P.O.D.
The Awakening
When George H. Bush’s voice comes through the speakers at the start of P.O.D.’s new album, you know something different is at hand. Payable On Death has decided to jump through a fiery hoop that few rock and roll bands survive – the concept album. The Who did it twice – with Tommy and Quadrophenia. Pink Floyd pulled it off in grand fashion with The Wall. Queensryche did it for heavy metal with the elaborate Operation Mindcrime. All the success stories have one common thread: good songs. “Comfortably Numb,” “Pinball Wizard,” “The Real Me” and “Love Reign O’er Me” all lived on in spite of the storyline from which they were pulled.
Queensryche seemingly pulled off the impossible, because they loaded Mindcrime up with so many great songs – “Revolution Calling,” “I Don’t Believe in Love,” “Spreading the Disease,” “The Needle Lies,” “Eyes of a Stranger” and the title track. “Speak” and “Suite Sister Mary” are no throwaways, either. It was hard rock with a conscience, as the storyline wove in and out of love, betrayal, drugs, murder and corrupt corporate leadership. The dialog taken on its own was quite compelling.
All that being said, our favorite hardcore/hip-hop hybrid boys from Southtown come to the table with a tall order to fill. The storyline is dramatic and somewhat compelling: a young man that’s lost his way, hunted and confronted with the truth, and finally forgiveness. While the dialog is delivered in a less-than-compelling manner at times, the story works. But what does make this album stand on its own and not fail as an artistic statement is the songs. They rock, they move and they show the band at the top of their game.
Guitarist Marcos Curiel really shines on this album, displaying tight, aggressive and tough playing, great tone and with feeling throughout the entire set. Wuv Bernardo’s drumming sounds prominent and especially powerful in several songs, like “Get Down,” and frontman Sonny Sandoval mixes it up between talk-singing, screaming and melodically crooning. He sounds really good all over The Awakening. Bassist Traa Daniels doesn’t necessarily stand out, but that’s a good thing, because if you listen carefully, he’s right in the pocket and holding it all together with steady playing.
When looking back at P.O.D.’s amazing career, there’s probably going to be some landmark albums that stand out in most fan’s minds – the multi-Platinum Satellite, the major label debut (and third full-length) Fundamental Elements of Southtown and Testify, with its guest appearances from Matisyahu are all at the top. I’d include 2012’s Murdered Love as a return to the band’s high bar of excellence.
This one is not far behind. Songs like the lead-off track, “Am I Awake,” “This Goes Out to You” and “Criminal Conversations” bear repeated listens. While the imprint of the “concept album” dialog is heavy-handed, once these songs start, you can almost forget you’re part of a story.
“Rise of NWO” finds the band churning out great intensity, while “Criminal Conversations” swells up with a melodic chill that conjures “Satellite” or “Goodbye for Now.” The heavier follow-up, “Somebody’s Trying to Kill Me,” swings hard dynamically and has the passion of a tune like “Anything Right.”
“Speed Demon” and “Revolucion” both rip along at a hardcore and brisk pace that tilts the energy levels high – the latter of which might turn into a fan favorite, or at least cause some movement when played live. “Want It All” is a real departure, with some jazzy horns. I know I’ll be listening to tunes like the title track, “Am I Awake” and “This Goes Out to You” many years from now. They feel like they’ll have lasting and staying power.
Is it their best album yet? Probably not, but included in a career-full catalog with no real stinkers, it’s a solid middle-of-the-pack to be in. [Columbia] Doug Van Pelt
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