When Angels And Serpents Dance

* 1/2 --
Return of the P.O.D. people

The hard-rocking San Diego band switched labels and guitarists, bringing back Marcos Curiel, but little has changed in the nu-metal blueprint that sent 2001’s Satellite into orbit. End of the World, with its soaring gospel choir, feels like a Youth of the Nation spinoff. Still, P.O.D. gets style points for inching away from rap-metal vocals, dabbling in pop (Shine With Me’s euphoric chorus) and scoring cool cameos —, including Mike Muir of Suicidal Tendencies on Kaliforn-Eye-A and the Marley Sisters (Bob’s daughters) on reggae-stamped I’ll Be Ready. — Edna Gundersen