss and belonging with a blend of heavy instrumentation and melodic hooks.
Gore
Deftones
Shares a similar atmospheric blend of heavy riffs and introspective lyrics rooted in personal experiences.
Palms
Thrice
Combines heavy soundscapes with lyrical reflections on identity, fitting well within SoCal's music scene.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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