Over the course of their career, the band has received three Grammy Award nominations, contributed to numerous motion picture soundtracks and toured internationally. With their third studio album, The Fundamental Elements of Southtown, they achieved their initial mainstream success; the album was certified platinum by the RIAA in 2000.[11][13] Their following studio album, Satellite, continued the band's success with the singles, "Alive" and "Youth of the Nation", pushing it to go triple platinum.[13][14]
History
Early years (1991–1993)
In 1991, friends Wuv Bernardo and Marcos Curiel engaged in jam sessions, with Bernardo playing the drums and Curiel covering guitar with no vocalist.[15] Calling themselves Eschatos, they started playing at keg parties doing Metallica and Slayer cover songs.
After his mother's fatal illness, Sonny Sandoval converted to Christianity and was asked by Bernardo, his cousin, to join the band as a way to keep his mind straight as mentioned on their DVD, Still Payin' Dues. They then recruited bassist Gabe Portillo and eventually changed their name to P.O.D.
After recording a demo tape, Traa Daniels joined the band in 1994 when they needed a bassist for some shows to replace Portillo. P.O.D. signed with Rescue Records, a label created by Bernardo's father, Noah Bernardo Sr., who was also the band's first manager.[16] Between 1994 and 1997, they released three albums under the label, Snuff the Punk, Brown and Payable on Death Live.[11] Longtime manager Tim Cook was first introduced to the band when he booked them to play his club The Where-House in Bartlesville, Oklahoma following strong local word of mouth support.[16] He later described their performance by saying: "I stood at the back of the venue with tears in my eyes – it was the greatest thing I had ever seen."[16] By that point, Bernardo Sr. was looking for someone else to take P.O.D.'s career further and so Cook took over as manager.[16]
Shortly after the release of Payable on Death Live, Essential Records offered P.O.D. a $100,000 recording contract, but on behalf of the band Sandoval told band manager Tim Cook to decline the offer because, "God has a bigger plan for P.O.D."[17] When, in 1998, Atlantic Records A&R John Rubeli first came across P.O.D.'s demo he "didn't quite get it", as he later told HitQuarters.[18] It was only when he saw them play live at The Roxy on the Sunset Strip.[18] The band was quickly signed to a major-label deal.[17] P.O.D. soon released The Warriors EP, a tribute EP to their loyal fans as a transitional album from Rescue Records to Atlantic Records.
The Fundamental Elements of Southtown and Satellite (1999–2002)
On September 11, 2001 P.O.D. released their fourth studio album, Satellite. The album's first single, "Alive", went on to become one of MTV's and MTV2's top played videos of the year. The video's popularity, as well as the song's positive message, helped the song become a huge modern rock radio hit and it was Grammy nominated for Best Hard Rock Performance in 2002. Also in 2002, the band contributed the song "America" to Santana's album Shaman.
Satellite went on to become RIAA-certified triple platinum.[14] The author of Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music has described P.O.D. as "One of the biggest success stories in recent Christian music."[20]
On February 19, 2003, guitarist Curiel left the band due to his side project, The Accident Experiment, and "spiritual differences." However, Curiel claimed that he was actually kicked out of the band.[21][22] Curiel was replaced by Jason Truby, former member of Christian metal band Living Sacrifice, and assisted with the recording of "Sleeping Awake", from The Matrix Reloadedsoundtrack. In an interview with Yahoo! Music, Sandoval stated that Truby is the reason why the group is still together.[23] On November 4, 2003, P.O.D. released their fifth studio album, Payable on Death, which saw the group shift from their well-known rapcore sound to a darker, more melodic metal sound.[10] The album was hit with controversy due to its "occult" cover, which led as many as 85% of Christian bookstores across the United States to ban the album.[24] With the help of the album's hit single "Will You" and "Change the World", it went on to sell over 520,000 copies and was certified Gold.[25] Sometime after the tsunami in Asia, many singers, musicians, and actors/actresses, including Sandoval and Bernardo, participated in the recording of "Forever in Our Hearts", with all proceeds going to benefit the tsunami relief.[26]
P.O.D.'s sixth studio album Testify was slated for a December 2005 release, but was pushed back to January 24, 2006. On November 15, 2005, P.O.D. released The Warriors EP, Volume 2, which featured demos from the upcoming album, to help build up the fans' anticipation for the pending January release. The album's first single, "Goodbye for Now" (with a vocal tag by a then-unknown Katy Perry) went on to become a No. 1 video on MTV's TRL, along with having a solid radio presence, it also became the band's unprecedented 4th number one video on Total Request Live.[27] The second single off the album, "Lights Out" was a minor hit, but was featured as the official theme song to WWE's Survivor Series 2005. In another contribution to WWE, they performed fellow San Diego native Rey Mysterio's theme song "Booyaka 619" at WrestleMania 22.[27] To promote their latest album, P.O.D. went on a nationwide tour called the "Warriors Tour 2: Guilty by Association", which began in April, and included the bands Pillar, The Chariot and Maylene and the Sons of Disaster.[28]
On August 11, 2006, P.O.D. announced in their online newsletter that they had left Atlantic Records.[13][25]
On September 16, 2006, P.O.D. announced that they had teamed up with Rhino Records to release a greatest hits record simply titled, Greatest Hits: The Atlantic Years, which was released on November 21, 2006. They shot a music video for their single "Going In Blind", one of the two new songs they included in the tenth album, and they had meetings with various record labels to begin working on new material for an album they hoped to release in mid-2007.[13]
In a statement made by the band's manager on their MySpace page, it was officially announced, on December 30, 2006, that Jason Truby had left the band. They had said "God worked it out because Truby decided to leave the band the same day Curiel asked to rejoin." Curiel performed with the band for the first time since his departure on the 2006 New Year's Eve episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!.[13]
On February 2, 2007, the band made a new record deal with INO Records.[29]
On June 1, 2007, at the Rockbox in San Diego, the band performed and revealed a new song entitled "Condescending", along with another new song performed on June 16, 2007, at the Journeys Backyard BBQ tour entitled "Addicted". They also revealed the title of their new album to be When Angels & Serpents Dance. On August 4, 2007, the band played at Angel Stadium of Anaheim's annual Harvest Crusade for a crowd of 42,000, where they revealed a new song, "I'll Be Ready", originally thought to be titled "When Babylon Come for I".[30]
The album cover was officially revealed on December 10, 2007.[31] The title track was released for free download on their site in January 2008. The first single "Addicted" was released on February 19 and peaked at No. 30 on the Mainstream Rock chart. The album was released on April 8, 2008, entitled When Angels & Serpents Dance. On July 28, 2008, the group played a free public performance at the Orange County Choppers headquarters in Newburgh, NY, with OCC The Band opening. The band also played on August 16, 2008, at the Angel Stadium of Anaheim's annual Harvest Crusade. During September 2008 P.O.D played alongside Redline, Behind Crimson Eyes, Alter Bridge, and Disturbed as part of the Music As a Weapon tour 2008 in Australia.[citation needed]
The band headlined the first annual Spring Jam Fest in May 2011. They appeared on the Rock of Allegiance tour later that summer.[32] On July 25, 2011, the band released a demo of the song "On Fire" as a free download on their official website.[33]
In October 2011, P.O.D. announced a multi-album artist deal with Razor & Tie.[34] On April 5, 2012, the song "Eyez" became a free download on the band's website for a limited time.[35] Shortly after, an article on their website stated that "Lost in Forever" would be the first single from the new album, entitled Murdered Love.[36]
Murdered Love was originally going to be released in June 2012, but was instead pushed back to July 10.[37] The album was produced by Howard Benson, who also produced Satellite and The Fundamental Elements of Southtown. It was described by Curiel as "Back to our roots. A little bit of hip hop, a little bit of punk rock, or reggae".[38] The album caused controversy concerning its eleventh track, "I Am", which uses the word "fuck" (albeit backmasked).[39] Sandoval, explaining the purpose of the song, said:
"Being up close and personal with these kids, that's what came out in that song. I'm a man of faith and I'm a follower and a believer of Jesus Christ, and in talking to these kids, and even in talking to people just throughout my career in P.O.D., a lot of these bands and athletes and all these people that you meet, they don't have a problem with Jesus. They have a problem with people that are religious and claim to know Jesus, but aren't living it or acting it and aren't loving the way Jesus did. In my faith, if I believe that Jesus paid for the sins of the world, and I'm all these things, this is what's going on in the real world, and do you still love someone like me? And even though I know you do, and I believe in you, I believe in your forgiveness and your grace and your mercy, there's still so much confusion around me that everybody's getting in the way and trying to take your place. Everything gets in my way from seeing who Jesus was...We had that song for almost a year, and I didn't take it lightly. I'd been praying on it for over a year. I'd actually took counsel and let people hear it. And it was 50/50. Some people are like, you know what, go for it. Because my heart is like, I don't write music for Christians. I don't write music for people that I believe are saved and going to heaven. If it's a breath of you and encourages you and gives you a sense of power to go balls out for what you believe in, then by all means. But ultimately we're trying to reach people fed up with religion that are sick and tired of it, and people that are in the real world that really are lost and confused. Our music has always been a tool to bring hope to those people. I'm sorry we can't please everybody in the church, but ultimately in our faith, I believe you're taken care of. There are a lot of people that live in the real world that are out on the streets, that are prostituting themselves, that are being sexually abused, that are being murdered and killed, and it's an evil world. And sometimes you've got to just give them the truth flat out. And it might offend some people. Might offend a lot of people. But at the end of the day, if they understand it and they get it, and they allow God to speak straight into their soul, then I think it's worth the slap on the hand."
In a 2012 interview with Broken Records Magazine, Sandoval said that the band had to get their lives back in order and take care of personal needs before getting back into music, but was extremely happy about the response the band was getting from fans.[citation needed]
On October 22, 2013, P.O.D. released a deluxe edition of Murdered Love. The album contains the original songs, slightly remixed, along with bonus tracks "Find a Way", "Burn It Down", acoustic versions of "Beautiful" and "West Coast Rock Steady", a remixed version of "On Fire", and music videos for "Murdered Love", "Beautiful", "Higher", and "Lost In Forever". Multiple behind the scenes videos were also on the track list.[citation needed]
SoCal Sessions, The Awakening, Circles and Veritas (2014–present)
In mid-2014, P.O.D. announced an acoustic album to be released toward the end of the year. The album was crowd-funded on the website PledgeMusic.[42] On October 20, 2014, P.O.D. announced a new record deal with T-Boy Records along with a new acoustic album. SoCal Sessions was released on November 17, 2014, and contained songs such as "Alive" and "Youth of the Nation".[43]
On May 17, 2016, the band announced that they would be taking part in the Make America Rock Again super tour throughout the summer and fall 2016. The tour featured a number of artists who had success throughout the 2000s.[46]
On August 18, 2017, the band released a new song, "Soundboy Killa", and embarked on a fall tour promoting the song.[47]
In January 2018, it was announced that the band had signed a new record deal with Mascot Records.[48] They toured alongside Alien Ant Farm, Lit, and Buckcherry on the "Gen-X Tour" in 2018.[49] Their tenth studio album, Circles, was released on November 16, 2018.[50]
The band embarked on their Satellite 20th Anniversary tour with From Ashes to New and All Good Things in 2021, starting in Sturgis, South Dakota at Buffalo Chip on August 14, 2021, and ending on October 7, 2021, at the House of Blues in San Diego, California.[51] During the European leg of the tour, drummer Wuv Bernardo dropped out to take care of business at home, and has since been not touring nor appearing in public with the band.[52][53] To fill his absence, the band recruited former Suicide Silence drummer Alex Lopez as touring member for subsequent tours.[54]
In August 2022 they performed two sets on the same day at Seaworld. On October 14, 2022, the band reissued When Angels & Serpents Dance, having the album remixed and remastered as well as featuring three bonus songs, one of which, "Don't Fake It", had appeared previously as an iTunes exclusive in 2008.[55]
P.O.D. is expected to release Veritas, their first studio album in six years, on May 3, 2024.[56][57] In a social media broadcast, Marcos Curiel confirmed that Bernardo is no longer a member of P.O.D., but did not state the reason why.
^ abTognazzini, Anthony. "Live"(album review). AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved June 6, 2012. Christian alternative metal outfit P.O.D. mix post hardcore sounds with touches of rap, Latin, reggae, and straightforward metal...
^ abNewquist, HP; Maloof, Rich (2004). The New Metal Masters. CMP. pp. 29–. ISBN978-0-87930-804-9. Almost militantly Christian, the band wears religion on its sleeve. Its name is an acronym for Payable on Death, a term that highlights the concept that how you live on Earth determines where you live after you die.
^ abCollar, Matt. "Payable on Death Review". AllMusic. Retrieved January 23, 2008. A darker album than its predecessor, Payable is built largely around Truby's precise slabs of distorted guitar. More quintessentially "metal" in his approach – think Metallica – and more of a conscientious technician than Marcos, Truby unfortunately lacks some of the unexpected spark that Marcos brought to P.O.D.
^ abcde"P.O.D. leaves Atlantic Records and Curiel returns". Blabbermouth. Roadrunner Records. December 20, 2006. Retrieved December 4, 2007. P.O.D. was with Atlantic for four albums and two EPs. The band signed with Atlantic in 1998, after selling more than 40,000 copies of its independently released EPs. The group's Atlantic debut, "The Fundamental Elements of Southtown", came out in 1999 and went platinum, while 2001's "Satellite" was a multi-platinum success. But the group felt that personnel changes at Atlantic were responsible for recent sales dips – more than 500,000 copies of 2003's "Payable On Death" were sold, but less than 250,000 copies of the recent "Testify".
^ abJeckell, Barry A. (September 19, 2002). "Satellite is certified triple-platinum". Billboard. Retrieved December 31, 2007. The triple-platinum milestone was recently reached by hard rock act P.O.D.'s year-old "Satellite" (Atlantic)
^Anonymous. "P.O.D.". San Diego Reader. Retrieved December 11, 2009.
^"P.O.D. Saved By 'Matrix Reloaded' Song". Yahoo! Music. May 5, 2003. Retrieved January 6, 2008. P.O.D. was on the brink of breaking up after splitting with guitarist Marcos earlier this year. The band was saved, however, by their experience recording a new track for the Matrix Reloaded with a new member
^"P.O.D. Cover Artist Speaks Out On Christian Ban". Yahoo! Music. December 8, 2003. Retrieved January 23, 2008. it's "ironic" that the album has been banned by 85 percent of Christian bookstores in the U.S., reportedly because the cover is "occult."
^ abCohen, Jonathan (August 11, 2006). "P.O.D. parts way with Atlantic Records". Billboard. Retrieved December 31, 2007. Hard rock act P.O.D. has parted ways with Atlantic Records, to which it has been signed since 1999. According to a statement sent to members of the group's email list, the group became disillusioned with changes at the label.
^Jeckell, Barry A. (January 26, 2005). "'Forever' Unites Artists For Tsunami Relief". Billboard. Retrieved January 2, 2008. Recording artists from R&B crooner Brian McKnight to screamer Sonny Sandoval of rock act P.O.D. have lent their talents to a single that will raise funds for the tsunami relief effort in Eastern Africa and Southern Asia.
^ abWWE staff report. "P.O.D. to play Mysterio to the ring at WrestleMania". WWE. Retrieved January 25, 2008. After the performance, P.O.D. will bring their unique sound to a new recording of Rey Mysterio's "Booyaka 619" entrance theme. The band's immense popularity is evidenced by its four No. 1 videos on MTV's program "Total Request Live," which is an unprecedented achievement for a rock band.
^MTV News staff report (February 13, 2006). "P.O.D. on tour". VH1. Archived from the original on February 17, 2008. Retrieved December 17, 2007. P.O.D. will hit the road this spring with Pillar, the Chariot and Maylene and the Sons of Disaster as part of the Warriors Tour 2: Guilty by Association run.
^"P.O.D. inked deal with Columbia Records". IGN Music. March 7, 2007. Archived from the original on June 22, 2011. Retrieved January 2, 2008. The "classic" configuration of Sonny, Wuv, Traa, and returning original guitarist Marcos, who all last recorded together on 2001's Satellite, will begin working on a new album currently slated for a Summer 2007 release.
^Greg, Laurie (August 6, 2007). "Saturday had the largest crowd from the three days". Harvest Crusades. Retrieved December 4, 2007. Music lent support to the talks presented by Laurie each night at the Harvest Crusade, reinforcing the message of God's love. From raucous hip-hop and rock from multi-platinum band P.O.D., to lively pop-infused music and dance steps from tobyMac, to an audience sing-a-long with the David Crowder Band, the Christian music represented at the crusade kept audiences on their feet.
