Multi-platinum, GRAMMY®-nominated SoCal hard-rockers P.O.D. will release their ninth studio album, The Awakening (T-Boy/UMe), on August 21. The evocative album, produced by the band’s long-time collaborator and friend, Howard Benson (My Chemical Romance, Kelly Clarkson), features 10 tracks and special guests Maria Brink from In This Moment and Lou Koller from Sick of it All.
Beginning today, The Awakening is available worldwide for preorder on CD, digital, and vinyl LP. Preorders for the digital album on iTunes unlock the rousing lead single, “This Goes Out To You,” for immediate download. Fans who preorder the CD from Amazon.com are eligible to score one of 500 CDs autographed by the band.
P.O.D. is on tour throughout the summer and well into the fall, with confirmed shows in more than 25 U.S. cities (confirmed dates below; more to be announced). Before heading out on tour, P.O.D. will celebrate the release of their new single, “This Goes Out To You,” by performing a special pre-game ‘Party at the Park’ set at San Diego’s PETCO Park this Friday, June 12 (San Diego Padres vs. Los Angeles Dodgers). For more information about P.O.D.’s upcoming tour dates and The Awakening, visit payableondeath.com.
Long known for carrying the hard rock torch with a positive message, P.O.D. are looking forward to sharing The Awakening with fans around the world. The album travels on a journey based on the good and bad choices of a central character, exploring the consequences of his decisions.
“The Awakening is meant to be listened to in its entirety,” says P.O.D. singer and lyricist Sonny Sandoval. “Every song ultimately explores a character dealing with life, making mistakes, fighting, trying. But we also live in a singles-type world, and it works on that level, too.”
Sonically, each track benefitted from the band’s years of studio and stage experience. “I used to want to put as many tracks of guitar on the record as I could, because I thought that’s what you did,” says guitarist Marcos Curiel. “But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized that the more space you’re letting in with all the instruments, everything breathes and has an energy and a vibe.”
“The Awakening is definitely an evolution from where we’ve come from,” says bassist Traa Daniels. “It’s this amazing piece of art that we’ve been able to put together as four guys who are like brothers; this is really special.”
“I feel this is like a pivotal moment for P.O.D.,” says drummer Wuv Bernardo. “It’s more than just `Man, we just went in the studio and did a record…’ The urgency of our band, as far as how serious we are putting this kind of material in there and the way that we did it, blows my mind. I am proud of these guys, of us.”
Since forming in San Diego in 1992, P.O.D. (Payable on Death) have charted their own course, with worldwide sales exceeding 10 million, hugely successful international tours, and a series of chart-topping radio hits. Over the span of two decades they have released eight studio albums of original songs – including the triple-platinum Satellite – seen chart success with more than a dozen Rock radio hits, including “Southtown,” “Alive,” “Youth of the Nation,” and “Boom,” the Active Rock hit “Beautiful” and their No. 1 single, “Lost In Forever,” received three GRAMMY Award® nominations, and racked up four No. 1 music videos. The band has also contributed songs to numerous major motion picture soundtracks.
P.O.D. is Sonny Sandoval (vocals), Marcos Curiel (guitar), Traa Daniels (bass) and Wuv Bernardo (drums). The members of P.O.D. are also active members of a tight-knit music community, collaborating on their own records as well as others’, including Katy Perry, H.R. (Bad Brains), Mike Muir (Suicidal Tendencies), Sen Dog (Cypress Hill), and more.
When asked about P.O.D.’s particularly active schedule this year, Wuv summed it up well for everyone, saying, “This time around it’s just pure band excitement. It’s natural and it’s where we’re at.”
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P.O.D. The Awakening [CD, digital, vinyl LP]
1. Am I Awake
2. This Goes Out To You
3. Rise of NWO
4. Criminal Conversations (feat. Maria Brink)
5. Somebody\’s Trying to Kill Me
6. Get Down
7. Speed Demon
8. Want It All
9. Revolución (feat. Lou Koller)
10. The Awakening
P.O.D. – Confirmed U.S. Tour Dates
June 14 South Bend, IN The Bear’s Big Growl 4
June 16 Virginia Beach, VA Shakas
June 17 Wilmington, NC Ziggy’s By The Sea
June 19 Winchester, VA Blue Fox
June 20 Syracuse, NY Oswego Events Center – WAQX Festival
June 21 Huntington, NY Paramount
June 22 Pittsburgh, PA Altar Bar
June 24 Ft. Wayne, IN Pierre’s
June 26 Alix, Alberta Tail Creek Mud & Music Festival
June 27 Detroit, MI Stars and Stripes
June 28 Ringle, WI Q&Z Expo Center
June 30 Madison, WI Barrymore Theatre
July 1 Cedar Rapids, IA Reverb
July 2 Bloomington, IL Castle Theatre
July 3 Sault Saint Marie, MI Kewadin Casino
July 4 Waconia, MN Carver County Fairgrounds – Taste of Minnesota
July 7 Minot, ND Original Bar and Nightclub
July 9 Rockford, IL District
July 10 Lansing, MI Common Ground Festival
July 11 Green Bay, WI Watering Hole
July 12 Des Moines, IA Val Air
July 14 Nashville, TN Marathon Music Work
July 15 Hammond, IN Wolf Lake Park Pavilion
July 16 St. Louis, MO Pops
July 17 Cleveland, OH Odeon
July 18 Lancaster, OH Mickeys Outdoors
July 25 Las Vegas, NV SLS
August 7 Lebanon, OR Cheadle Lake Park Festival Center
October 24 Sacramento, CA Aftershock Festival – Discovery Park