There is something almost sacred about the walls of the Eventim Apollo. The Hammersmith Odeon was once home to the sounds of Queen, Bowie and Iron Maiden. Tonight, it becomes a one UK-stop blazing altar to American Metal royalty as we welcome special guests P.O.D. and Drowning Pool to the World Tour 2025 of Godsmack.
P.O.D – Drowning Pool
Eventim Apollo – 7 April 2025
Words And Photography: Ash Nash
This tour is particularly special as it brings three icons of Alternative Metal beneath one historic roof, proving to be nothing short of electrifying. This is not merely a throwback to the early 2000s scene. It is a full-throttle celebration of that era’s passion, heightened by a modern edge that demonstrates each of these bands’ enduring fervour.
P.O.D.
Sonny Sandoval promised us that “London is always fun” in a pre-tour interview with MetalTalk. “We go a little bit wild.” He was not wrong.
P.O.D., short for Payable On Death, emerged from San Diego in the early 1990s with a style that fused Metal, hip hop, punk, and reggae into something of their own. Led by the ever-electrifying Sonny Sandoval, the band established their mark in the early 2000s with enormous songs like Boom, Alive, and Youth Of The Nation, which still strike hard today.
With positive themes, relentless energy, and a fearless attitude to genre, P.O.D. have never followed the rules. Decades later, they continue to light up the stage and remind everyone why they are one of the most unique and enduring acts in alternative music.
As P.O.D. hit the stage, the energy shifts into something unpredictable and charged. Sonny Sandoval remains one of the most captivating frontmen in the business, pouring every ounce of himself into the performance. He moves like a man possessed, constantly in motion and completely locked into the moment.
Boom sends shockwaves through the crowd. Alive becomes a shared experience, hands raised, voices united. And Youth Of The Nation is as stirring as ever, met with a chorus of voices from the crowd that fills the venue.
P.O.D. are a band that thrives on connection, and tonight, they build it with ease. They are unpredictable in the best way and utterly compelling to watch.
Drowning Pool
Drowning Pool emerged from Dallas, Texas, in the early 2000s with a sound that combined heavy guitars, genuine passion, and anthemic aggression. Their debut album, Sinner, went platinum on the strength of the tune Bodies, which became an immediate Nu-Metal classic.
Tonight, Drowning Pool wasted no time making their mark with the heavy-duty task of warming up and making a fantastic impression immediately.
They emerge straight into Sinner and it lands with a punch, setting the tone with sharp clarity and real purpose. With Ryan McCombs back on vocal duties, there is a sense of renewed energy and conviction, with a fine voice that carries grit and depth, the sort that only comes from years of life on the road and weathering personal storms.
CJ Pierce’s guitar work is razor-sharp and to the point, while Mike Luce and Stevie Benton form a rhythm section that moves with power and intent. Tear Away feels personal and raw, while Step Up brings the fight.
When Bodies arrives, the reaction is immediate. It is not just nostalgia, it is an eruption. The pit surges, people scream every word, and for a few minutes, time stops.
Drowning Pool are not stuck in the past. They are alive, present and pressing forward with everything they have. With headline dates announced for November and a new album in 2025, tonight feels like a turning point.
