San Diego, CA · nu-metal · reggae-rock · nu metal · rap rock

P.O.D.

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'Alive' and 'Youth of the Nation' — San Diego's nu-metal survivors, positivity intact through every scene cycle.

P.O.D., short for Payable on Death, traces back to 1992 in San Diego, when the thrash band Eschatos, featuring Wuv Bernardo, Marcos Curiel and Gabe Portillo, recruited vocalist Sonny Sandoval, previously of the rap outfit Unlicensed Product. The new name came from a banking term suggested by Bernardo's girlfriend, chosen to reflect the Christian idea that Jesus's death paid the debts of believers.

Traa Daniels joined on bass in 1994, and the band released three albums, Snuff the Punk, Brown and Payable on Death Live, on Rescue Records, a label started by Bernardo's father. They turned down a $100,000 contract from Essential Records, with Sandoval telling their manager that God had a bigger plan, before signing to Atlantic Records in 1998 after a strong show at the Roxy.

Their sound mixes rap-metal riffing with reggae and dub inflections, topped by Sandoval's vocals, and the band's Christian faith has been an open part of their identity throughout. The albums The Fundamental Elements of Southtown and Satellite carried them to a mass audience, with "Southtown", "Alive" and "Youth of the Nation" among their best-known songs.

Southtown was certified platinum in 2000, and Satellite went on to sell triple platinum on the strength of "Alive" and "Youth of the Nation". Across their career, P.O.D. has sold more than 12 million records worldwide, received three Grammy nominations, and contributed music to numerous film soundtracks.

The band has continued recording and touring in the decades since, largely with the same core line-up: Sandoval, Daniels, Curiel and Bernardo. They remain based in San Diego, where they formed more than thirty years ago.

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nu-metalreggae-rocknu metalrap rockrap-metal