Customer Reviews

Payable On Death

5 star:		(88)
4 star:		(35)
3 star:		(18)
2 star:		(13)
1 star:		(15)

 

 

San Diego's own P.O.D. has made a triumphant return with their semi-self-titled titled album "Payable On Death". The album marks some significant changes for the band. Original guitarist Marcos Curiel has been replaced by Jason Truby, former guitarist for the pioneering speed metal band Living Sacrifice. Truby brings a more refined and technical approach to the band which is more polished than Marcos' raw and edgy guitar work. Throughout the album, Truby's playing shines with brilliance.

The other change comes with singer Sonny Sandoval's vocal approach. On this album, Sonny actually sings on most of the tracks as opposed to screaming, rapping or talking. He also provides a definite reggae influence with his faux-Jamaican accent on several tracks.
The band as a whole has definitely tightened up its musical arrangements and provides some solid, hard-hitting and downright impossible-to-dislike tracks including the lead single "Will You" as well as "Change The World", "Execute The Sounds", "Freedom Fighters", "Revolution" and the closing instrumental "Eternal" - the latter two tracks feature a special guest appearance from guitar legend Phil Keaggy whose performance is effortless especially on "Eternal".
"Payable On Death" is P.O.D.'s most polished and mature effort yet. The band has definitely shown considerable growth musically and lyrically and has taken a big step forward.
Although none of the tracks on this album mention God or Jesus Christ by name (an element which has garnered some harsh criticism from some people), it isn't difficult to hear where the band is coming from with their music. The band's hearts are definitely still in the right place and this album continues to show that while P.O.D. is a band that is surely in this world, they are not of it.

Wow, I don't think I can find the words to describe how truly beautiful this album is....what an incredible piece of work from top to bottom.

If you've heard P.O.D.'s previous stuff and didn't really care for it, give this album a chance because this certainly isn't the same group! In addition to a new guitarist Jason Truby, each member has matured greatly in their style, leaps and bounds ahead of "Satellite". The music is so raw, the vocals so filled with passion. It may shock some of their fans at first, but it's obviously a huge step in the right direction for this band.

One of the biggest highlights has to be the instrumental piece that closes out the album called "Eternal". Featuring one of the greatest guitarist to ever pluck a string, the legendary Phil Keaggy. Phil is one of Jason Truby's biggest musical influences and the two blend perfectly together on this 7-minute track.

"Payable on Death" is worth every penny, pick it up yourself and see what the Revoluuuuuution is all about!

P.O.D. came together for one reason and one reason only. To make good hard rock music.They were never made to be artsy or experimental. They don't take huge risks in their sound, but they do show progression in their style and can crank out the hits better than most bands today. There previous effort, Satellite, went several times platinum for a reason. They can write good songs.

There latest self titled record does take a few risks but still has that great POD sound fans love. This has been said about other rap rock acts such as Limp Bizkit, Papa Roach, and Saliva but for POD it actually rings true for EVERY track, The rap verses are gone. Sonny sings out on every track which is surprisingly refreshing when you hear it. There awesome track, Sleeping Awake, which was on the Matrix Reloaded soundtrack was an advanced look at what their new record would sound like. They still maintain a sonic intensity but now it's much more refined.

They even do a cool twist on their reggae style songs making the riffs much more edgier than previous stuff they've written such as the song, Execute the sounds, which is just waiting to hit so it can rule the air waves. Guitarist Truby brings nothing new to the band despite his background in classical jazz guitar. Unfortunately he's doing what he was hired to do, and nothing special really comes out of it.

This is a record I have yet to get tired of. I can play it through with only one or two tracks that are maybe too cheesy for their own good such as "change the world." The last two tracks Asthma and Eternal are great because you go from an intense song like asthma to a well done instrumental track with just guitars. It's a simple yet beautiful way to end the record.

What surprises me is how most people fail to see where P.O.D. is going with their sound. Sonny seems to channel Bob Marley himself on several tracks such as Revolution and Freedom Fighter. They play with so much soul and I believe thats what makes them stick out over similar acts that I mentioned above. They really have something to sing about, something that they are passionate about, something they believe is worth living and dying for.

It's a fun record thats got some great songs on it. There former guitarist marcos is now in his new band called the accident experiment, with singer pete stewart. It's a great project that is much more experimental than P.O.D. and worth checking out. I highly recommend it.

Payable on Death includes the reggae element more than any previous P.O.D. release. It's played to the hilt on "Execute the Sounds," alluding to the band's desire for creativity and faith through what might be described as Jamaican metal. The same could be said of "Wildfire," a sort of Christian invocation, and "Freedom Fighters," about spiritual warfare. The powerful metal ballad finale "Asthma" finds Sandoval rejecting the world and embracing faith: "Breathe/Suffocation within because of what you're saying/To understand is to begin again/To believe is to live again."

Truby is a fine replacement on guitar, but P.O.D. now misses the intriguing Latin element of Curiel's playing. Payable on Death also features Christian guitar guru Phil Keaggy on two tracks, the instrumental closer "Eternal" and a solo on "Revolution." His guitar licks sound wonderful as always, and I love that two distinct Christian music legends have teamed up on this album, but to what end? Those hoping for some great merging of creative forces are liable to be disappointed. "Eternal" sounds like a leftover from one of Keaggy's recent instrumental projects, simply setting his crystal clear electric against Truby's acoustic stylings.

There's just not much here that grabs the spirit like previous P.O.D. anthems-"Waiting on Today" is a hopeful and encouraging rock anthem, but it's no "Youth of the Nation" or "Alive." Fans may also be disappointed to note that the album does not include "Sleeping Awake," their recently recorded song featured in The Matrix: Reloaded. With their previous releases, P.O.D. was a forerunner of the nü-metal sound. While this is still a well-made hardcore rock album-arguably one of the year's best in its genre-it's also nothing you haven't heard before from P.O.D. and similar bands. Payable on Death will satisfy the "Warrior" fan base, and to some degree impact culture for good, but it simply doesn't measure up to their best work.

I've been down with P.O.D since Warriors EP in 1997. They've released some AWESOME stuff over their time BUT I can't believe people rated this CD with 5 out of 5 stars! This is a horrible album - Will You is by far the best track, but it's doesn't touch The Southtown, Alive, Satellite...etc (the list goes on) Satellite is FAR superior to this album! Infact, it's so superior, it's like a totally different band recorded it. Marcos [leaving/getting kicked out] sure has taken it's toll. This self-titled album is like an album of b-sides! Hopefully their next album with Jason will deserve a 5 out of 5 star rating. Until then, I suggest you spend you money on their previous albums: Satellite, then Fundamental Elements.

P.O.D. are just one of those bands that pretty much releases albums that will please all of their fans. For people who like the hard-hitting stuff, it's still here. For people who like their brand of rap-rock, it remains intact. And for those who enjoy the reggae flavor, it's here too. Another album full of potential hits, P.O.D. seem to have a firm handle on their sound. With a new guitarist replacing the canned Marcos Curiel, the CD obviously does have a different twist. Newcomer Jason Truby (Living Sacrifice) brings his own style to the band, and while Curiel is missed for his larger than life riffs, Truby seems to be a fitting replacement. Sonny's rapping and singing hasn't changed much but his lyrics have gotten slightly better (as they seem to do with each new album they release.) "Will You" is a fitting single, utilizing Truby's style very well, but there are loads of other potential singles. "Change The World" is probably my favorite song on the disc, very catchy with a positive vibe and good lyrics. Other highlights include "Wildfire," "Find My Way" and "Waiting on Today." When P.O.D. released "Sleeping Awake" from 'The Matrix: Reloaded' earlier this year, I had doubts that I would ever want to listen to any of their new stuff, but 'Payable On Death' proves to be another solid effort from P.O.D. If you liked them before, there's no reason to stop now. And if you never liked them in the first place, this won't change your mind.

This powerful album really stands out on account of the memorable songs like Will You, a brooding atmospheric number driven by screaming guitars, primal scream vocals and with catchy hooks aplenty. Tracks like I And Identity with its brilliant drum textures and Find My Way with its insistent bass take the listener even deeper into the land of metal.

Freedom Fighters with its tuneful chorus and Wildfire have a strong spiritual undertone. The latter has moments of prominent jungle drums and snatches of West Indian rhythm that make it stand out. It is quite awesome the way they celebrate the light by transcending the darker emotions, quite impressive.

A slower track, Asthma, is very beautiful with poetic lyrics sung with great intensity. The album concludes with the impressive Eternal, a more subdued but no less powerful number with a sense of restrained strength.

POD is an album of breathtaking instrumental and vocal variety, captivating tunes and lots of attitude. But what ultimately makes it special is the spirituality that infuses the music. If you like your rock heavy, passionate and metallic, you'll love Payable On Death. It's full of life!

I'd never been much of a fan of P.O.D.'s music (unless you count TCM's remix of "Boom") until I heard the different sound they presented on /Payable on Death/. This album has a solid, powerful feel to it. As others have mentioned here, there is a Rasta/Jamaican element to most of the music on the disc, and I personally do not find it to be a drawback. In fact, I like the mild mixing of this trait with what might otherwise have been fairly traditional-sounding rock. It adds a nice bit of flavor to the overall feel of the album.

I like all the tracks on this CD, except for "Asthma." For some reason, that song just doesn't speak to me the way the others do. I have my favorites, of course (Execute the Sounds, Revolution, etc.), but the entire album is a joy to listen to. My only complaint would be with the song "Eternal." It is a very good song, and has an excellent sound to it. The only problem is, it just doesn't fit with the rest of the album. You've got 11 tracks of driving, booming music, and then suddenly you come to this lengthy accoustic song that just doesn't have anything in common with the others. Eternal is a great song, and at least they had the good sense to put it at the end of the album and not in the middle... But like I said, it is a bit disruptive, especially if you just pop the CD in and play the tracks in random order.

Ultimately, though, this is a fantastic album. P.O.D. has certainly made a convert out of me with this latest effort on their part, and I recommend it to anyone who likes good rock. If you didn't like P.O.D. before, definitely give them a try with /Payable on Death/ and see how far they've come.

Here's a nice introduction to my review for a Payable on Death album: "OH DEAREST LORD!"

I have never, in my life, been so amazed, so taken, so into an album. That said, I'll expand on my beliefs of why this is the closest to a basic life need that any CD will ever get for me.

I've been a P.O.D. fan for over two years. Unlike so many of the songs out today, P.O.D. has lyrics that actually mean something. Lyrics far beyond "Sure wouldn't mind hittin THAT from the back...I like the way you do that right thurr". Believe it or not, there are people who make real music out there today, and P.O.D. is one of those rare bands. Not only that, they are talented beyond the way that any word in the dictionary could even begin to describe.

When Marcos left/got kicked out/whatever, I won't lie - I was EXTREMELY disappointed. He was such a talented guitarist and contributed so much to P.O.D.'s sound as a whole. Still, I remained a Warrior. After hearing "Sleeping Awake", I was quite impressed by the new riffs Truby was bringing... it completely renovated P.O.D.'s style {in a good way, of course}. and I anticipated November 4th so much that I could barely sleep.

Well, Tuesday was November 4th. I have never been so impressed in my life. This is the best album I have ever heard, and I'm not sure if they can top this one. Satellite was sheerly amazing, and this one makes Satellite look like nothing. This album has something for everyone. I'm good at emphasizing and seeing things through others' eyes, but one thing I can't envision is NOT liking this album. It's just too flawless.

From the beginning verse of "Wildfire" to the beautiful instrumental "Eternal", P.O.D. doesn't miss a beat. Sonny's vocals in some songs are literally beautiful. Whenever he said "Oh, I'm not a SINGER", he must have been unaware of his own talents. His voice has developed and changed in so many ways, and he has such a presence in his songs. I think I would die of an adrenaline rush if I seen "Wildfire" performed live.

Best songs: "Wildfire" and "Execute The Sounds".

Worst songs: none.

If I had one piece of advice to give to anyone who's like me, and appreciates real music instead of the garbage created by 50 Cent, Chingy and Britney Spears, it would be merely this: "BUY THIS ALBUM. IMMEDIATELY."

DO IT.

I am not a "warrior" but Satellite almost had me converted. Unfortunately, gone are the rap-metal powerhouse anthems like "Boom" and "Messenjah" - to be replaced by harmonies that seem sleepy, and sing-songy. I'm not calling for a rap-metal resurgence (indeed, Sonny's laryngeal gargling on "Wildfire" immediately got my heart a-pumpin'), but one listen to the first single quickly illustrates the album's greatest weakness. Following the shouted "WILL YOU!!" with the plaintively sung, "love me tomooooorrow?" drains the shout of all its power. Now go back and compare that effect to the relentless build-up of "Messenjah."

"But Whisky," protests the Warrior; "everything you say just underscores the message!" Fine, then: knock yourself out over the message. But the sad truth is this album simply does not rock.