A few weeks back, I reviewed the live by performance by Funeral For A Friend, a heavy rock band hailed by some of the more extravagant UK music media as ‘the best band on the planet.’ I thought they were a very good band, but the best there is? P.O.D., to my knowledge, have never been proclaimed in this way. Rather, they have been widely accepted as a great band while perhaps not the very best. In the hard/metal rock genre the competition, especially from the USA, is incredibly intense. On the evidence of the band’s new album, PAYABLE ON DEATH P.O.D.’s reputation, fan base and sales should be firmly enhanced. And any more extravagant claims may, for once, be justified.

The album opens with a classic metal rush of guitar and ocean deep drums. Wildfire is a natural introduction to the quality of the band with its strong melody, clear and decipherable vocals and good lyrics. There are also clever changes of pace, dramatic chorus lines and superb production. A great start. Will You is a slower, more mellow track, and one of the best here. Superb guitar riffs that soar off into the sunset support a wonderful vocal and a strong set of lyrics; “See you sitting next to the window in the bedroom, She breaks down (breaks down), Crying over something and staring into nothing, Afraid now (hate now), Wanting, needing, haunting.” With the song’s mountainous melody I also suspect this could be an-all conquering single. Change The World does it all over again and provides positive proof that lyrically and emotionally the best hard rock bands can so easily outgun acts from more ‘genteel’ genres.

Then a little further into the album and another superb track in the observational and contemplative Revolution with its hip-hop flavour and another deeply impressive set of lyrics, hammered home by more mind-blowing guitar riffs and a rock steady vocal. A little further on and the diverse paced, and distinctive Asthma burns its way into my list of album favourites. The next track Eternal is the most lyrical, beautiful and haunting instrumental with a strong hint of Pink Floyd and Dire Straights, with some superb jazzy moments. It’s just about perfect and probably one of the best gentle rock instrumentals I’ve heard in the last few years.

In 2003 the Deftones provided proof-positive that heavy metal music can and does have a solid emotional core. With this excellent album, P.O.D. have matched them while producing a slightly more accessible set of songs. PAYABLE ON DEATH is an excellent record and one I strongly recommend to rockers who value the message as much as the storming vocals and instrumentals.

4.5/5