Without question, this album is one of the best that I have heard in a long while. The Fundamental Elements contains some of the sickest hooks and best musicianship in the hard music arena this year. Their style has changed a bit, but it's not a bad thing; quite good actually. Imagine what would result from POD being thrown into a blender with a far more mature and talented POD, as well as the Deftones and White Zombie. Each hook is laid down with such finesse and skill, it'll put a smile on your face. And the awesome thing is, every hook is good. I kid you not. Every hook is an example of massive hardcore at its stylistic best. POD has even incorporated minimalist elements of industrial, using some samples here and there in the songs, creating a very Klank-like feel. Don't think they have gone mainstream or sold-out, not in the least. They have merely grown up and matured musically, and have finally received mix that'll do their material justice.

About the production: As good as you can get. The absolute best was poured into this, from the recording to the post-production. The mix is impeccable, every instrument perfectly balanced with the other. Sonny's voice is in top form, rising above the incredible low-end, often run through effects, but not too often. You can hear every word, and his scream comes flying out of the speakers. Traa's bass has never sounded better; every slap pops through the mix with perfect tone. Marcos uses quite a few effects on his guitar in the album, but they are perfectly placed, and his screams back up Sonny perfectly. In the song "Hollywood," Marcos uses an eerie effect for the verse, then couples it with a searing, intense riff for the chorus. It's awesome. The drums are perfect, too (remember the BROWN drums? Yeck). They carry plenty of weight, a prominent force in the mix. You can't get much better than this.

Standout songs would have to be "Hollywood," an intense song, totally unlike anything you've heard from POD before. "Rock the Party" sticks out as a fun, slam-around-till-you-drop song, with an insane White Zombie-like chorus. The album is very mosh-friendly and has immense replay value. "Set Your Eyes to Zion" is a beautiful reggae song, praising God and encouraging Christians to "ride on to Zion." They even do an insane cover of U2's "Bullet the Blue Sky," one of the best covers I've heard. The lyrical content has not been sacrificed at all, even though they're on a secular label now. POD has not lost their message, and it shows.

This album is superb. Sixteen tracks and 58 minutes of some of the best rapcore you can find. Don't miss out.