The San Diego-based metalheads have tapped Blindside and Fenix TX to join them on the tour, which his the road October 18. Covering major markets in the States, the bands play theatre-sized venues until the beginning of December.

Following their tours with Staind, Primus, Dope, Crazy Town, (hed)pe and Project 86 last year, P.O.D. slowed things down in 2001, playing just a handful of festivals during the summer. They used the off-time to work on Satellite, which came out in September and spawned a major radio hit with “Alive.”

Newcomers Blindside join P.O.D. as their special guests. The Swedish group has been a presence in Europe since forming in 1994 (then under the name of Underfree) and make their first Stateside tour splash this fall. Their sophomore album, A Thought Crushed My Mind, was released in 2000.

Fenix TX have spent a fair amount of time on the road already this year. The guys shared the stage with The Offspring, Sum 41, and Guttermouth, while promoting their newest album, Lechuza.