Payable On Death
P.O.D. is a decidedly different band on its third major-label release, Payable On Death. But unfortunately, different doesn't often equal better.
Gone is original guitarist Marcos Curiel and his spitfire, caged-animal ethic on the six-string; filling the void is Jason Truby, formerly of Living Sacrifice, who brings more studied, precise chops to the mix, but lacks Curiel's sonic distinctiveness, alt-rock sensibilities and pure abandon.
Pushing his way to the fore on these 12 new tracks is vocalist Sonny Sandoval, who turns the tables and actually sings on this effort—and way more often than he raps or jumps into reggae-flavored breakdowns. Missing, however, is his raging vocal fire (evident both on The Fundamental Elements of Southtown and Satellite). Replacing it are stacks of harmonies akin to has-beens (mainstream band) 311.
In addition, the band badly misused guitar virtuoso (and Christian) Phil Keaggy, who contributed to two tracks. Instead of letting him loose with blistering solos, P.O.D. had Keaggy lay down a series of throwaway riffs on the break of "Revolution." Then the band signed off on the final track, "Eternal," a six-plus-minute, jazz-folk instrumental improv between Truby and Keaggy. The latter sounds nice and all, but has nothing to do with P.O.D. in the least. A real head-scratcher.
Even when Truby & Co. come through with the crunch ("Change the World," "Find My Way," "Freedom Fighters," "Asthma"), too much primping production extracts the sharp teeth these South San Diegans normally bare with regularity.
P.O.D. used to be a rip-roarin', even dangerous, outfit. Now they sound stiff, stifled and safe.
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Review by: Dave Urbanski
Originally published January 01, 2004.
