P.O.D.

A few things have happened in the P.O.D. camp since the release of their last album, Testify. Frontman Sonny Sandoval lobbed off his signature dreads. Gasp! In all seriousness, the Cali band left longtime label Atlantic for the new confines of Columbia. And prodigal son, guitarist Marcos Curiel, who played with the band on multi-platinum super smashes The Fundamental Elements Of Southtown and Satellite before bailing, has returned to the fold. How do all these factors effect When Angels And Serpents Dance? Positively, I'm happy to report. P.O.D. have matured and progressed from their rap-rock-reggae hybrid, crafting smart songs with groove. When Angels And Serpents Dance is a well-manicured collection of radio-ready hard rock with balls. Sandoval still delivers his positive lyrics in a hip-hop cadence, and Curiel's riffs clamp down on the jugular on raucous rawkers like "Condescending" and "Addicted." The glorious "End Of The World," featuring a Gospel choir, is reminiscent of the band's huge Satellite hit, "Youth Of The Nation." But it's not a copy or repeat of past effort; this song is edgier, and at times, has a classic rock vibe pumping through its veins.

There's a spate of guest vocal appearances, ranging from Suicidal Tendencies' Mike Muir to the Marley Sisters to Helmet's Page Hamilton. All those guests make sense, since P.O.D. siphon from the punk rock, reggae, and metal tanks for influence. While rap–infused rock has fallen out of popular music's favor, P.O.D. manage to keep their formula fresh, thanks to their glass-half-full lyrical bend and infusion of reggae. When Angels And Serpents Dance is a healthy rebound for the Payable On Death.

—Amy Sciarretto
03.10.08

P.O.D.'s lineup may have returned to 2001, but thankfully its sound did not. Guitarist Marcos Curiel came back to the SoCal band for the first time since Satellite, bringing his underrated talent and looming presence that had been missing on the band's subsequent releases (2003's Payable on Death and 2006's Testify). The synergy of his reappearance was obvious, even if longtime fans may have been flattened a bit to hear the band's new sound lacking the edge of earlier releases. To their credit, the new sound worked in P.O.D.'s favor since modern rock fans seemed to have left nu-metal in their wake. Indeed, Limp Bizkit and Korn fans were few and far between. No longer shouldering the nu-metal mantle, P.O.D. were free to reacquaint listeners with their versatility. The straight reggae of "I'll Be Ready," the bluesy rhythm of "It Can't Rain Everyday," and the (gasp!) acoustic ballad "Tell Me Why" show that this is not a memory piece or a tribute to harder days. When Angels and Serpents Dance represents the strength of one of Christian rock's greatest assets. Guest artists include the Marley Sisters, Mike Muir of Suicidal Tendencies, and Page Hamilton of Helmet. ~ Jared Johnson, Rovi