Band : P.O.D.
Album Title : When Angels & Serpents Dance
Label : P.O.D. Records - Cooking Vinyl – V2
Distribution : V2 - EMI
Release date : December 2008
Review : CD

“When Angels & Serpents Dance” is the seventh studio album of the American christian metal band P.O.D. (Payable On Death).
The band was formed in 1992 in San Diego, California and earned success with their crossover style of metal, rock and rap which can be found back on the successful albums “The Fundamental Elements Of Southtown” (1999, 1 million copies sold, containing the hit singles “Southtown” and “Rock The Party (Off The Hook)”), “Satellite” (2001, 3 million copies sold, containing the hit singles “Alive” and “Youth Of The Nation”) and “Payable On Death” (2003, 1 million copies sold, containing the hit single “Will You”).
In 2006, the album “Testify” was released, after which P.O.D. parted ways with record label Atlantic Records.
And now “When Angels & Serpents Dance” officially sees the light in Europe (in the USA, the album already came out in April 2008) and P.O.D. also celebrates the return of former guitar player Marcos Curiel, who left the band after “Satellite”.
This new album (13 tracks with a playing time of 51 minutes) contains some of the heaviest tracks ever by P.O.D., but also features some crappy, slimy ballads like “It Can’t Rain Every Day”, “This Ain’t No Ordinary Love Song” and “Tell Me Why”; uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuurgh.
There are several guest appearances, including singer Mike Muir of Suicidal Tendencies / Infectious Grooves) on the groovy “Kaliforn-Eye-A”, The Marley Girls singing background vocals on the reggae-inspired “I’ll Be Ready” and Page Hamilton of Helmet contributing vocals to “God Forbid”, an aggressive track with an absolute killer riff and so much rage that it smacks you around.
Other highlights are the furious opening track and first single "Addicted", the second single “Shine With Me”, "Condescending" and “Rise Against”.
P.O.D. had planned an European tour together with Filter for January/February 2009, but the whole tour was cancelled since P.O.D. decided to take a break and the band is on hiatus for some time.

70/100

Erik.