New Release: Circles - P.O.D. (16th November)

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Circles - P.O.D.
Mascot Records
Produced by The Heavy
Released 16th November 2018

Tracklist
A1 Rockin' With The Best 2:38
A2 Always Southern California 3:09
A3 Circles 3:26
A4 Panic Attack 3:01
A5 On The Radio 3:09
A6 Fly Away 3:09
B1 Listening For The Silence 3:48
B2 Dreaming 3:02
B3 Domino 3:28
B4 Soundboy Killa 4:05
B5 Home 4:01

Sonny Sandoval Interview San Diego Union-Tribune (15th November 2018)

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If there are some who are unaware of the history of P.O.D. here's a brief summary. Included are links for albums and singles etc that you should check out. Then that should set the stage for the new album 'Circles'.

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It's been 26 years since P.O.D. (Payable on Death) first formed in San Diego and during that time they have only ever had three line up changes. The first was when original Bassist Gabe Portillo left the band in 1993 with current Bassist Traa Daniels replacing him; the second was in 2003 when Guitarist Marcos Curial departed to be replaced by Jason Truby (formerly of Living Sacrifice); and then thirdly, when Marcos asked to rejoin the band three years later on the same day that Jason Truby handed in his request to leave for pastures new. The line up has pretty much remained solid since.

 (P.O.D. left to right: Wuv, Marcos, Traa and Sonny)

Sonny Sandoval - Lead Vocals

Traa Daniels - Bass, Backing Vocals

Marcos Curiel - Guitars,
Backing Vocals

Wuv Bernando Jr. - Drums, Backing Vocals

They have come a long way since their 1993 Demo that was issued on Cassette on Rescue Records (a label set up by Wuv's Father, who was also their manager for the first few years). On Rescue Records they released three albums: 'Snuff The Punk' (January 1994), 'Brown' (October 1996),  and 'Payable on Death Live' (1997).

In 1998 the band came to the attention of Atlantic Records and after seeing them live at The Roxy in Los Angeles they were signed to the label. They released 'The Warriors' EP on Tooth & Nail Records as a transitional release in May 1998 (limited to 30,000 copies) prior to the August 1999 release of their major label debut 'The Fundamental Elements of Southtown'. Southtown peaked on the Billboard Chart at #51 and two tracks were released as singles and although neither charted they gained a lot of airplay on MTV ('Southtown' and 'Rock the Party'). A third track, not on the album also had a video, 'School of Hard Knocks', and was included as part of the Soundtrack for the film Little Nicky in 2000.

July 2001 the band released 'Alive' as the forerunner to the highly anticipated new album 'Satellite'. 'Alive' rocketed up the UK Charts to #19 whilst reaching only #41 in the USA. It would become one of the most aired videos of the year on MTV/MTV2. 

The album 'Satelitte', arrived on a day that would have life altering tragedy for many, 11th September 2001. It would go on to sell 7 million copies worldwide peaking at #6 in the States and #16 in the UK. A further three singles were released from the album: 'Youth of the Nation' (which charted on both sides of the Atlantic), 'Boom' (that featured Blindside in the video playing table tennis against P.O.D.) and title track 'Satellite'. Q magazine here in the UK said, "...heavy, angry, and very, very loud....many songs have messages of peace and spirituality....their Gen-X angst sounds genuine...", whilst giving it 3/5 stars.

'Sleeping Awake' was part of the Soundtrack for The Matrix Reloaded in May 2003 followed by 'Will You' in September 2003. The album 'Payable on Death' followed in November 2003 and whilst it reached #9 in the States its sales came nowhere close to what 'Satelitte' had sold.

A new album was due for release in December in 2005 but was pushed back. The band took the opportunity to release 'The Warriors Volume 2' EP. The seven track EP contained demos from the sessions for the forthcoming album as well as two live tracks and was released a week after the first single that would feature on their sixth album, 'Goodbye for Now'. That single and the video would feature a young lady on backing vocals who would go on to have a huge career herself, Katy Perry!

'Testify' would be their final album for Atlantic Records. Released in January 2006. In November the same year Rhino Records would release 'Greatest Hits: The Atlantic Years' that included 17 tracks covering singles and album tracks and two previously unreleased songs: 'Here We Go' and the single 'Going In Blind'. It would also reach #9 on the US chart.

Two years later there was yet another new label (INO Records in the USA and their own P.O.D. Records and Cooking Vinyl Records for Europe) and a brand new album, 'When Angels & Serpents Dance', released April 2008. It included the singles 'Addicted' and 'Shine With Me'. The album was the third one in a row to peak at #9 on the Billboard Chart.

Moving forward four years and P.O.D. had signed with Razor & Tie and released 'Murdered Love' with Howard Benson back on producing duty. Three singles were released from the album: 'Lost in Forever (Scream)', 'Higher' and 'Beautiful' and each had a promo video which you can see by clicking the link. There was also a video for the title track 'Murdered Love'.

The SoCal Sessions album was next up and was released on T-Boy Records November 2014. This one was a little different in that it was an Acoustic album and spotlighted a number of songs drawn from previous albums. 

August 2015 saw the release of their second album for T-Boy Records, a Concept album entitled 'The Awakening'. Whilst it drew some favourable press coverage it's probably the least played album by P.O.D. that I own. I think it has more to do with me not looking so favourably upon Concept albums rather than the quality of the music.

Then finally we come to November 2018 and the release of 'Circles'. They were saying that they had been co-writing with some folk for this album, something which they had not really ever done before and there was the possibility that it might offer up a rather different view of P.O.D. than expected. But the good news is that they have managed to maintain that typical P.O.D. sound and throughout the album it makes you think back to other points in their back catalogue. I don't necessarily think that is a bad thing, especially when you have fond memories of those earlier records.

My favourites so far from the album are Rockin' With The Best, On The Radio and Listening For The Silence.

The Circles Interviews with P.O.D.

How Does Circles Compare to previous P.O.D. albums?

Favourite Songs from the Record?

Touring.

Revisiting: Satellite - P.O.D. (11th September 2001)

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Satellite - P.O.D.

Atlantic 

Produced by Howard Benson and P.O.D.

Released 11th September 2001

US Charts #6

UK Charts #16

Australian Chart #19

New Zealand Chart #4

German Chart #5

Side A

Side B

Side C

Side D

P.O.D.

    Sonny Sandoval – vocals
    Marcos Curiel – guitars, backing vocals
    Traa Daniels – bass guitar, backing vocals
    Wuv Bernardo – drums, percussions


Additional musicians
    Howard Benson – Keyboards, Loops
    Larry Corbett – Cello
    Joel Derouin – Violin
    Christian Lindskog (of Blindside) – Additional vocals on "Anything Right"
    Eek-A-Mouse – Additional vocals on "Ridiculous"
    H.R. (of Bad Brains) – Additional vocals on "Without Jah, Nothin"
    Suzie Katayama – Conductor, string arrangements

In The US the album was released on CD and as a Double Vinyl Album.

Pretty much everywhere it was released just on CD. In Europe there was a Limited Edition version that came with a DVD featuring live footage of the band in Hamburg, Germany* performing Set It Off, Without Jah, Nothin', Youth of The Nation and Outkast.

* You can watch the video from that particular show HERE. It contains pretty much most of the show apart from the encore Outkast.

There are loads of links below that will lead you to videos/audio of P.O.D. as well as other information regarding the band. Click on them to enjoy.

Singles On Satellite

Released on CD Single and Cassette Single

 

1 Alive (Album Version) 3:22
2 School Of Hard Knocks 4:04
3 Lie Down (Demo) 4:20

Released 4th July 2011

US Chart #41

UK Chart #19 

Sabbath was also included on the Australian release of the CD Single

MTV Video Music Awards 2002
    Best Video of the Year for "Alive" (nominated)
    Best Group Video for "Alive" (nominated)
    Best Direction for "Alive" (nominated)
    Best Special Effects for "Alive" (nominated)
    Viewer's Choice for "Alive" (nominated)

2002 Grammy Awards
    Best Hard Rock Performance for "Alive" (nomination)

 Released on CD Single

1 Youth Of The Nation (Album Version) 4:17
2 Alive (Semi-Acoustic Version) 3:23
3 Sabbath 4:32

Released 25th December 2001

US Chart #28

UK Chart #36

 MTV Video Music Awards 2002

 Best Rock Video for "Youth Of The Nation" (nominated)

 2003 Grammy Awards*
    Best Hard Rock Performance for "Youth Of The Nation" (nomination)

*They were also nominated in Best Metal Performance Catergory for "Portrait" (although it was not released as a single but merely an album track)

Released on 7" Picture Disc

 and CD Single

A1 Boom (Album Version) 3:09
A2 Set It Off (Tweaker Remix) 4:12
B Hollywood (Live) 5:12

Released 14th May 2002

Did Not Chart in US or UK

Released on CD Single

1 Satellite (Album Version) 3:32
2 Critic (Non Album Bonus Track) 2:43
3 Youth Of The Nation (Mike$ki Remix) 4:05

Released 20th August 2002

Did Not Chart In US or UK

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If you assumed for a moment that P.O.D. were some kind of bandwagon jumpers under the banner of Nu Metal/Rapcore then you were actually oblivious to their history. They didn't just spring out of nowhere and suddenly find themselves as one of the most requested bands on MTV's TRL with their single Alive, rather they had been on the go since 1992 and even before they had begun to gain some success with Atlantic Records they had already released three albums on their own Rescue Records (Snuff The Punk - January 1994, Brown - October 1996, Payable On Death Live - February 1997 and an EP entitled The Warriors on Tooth and Nail Records in May 1999).

The band had been offered big bucks to join Essential Records (a Christian Music label based in Franklin, Tennessee) but sensing that bigger things were on the horizon for them they were eventually signed by Atlantic Records after John Rubeli (Atlantic A&R) witnessed them in action at The Roxy on Sunset Strip.

Their major label Debut, The Fundamental Elements of Southtown gave them a much wider platform and two singles and videos from the album - Southtown and Rock The Party (Off The Hook) - would open the doors to radio and MTV for them.

Recording for their fourth studio album had begun in March 2001 in California in the hands of producer Howard Benson (he had produced The Fundamental Elements of Southtown album) and was completed by May 2001. Benson by the way had a rather varied CV having produced T.S.O.L., Sanctuary, Motörhead, Body Count, Less Than Jake, Kilgore Smudge and Sepultura (to name but a few) before taking the controls for P.O.D..

Alive was the lead single for the album Satellite. It was released on Independence Day in the States. The Promo Video (released in August 2001) soon captured the attention of viewers on TRL and on September 5th it was the most requested video on the show. To celebrate this, instead of playing a snippet of the video they cut to a free VMA Music Week Concert performance in Battery Park, Manhattan of Alive.

Six days later Satellite would be released and a performance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno was set but that didn't actually take place until 5th October because of the events of the terror attacks on 11th September 2001 in New York City (not forgetting the Pentegon in Arlington, Virginia and also United Airlines Flight 93 that crashed into a field in Stonycreek Township near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after its passengers tried to overcome the hijackers).

The album saw the band blend the sounds of Metal, Punk, Hardcore, Screamo, Reggae and Rap over the course of 15 tracks. 

Lyrically it would take on new meanings for listeners far and wide the day after 9/11 with it's spotlight shining on the spiritual positivity in the midst of hard times and dark days of sadness and loss:

"RISE - Let your spirit fly
RISE- Stand up for yourself
RISE- Hold your head up high"

- Set It Off

"Everyday is a new day
I'm thankful for every breath I take
I won't take it for granted
So I learn from my mistakes

It’s beyond my control, sometimes it’s best to let go
Whatever happens in this lifetime
So I trust in love
You have given me peace of mind"

- Alive

"Who's to blame for the lives that tragedies claim
No matter what you say
It don't take away the pain

That I feel inside, I'm tired of all the lies
Don't nobody know why
It's the blind leading the blind

I guess that's the way the story goes
Will it ever make sense
Somebody's got to know

There's got to be more to life than this
There's got to be more to everything
I thought exists" 

- Youth of The Nation

"Because I won't break (nah), and I won't shake (nah)
With lifted hands to this Man (Jah), I'll stand in faith
I'll make it through, my trust in you
Close my eyes, make a wish, kiss the sky"

- Satellite

 "I know you will complete this work started in me
I need you more than ever now that I know who you are
I know you will complete this work started in me
I need you more than ever now that I've come so far"

- Ridiculous

"This I pledge, and I'll take it to my death
I'll lay my life down for you and die over again
I and I, I'm not ashamed of the Most High
Even if I die tonight, if I die tonight
This I pledge, and I'll take it to my death
You can bet your life on my words and everything I said
You can't take away my love for this sacrifice
Even if I die tonight, if I die tonight"

- The Messenjah 

 "I believe you and I will overcome
I believe you and I believe in love

Whether you think I'm so confused
Or if you feel the way I do
So don't give in to this hate within

Living in this world of pain
Don't let it bring you down
The world is a ghetto "

- Ghetto

"I'm thinking about forever (missing you)
I know you're so much better (we made it through)

Now I know what it means to live for someone else
To give up yourself
Things have changed, at times it gets kind of strange
Your love remains the same
Do I make you proud? Mama, can you see me now?
Whatever is good in me is because you showed me how to take love by the hand
And so now I can share you with my baby
So that she can understand" 

- Thinking About Forever

"I surrender, giving up all that is me
Yielding to you
Shape me in my brokeness
Empower me forever" 

- Portrait

It's hard to believe that it's been 16 years since that dark and terrible day in New York City. What has unfolded in the world we live in since then still leaves many heartbroken with loss of loved ones and where one enemy seems to have been vanquished another has arisen to carry out even more atrocities in many places across the globe. 

More than ever the lyrics of these songs on Satellite seem to be calling out afresh to us to open our ears to hear and a call to our hearts to remain steadfast in the fight to put out the flames of fear and hatred that seem to be prevailing at this time and embrace something better for us as individuals and as a society.

The S4L Metal Album of the Year 2015: The Awakening - P.O.D.

Starting to get together my favourite Albums of the Year and what's clear is that I've been listening to lots of different styles of music throughout the year. I refuse to be a musical snob and only focus on one particular style of music. I've often found that when I've been so narrow minded with regard to music I have missed out on hearing other great things. The way I look at it is if the music is something that I like (no matter the artist) then I'm happy to listen. I understand that others don't adopt such a policy but it's something I would encourage.

First out of the bag is the Metal Album of the Year. I don't listen to loads of metal but there were a few things this year that struck me as being worthwhile spending time playing: All That Remains album The Order of Things was pretty sharp, especially the track This Probably Won't End Well. Blessthefall's To Those Left Behind was another I really liked as was Shinedown's Threat to Survival.

But the one I've gone for as my favourite of the year is by a band who I have loved for more than twenty years - P.O.D. (Payable On Death) Over  23 years they have released some great albums (Snuff the Punk, Brown, Fundamental Elements of Southtown, Satellite, Testify, and When Angels and Serpents Dance) and fantastic singles (Southtown, Rock the Party, School of Hard Knocks, Alive, Sleeping Awake, Lights Out, and Addicted being just a few of them).

The Awakening by San Diego Metalists P.O.D. is their ninth studio album and in what is a first for them it's a concept album! P.O.D. don't really have the same kind of draw as they did back when Satellite album hit the big time for them but it hasn't stopped them from still looking for ways to expand their horizons. With Howard Benson back at the controls for the fifth album they have certainly done something very different and it does seem to work well. I won't say much about the songs because the video below of the band discussing the album track by track does that better than I could.  One thing I do like about the album that I will say is that there is a great sense of hope weaving through this album even amid the darkness of some of the themes of the story created by the concept.

The album was deemed a commercial failure after dropping off the charts after only a week but a lot of that has to be down to the inability of the record label to give sufficient promotion to it. Regardless of that I really loved it and am happy to declare it The S4L Metal Album of the Year for 2015.

The Awakening - P.O.D.

Universal/T-Boy

Produced by Howard Benson

Released 21st August 2015

US Chart #75

P.O.D.
    Sonny Sandoval - vocals
    Marcos Curiel - guitar
    Traa Daniels - bass
    Wuv Bernardo - drums, percussion

Additional musicians
    Lou Koller (Sick of It All) - guest vocals on Revolución
    Maria Brink (In This Moment) - guest vocals on Criminal Conversations

The Awakening Album

P.O.D. Talk About The Awakening Track By Track

P.O.D. - Murdered Love - A personal view

It seems there is a spot of controversy surrounding the release of P.O.D.'s brand new album (out today). Originally slated for a June release it is being rumoured that the band held off release until the uproar regarding the final track on the album called 'I Am' had died down a little. But it seems that with the release it's only going to heat up even more.


I actually wasn't aware of this until I had bought it and decided to check out some reviews online. P.O.D. are not usually a band that attract a lot of criticism in some circles but within the world of Christianity they seem do have people rushing to one side to support them or to the other side to oppose them.


The uproar is because of the use of the "F" word in the song (used six times in the lyrics, though they have tried to dampen down the word it's still clear that they are using the word). The result is that 'Murdered Love' will only be released in the Christian Market sporting 10 songs and not 11 (which is for the mainstream market only). Personally I think it was a bit unwise of the band to include the song at all on the album mainly because it has the potential to do the band untold harm and sad to say has already stained their image as Christians.


In an interview for Indievisonmusic.com here's what they and Sonny had to say about the song:

The song “I Am” features some intriguing lyrics & what appears to be some editing out of language. Obviously this might come as a bit of surprise to many of your fans. Can you discuss the lyrics & the meaning behind the track?

Sonny: First off, I get both sides. I tend not to give power to silly things like that. I think it’s just more an aggression of where the song is coming from. It’s sad that even already people are already hearing about it. You have the self-righteous religious view; people paying more attention to one word instead of the whole song, full of lyrics. Look at the content of the situation. They tend to focus in some on one word, rather than everything that is being said. First off, that to me is the most shameful part of it. The meaning of the song speaks for itself. For me, hanging out with young people and seeing what they go through. Seeing the craziness of this world throws at you. For us to be dwelling some much on a word; to me, is that we’ve already lost sight of what really matters. I get it because we do have a Christian base. If Christianity is based on whether or not we swear or not, that’s the least of our worries. I’m not that kind of Christian and I normally don’t speak like that. However, it’s an expression for how intense the song is. I recorded it that way and after the long process of thinking about it and praying about it and seeking counsel over it; it was just like ‘let’s just bleep it out’. For other reasons, it just keeps it clean. There’s still other words in that song that still might make the record carry an explicit sticker on it. I get it ultimately. We don’t write Christian music, so that Christians can ultimately feel good. We tend to live in the real world. You know, I don’t live in a religious bubble. We’re surrounded by people that don’t have it figured out and who are lost. Again, that song on this record and everything that P.O.D. has ever been about is offering hope. We’ve found hope in the faith that we have in Jesus and in God. There are people that are still searching. This song discusses everything that I see people going through. This is just honest questions and asking God honest questions. People wanna focus in on a word, rather than on the content. If we happened to get smacked on the back of the hand, it’s not gonna be the first time. I know from  my experience, some kid will approach me saying ‘hey man, that’s my favorite song, this song really spoke to me because I am this person.’ That’s when it all makes sense.

The sad fact about this whole issue is that it actually detracts from the song itself which is a powerful tale of redemption from the darkness. 

Also the focus has centered on that one song that we actually forget there are ten other songs on the album. That's tragic and I hope that the album doesn't fail as a result becuse there's some fine tunes on the album, 'Murdered Love', 'Lost in Forever', 'Beautiful', 'On Fire', and 'Babylon the Murderer'.


Howard Benson is back at the controls again and they have some interesting guests with them Jamey Jasta ‘Hatebreed’, Sick Jacken ‘Psycho Realm’ and Sen Dog ‘Cypress Hill’.


A few reviewers are saying they are back to the quality of 'Satellite' but that then disregards the albums that followed. Okay, not all of them were brilliant but there were some outstanding songs. Their last album 'When Angels and Serpents Dance' (2008) I thought was a pretty good album and had some strong songs on it. 


Whatever the case, if you can get past the controversy of 'I Am' and you are a fan of P.O.D. I think you'll like the album, I do.

P.O.D. - Murdered Love 2012

The Boys from The Southtown have returned!

Murdered Love (Official Video)

On Fire (Official Video)

 

Lost in Forever (Official Video)

It's been a long, long wait, four years to be precise, for a new album from San Diego rockers P.O.D. (Payable On Death) and finally it's unleashed today!

From P.O.D.'s website:

“Music comes down to passion,” says P.O.D. frontman Sonny Sandoval. “There are not a lot of bands out there today who have that. But I think that feeling is coming back around again.”

P.O.D. (Payable on Death) certainly has the right to talk about passion in music. Passion has been front and center since the band formed in 1992 in San Diego, CA, and all the way up to the release of their eighth and latest record, Murdered Love. Over the last two decades, the group has sold over 10 million albums (including 2001’s triple platinum record Satellite), garnered four No. 1 music videos, three Grammy nominations and over a dozen rock radio hits, including “Southtown,” “Alive,” “Youth of the Nation” and “Goodbye For Now.” Music trends have come and gone, but P.O.D.’s fanbase has seemingly only grown stronger.

Still, after the release of 2008’s When Angels & Serpents Dance, the band took a lengthy hiatus. “You can blame me,” says Sandoval. “The record business was changing, and we all wanted to get back to our personal lives and families. When we do P.O.D., we want to enjoy what we’re doing, and not to do it to pay the bills or tour just to tour.” Fortunately, the time off served the band, and Sandoval, well. “Yeah, I got in a good place again. P.O.D. means so much to us and our fans – there’s a lot of love for what we do. I wanted to keep inspiring and encouraging people.”

The band initially reconvened with a few jam sessions and the intent to put out a hardcore, Bad Brains-style EP and tour a little bit. But the initial recordings were strong enough to convince the group to tackle a new album. “By taking a break, we kind of got back on the same page,” says guitarist Marcos Curiel. “Now, everyone has the same attitude going forward, the same feeling we had when we did those first two first two big albums The Fundamental Elements of Southtown and Satellite.”

The most startling aspect of Murdered Love lies in its diversity and the band’s songwriting having penned every track on the album. The opener “Eyez” might be the band’s heaviest song yet, with a cameo by Hatebreed’s Jamey Jasta. It contrasts sharply with “West Coast Rock Steady,” a playful hip-hop ode to their San Diego roots featuring Sen Dog of Cypress Hill. Meanwhile, “Panic & Run” is full-tilt punk, “Bad Boy” brings a funky swagger and first single “Lost in Forever” ties it all together with an equal mix of aggressiveness and melody.

“The band is a fusion of all our musical passions,” says Curiel. “We can jump from punk to reggae to rap to metal. And funk — people forget we had a little funk on our first few indie releases. So on a few songs here, we took it back. The whole process was really organic.”

Lyrically, the record finds P.O.D. at its most thoughtful and introspective as the band contemplates their lives and the world around them.     On “Lost in Forever” Sandoval shows a mixture of hope and unease to questioning the cruelty of man, as the band also does in the brutal title track “Murdered Love.”  “It’s about people who have died when all they brought was love” explains Curiel.   The sparse, catchy “Beautiful,” contemplates the afterlife while the teeth-rattling album closer “I Am,” finds Sandoval opening with the vivid line: “I am the murderer, the pervert, sick to the core” and never lets up. It’s the band at its darkest and most confrontational.

“I had been doing a lot of outreach to kids, talking at a lot of schools,” says the singer. “I see what they go through – suicide, rape, addiction –and that song is just about being vulnerable and honest. They’re wondering if they’re screw-ups, if they’re deserving of love and compassion.

“The band recorded Murdered Love with Grammy-nominated producer Howard Benson (Kelly Clarkson, My Chemical Romance, Daughtry), a long-time friend of the group and the man behind three of its biggest records. “He’s family,” says Sandoval, then laughs. “He has the power to choose who he wants to work with, and I think he wanted to go back and make a real rock record.”

To promote the record, the band has already set up a late spring/early summer headlining tour, as well as hitting a number of festivals and larger shows this year. “It seems like there’s Warriors in every city,” says Curiel, noting the band’s affectionate nickname for their diehard fans. “They’re loyal. And it’s great, because we’ll see people who loved us around the Satellite era bringing their kids.” Given the closeness between the band and their fanbase, it’s no surprise that P.O.D.’s new logo was the result of an online contest with their fans.

In the end, Murdered Love showcases a band at its most energetic and vital, nearly two decades after its debut. Sandoval agrees.

“This is the best record we’ve ever done,” says the singer. “And that can only come from what we’ve put into this. We’re the same four down-to-earth guys we were when we were putting out indie records. There’s an honesty and an underdog vibe to everything we do that you can definitely hear in our music.”