P.O.D.

Angels and Serpents marks the return of original P.O.D. guitar player Marcos Curiel, who had been fired in 2001, reportedly by the band's management. Here, the Grammy-winning rap metallers move away from the reggae elements that increasingly marked their earlier work and deliver a slightly lighter, extremely positive seventh album. Frontman Sonny Sandoval still sings with his trademark rhythmic cadence, but he also actually sings more than he has in the past (see "Shine With Me" and "It Can't Rain Everyday").

P.O.D. are the best Christian rap—metal band to go Top 10, but their ham—fisted
angst—mongering is also a reason to avoid commercial rock radio. Here, the Cali quartet
keep the riffs sharp, adding well—placed strings and keyboards, but on barnburners like
"End of the World," frontman Sonny Sandoval still comes off like a high school politico:
"What happened to peace here on Earth?/It never gets better, but worse." Does i... More >