Circles (P.O.D. album)

Circles is the tenth studio album by American Christian nu metal band P.O.D. The album was released on November 16, 2018, via Mascot Records. To promote the record, the band toured across the United States and Europe. It is the last album to feature the band's founding drummer Wuv Bernardo before his hiatus from the band in 2021.

Circles
Studio album by P.O.D.
Released	November 16, 2018 (2018-11-16)
Studio	Maples Studios (Santa Ana, California) Harley Studios (Costa Mesa, California)
Genre	Alternative metal hard rock[1] rap rock
Length	37:10
Label	Mascot
Producer	The Heavy
P.O.D. chronology
The Awakening (2015) Circles (2018) Veritas (2024)
Singles from Circles
"Listening for the Silence" Released: October 9, 2018

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[2]
CCM Magazine	[3]
Indie Vision Music	3/5[1]
Metal Revolution	55%[4]

Background

In August 2017, the group released "Soundboy Killa" as a promotional single from the album. Later that year, the quartet travelled the United States and South America on the Soundboy Killaz with Powerflo, Alien Ant Farm and Fire from the Gods.^[5]

In September 2018, the ensemble released the title track "Circles",^[6] followed by "Listening for the Silence",^[7] which peaked at number 25 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs chart.^[8]

The group worked on the record with Los Angeles production duo The Heavy, the most extensive collaboration the group has done.

The title of the album, possesses multiple meanings to lead vocalist Sonny Sandoval, who stated that "Part of the thought was, 'Man, is this new beginning for P.O.D., or is the beautiful end?'".^[9]

Sound and composition

Blabbermouth.net stated that "The rap-driven "Rockin' With The Best" has an old-school P.O.D. sound that nods to the Beastie Boys, while "Always Southern California" is a reggae-inflected rocker and the groove-heavy "Soundboy Killa" is a hip-hop/metal hybrid", going on to say that "The dynamic title track even boasts moody electronic flourishes, glassy piano, and laid-back rapping verses".^[10]

Track listing

Circles track listing

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Rockin' with the Best"	2:42
2.	"Always Southern California"	3:10
3.	"Circles"	3:27
4.	"Panic Attack"	3:02
5.	"On the Radio"	3:10
6.	"Fly Away"	3:10
7.	"Listening for the Silence"	3:51
8.	"Dreaming"	3:02
9.	"Domino"	3:29
10.	"Soundboy Killa"	4:06
11.	"Home"	4:01
Total length:		37:16

All tracks are written by P.O.D

Personnel

Credits adapted from the Circles booklet.^[11]

P.O.D.

• Sonny Sandoval – vocals
• Marcos Curiel – lead guitar
• Traa Daniels – bass guitar
• Wuv Bernardo – drums, rhythm guitar

Additional musicians

• Jordan Miller – synth on "Dreaming", sub bass on "Domino", backing vocals on "Circles", "Fly Away", "Domino", "Home", "Always Southern California" and "Panic Attack"
• Jason Bell – backing vocals on "Circles", "Fly Away", "Home", "Always Southern California" and "Panic Attack"
• Josh Collins – programming on "Circles"
• Timothy H. Miller – backing vocals on "Always Southern California"

Production

• The Heavy (Jordan Miller and Jason Bell) – production
• Cameron Webb – production on "Listening for the Silence" and "Soundboy Killa"
• Jay Baumgardner – mixing
• Howie Weinberg – mastering
• Blake Lagrange – engineering

Imagery

• Roy Koch – artwork

Charts

Chart performance for Circles

Chart (2018)	Peak position
US Christian Albums (Billboard)[12]	12
US Top Album Sales (Billboard)[13]	93

References

1. Rob J (November 25, 2018). "Review: P.O.D. - Circles". Indie Vision Music. Archived from the original on July 2, 2022. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
2. Collar, Matt. "Circles - P.O.D." AllMusic. Archived from the original on November 6, 2022. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
3. Argyrakis, Andy (December 13, 2018). "P.O.D. 'Circles' Review". CCM Magazine. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
4. Zoran. "P.O.D. - Circles". Retrieved May 3, 2024.
5. "P.O.D. drop high-energy lyric video for new song, "Soundboy Killa"—exclusive". Alternative Press. August 18, 2017. Archived from the original on November 20, 2023. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
6. "P.O.D. release hard-hitting 'Circles' title track—listen". Alternative Press. September 27, 2018. Archived from the original on February 27, 2023. Retrieved November 16, 2018.
7. "Listen To New P.O.D. Song 'Listening For The Silence'". Blabbermouth.net. October 9, 2018. Archived from the original on November 20, 2023. Retrieved October 22, 2018.
8. "P.O.D. Chart History: Mainstream Rock Songs". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 22, 2018. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
9. Graff, Gary (November 14, 2018). "P.O.D. Takes a Leap Forward With 'Circles': Album Premiere". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 21, 2023. Retrieved November 16, 2018.
10. "P.O.D. To Release 'Circles' Album In November; Listen To New Single 'Rockin' With The Best'". Blabbermouth.net. September 7, 2018. Archived from the original on November 20, 2023. Retrieved November 16, 2018.
11. Circles (booklet). P.O.D. Mascot. 2018. M75602.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
12. "P.O.D. Chart History (Christian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 1, 2018.
13. "P.O.D. Chart History (Top Album Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved December 1, 2018.