10 July 2012 18 years after their debut album, P.O.D. release their eighth studio album Murdered Love. Immediately the listener is assaulted with opener Eyez featuring none other than Hatebreed's Jamey Jasta. The song punches its way through the speakers with a musical verocity that is perfectly matched by the dark, apocalyptic lyrical content warning of the imminent coming of the end days. There is no respite as Eyez leads directly into title track Murdered Love, an absolute beast of a song; one which reverberates on every level - musically, artistically, lyrically and spiritually. It really is the jewel in the crown of the entire album and the best song the band have written in a decade.
Murdered Love is the pinnacle of the band's creativity with dark, atmospheric riffs and a unique rhythmic metre used by Sonny as he executes rather than raps the lyrics. Lead single Lost in Forever takes the listener on a philosophical journey of contemplation and speculation as to what comes after this life and lifts the album melodically juxtaposing the heaviness and aggression of Eyez and Murdered Love. Indeed Murdered Love weaves a rich tapestry of musical tones and textures and synthesises nu-metal, hip-hop, hard rock, punk-rock and hardcore.
Some songs like Bad Boy and Panic and Run are almost playful and cheeky in their hip hop and punk-rock persuasions, while the latter transitions into a hardcore breakdown that is off. the. hook. I haven't head banged that hard in a long, long time! Hip-hop/Rock hybrid West Coast Rock Steady, featuring Sen Dog from Cypress Hill, is perhaps the most infectious and addictive song P.O.D. have written and is definitely on a par with fellow So-Cal salute Kaliforn-eye-a, albeit in a different sense.
Conversely, P.O.D. leaves their most controversial musical statement till last as 'I Am' puts a most definite exclamation mark upon the album! Musically I Am is reminiscent of the seminal sounds of platinum selling the Fundamental Elements of Southtown; but it is the lyrical content that really sets this song apart. The song is only featured on mainstream releases of the album due to the inclusion of the infamous F-bomb, something that has caused a scandal amongst Christian retailers. I Am cuts extremely close to the bone and addresses some very dark and poignant social issues that affect society at present - from pornography and drug abuse to self-harming and sex-trafficking.
The justification for the lyrics comes by way of the artistic licence used as Sonny writes from the perspective of a lost teenager, struggling to come to terms with life who is desperately seeking God. The song is in effect the heartfelt cry of the dark night of the soul - something everyone can relate to. Christians will argue over the legitimacy of the use of the F-bomb for years to come, however it is clear they are not the target audience. For me the lyrical and spiritual journey that is evident from the beginning to the end of the song puts it into context. The song finishes with light overcoming the darkness as Sonny quotes from Colossians 1:19-20 about the old passing away and all things being made new.
The collaborations throughout the album work perfectly to compliment the song rather than overshadow or steal the spotlight. The collaborations are more like cameo appearances than full blown collaborations and just give each song that added something special. The sound effects employed also help craft an incredibly rich and diverse soundscape: sound effects are used subtlely to enhance the songs and keep the listener coming back for more to fully assimilate and take in the full impact of the album. There are songs that need time to grow on you but again this is not a shallow and superficial musical experience. Every time you listen to Murdered Love you pick up something new - the lyrics resonate much more profoundly on a poetical and spiritual level. Murdered Love deeply satisfies and will be played for years to come by die-hard warriors as fervently as it was the day it was bought.
Highlights of the album include Murdered Love, West Coast Rock Steady, Babylon the Murderer, On Fire, Panic and Run and I Am. One of the things that makes Murdered Love such a seminal album is its uniqueness in the P.O.D. discography while at the same time sounding very familiar. Fans will recognize allusions and similarities to Brown, F.E.O.S., Satellite and even Snuff the Punk. This is not 'old skool' P.O.D. strictly speaking - this is very much the latest incarnation of the musical hydra that is Payable on Death.
What sets this album apart from P.O.D.'s last few releases is the urgency about the lyrics and music. There is an urgency about the album that makes it an incredibly significant and powerful listening experience. Murdered Love is not an album written purely to please long-time fans who hark back to yester year - Murdered Love was born from a state of moral and spiritual emergency. The music is so dynamic precisely because P.O.D. have arisen to reach the lost and reach into the depravity of this world. The aggression and heaviness that characterised P.O.D.'s first decade of music was the most natural vehicle and medium to communicate their message. In this respect this is a resurgent P.O.D., a P.O.D. that remembers the adrenaline that coursed through its veins as it played its unique style of rap-metal in local garages around San Diego and the passion it began with for heavy music.
No comments:
Post a Comment