A six-minute video in which San Diego, California-based rockers P.O.D. (Payable On death) discuss the songwriting process for their upcoming album, “Circles”, can be seen below. The band’s new studio disc will be released on November 16 via Mascot Label Group.
On ‘Circles’, P.O.D. collaborated with the Los Angeles-based production duo called the Heavy (Jason Bell and Jordan Miller), who ensured the album is contemporary sounding without losing any of the band’s core sonic signifiers. The rap-driven ‘Rockin’ With The Best’ has an old-school P.O.D. sound that nods to the Beastie Boys, while ‘Always Southern California’ is a reggae-inflected rocker and the groove-heavy ‘Soundboy Killa’ is a hip-hop/metal hybrid. The dynamic title track even boasts moody electronic flourishes, glassy piano, and laid-back rapping verses.
“On ‘Circles’, we didn’t limit ourselves and say, ‘Hey, we need to please the metal crowd, or the hardcore crowd, or the punk crowd,’” says frontman Sonny Sandoval. “We just wanted to play and write songs that we hope are relevant and catchy to a new audience, while, at the same time, still being true to ourselves.”
From a lyrical standpoint, P.O.D. kept a similar open mind, while turning to optimism for inspiration. The title track addresses trying to get out of an unhealthy cycle in which someone feels stuck, while “Dreaming” envisions seeking out a brighter future even if the present day is tough. Other songs grapple with how to navigate life’s biggest challenges. “Home” emerged after Sandoval suddenly lost a close friend who was more like a brother to him. “Fly Away”, meanwhile, acknowledges that all of us sometimes struggle, and need to rely on others for help.
“We’re looking for answers — and we’re going to people to help us get through things — but at the same time, no one’s perfect,” Sandoval says. “Everybody’s going through stuff, and we’re all kind of on this same level and the same journey of experience and just trying to figure out our course of life.”
The idea of searching for a bright side has been a constant theme for P.O.D. over the years, both on newer songs such as “Lost In Forever” and “Beautiful” and on early hits “Alive”, “Youth Of The Nation” and “Boom”. Through it all, the members of P.O.D. — Sandoval, lead guitarist Marcos Curiel, bassist Traa Daniels and drummer Wuv Bernardo — have leaned on one another for support and creative inspiration.
“We are touring and making music because it still means something to the people that are coming out to see us, and people that are still listening to our music,” Sandoval says. “We’re humbled, we’re grateful, and we’re thankful for people that still enjoy what we’re doing.”
Track listing:
01. Rockin’ With The Best
02. Always Southern California
03. Circles
04. Panic Attack
05. On The Radio
06. Fly Away
07. Listening For The Silence
08. Dreaming
09. Domino
10. Soundboy Killa
11. Home
Over the span of two decades, P.O.D. has released ten studio albums, including the triple-platinum “Satellite.” They have seen chart success with more than a dozen Rock radio hits, including ‘Southtown,’ ‘Alive,’ ‘Youth of the Nation,’ and ‘Boom,’and most recently with their Active Rock hits ‘Higher,’ ‘Beautiful,’ and ‘Lost In Forever,’ which hit #1. The band has been nominated for three GRAMMY Awards, racked up four #1 music videos, and contributed songs to numerous major motion picture soundtracks.
The members of P.O.D. are also active members of a tight-knit music community, having collaborated with a diverse list of artists including Katy Perry, H.R. (Bad Brains), Mike Muir (Suicidal Tendencies), Sen Dog (Cypress Hill), and more. The band’s ninth studio album, “The Awakening,” was released August 21th. 2015 through T-Boy/UMe.
“The Awakening” features guest appearances by Maria Brink from In This Moment and Lou Koller from legendary hardcore punk act Sick Of It All. The disc was recorded with longtime producer Howard Benson.
Our review of “The Awakening” can be found here.
Upcoming Shows:
SAT 3 NOVEMBER – Halloween Rock Fest 2018, San Juan, Puerto Rico
WED 14 NOVEMBER – Marty’s On Newport, Tustin, CA, US
THU 15 NOVEMBER – Whisky A Go Go, West Hollywood, CA, US
FRI 16 NOVEMBER – Vinyl, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, NV, US
SAT 17 NOVEMBER – Music Box, San Diego, CA, US
WED 21 NOVEMBER – Club Red, Mesa, AZ, US
FRI 23 NOVEMBER – Clicks, Tyler, TX, US
SAT 24 NOVEMBER – Trees, Dallas, TX, US
SUN 25 NOVEMBER – The Ballroom at Warehouse Live, Houston, TX, US
TUE 27 NOVEMBER – Bourbon Theatre, Lincoln, NE, US
WED 28 NOVEMBER – The Forge, Joliet, IL, US
FRI 30 NOVEMBER – Route 20 Outhouse, Sturtevant, WI, US
SUN 2 DECEMBER – The Machine Shop, Flint, MI, US
TUE 4 DECEMBER – Trixie’s Tiger Room, Louisville, KY, US
WED 5 DECEMBER – Agora Theatre & Ballroom, Cleveland, OH, US
THU 6 DECEMBER – Highline Ballroom, New York, NY, US
FRI 7 DECEMBER – Aura, Portland, ME, US
SAT 8 DECEMBER – The Strand, Providence, RI, US
SUN 9 DECEMBER – Chameleon Club, Lancaster, PA, US
TUE 11 DECEMBER – Phase 2 Dining & Entertainment, Lynchburg, VA, US
WED 12 DECEMBER – Cone Denim Entertainment Center, Greensboro, NC, US
THU 13 DECEMBER – The Firmament, Greenville, SC, US
FRI 15 FEBRUARY – Garage, Saarbrücken, Germany
SAT 16 FEBRUARY – Rock Planet, Cervia, Italy
SUN 17 FEBRUARY – Dynamo, Zürich, Switzerland
TUE 19 FEBRUARY – Backstage, Munich, Germany
WED 20 FEBRUARY – Essigfabrik, Cologne, Germany
THU 21 FEBRUARY – Amager Bio, Copenhagen, Denmark
SAT 23 FEBRUARY – TRIX Centrum voor Muziek, Borgerhout, Belgium
TUE 26 FEBRUARY – Lemon Grove, Exeter, UK
WED 27 FEBRUARY – O2 Academy Bristol, Bristol, UK
THU 28 FEBRUARY – Waterfront, Norwich, UK
FRI 1 MARCH – O2 Academy Oxford, Oxford, UK
SAT 2 MARCH – O2 Forum Kentish Town, London, UK
SUN 3 MARCH – O2 Academy Newcastle, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
THU 7 MARCH – O2 Institute Birmingham, Digbeth, UK
SAT 9 MARCH – Rock City, Nottingham, UK
SUN 10 MARCH – O2 Ritz Manchester, Manchester, UK
Weblinks: Website / Facebook / Twitter
Video (audio) for ‘Listening For The Silence’
Video for “Circles” Album Trailer
Video for ‘Rockin’ With The Best ‘
