Skeptics about the phenomenon surrounding P.O.D., few they may be who read HM, might accuse the band's commercial fortunes to come from a lucky stop of the rap-metal bandwagon that allowed the San Diego warriors to be positioned as the positive (godliness optional) counter-punch to the hedonism and misogyny of Limp Bizkit and P.O.D. label-mate Kid Rock.
But, The Fundamental Elements Of Southtown was no fluke. Their Rescue Records catalog proves as much, but Satellite will test P.O.D.'s mettle as a unit capable of making the masses' heads bang for a second time. Do they have it in 'em?
Does Sonny have killer dreadlocks? Yes and yes, already. Satellite has signs of a band with growing ambitions and a bigger budget (the white auras around the guys in the insert photos are a bit much), but P.O.D. are relevant and rockin' as ever. Arguably more tuneful, too.
By the time you read this, first single "Alive" should be an existentially and salvifically affirmative anthem inescapable for hard rock radio devotees. The humane love sentiments of "Ghetto" should strike less jingoistic listeners with its applicability to the recent East Coast terrorist bombings, and the album's titular number soars stratospherically.
One of P.O.D.'s strengths has always been its use of reggae for its roots to biblical spirituality. More successful of their two forays into that territory here is "Ridiculous," with guest toasting by the legendary Eek-A-Mouse. A team-up with H.R. of groundbreaking hardcore punk / reggae fusionists The Bad Brains, "Without Jah, Nothin'," sounds more like a well-intentioned jam session, but the use of dub textures bodes well for more experimentation. Big-ups also go to the Payable Ones for incorporating the best use of a children's chorus since Pink Floyd's "Another Brick..., Pt. 2" and Blindside's Christian Lindskog on "Youth Of The Nation" and "Anything Right," respectively.
P.O.D. have pushed their genre's envelope respectably far and can't help but merit the respect of hard music fans regardless of spiritual allegiance. This Satellite orbits far and wide.
Other coverage for this album
HM Magazine #98Reviewed by Doug Van PeltThis double-disc re-issue features 3 ho-hum remixes on Disc 1, and a fabulous live DVD as Disc 2. The footage and sound is so brilliant that it looks like they brought in a crowd for the recording, as opposed to bringing in cameras and recording gear for a concert. The 5.1 Surround mix is loud and punching. Quite simply, a fabulous treat for P.O.D. fans. Editors' ratings — Doug 3/5, Lonny 3.5/5Art for the Ears 2002Reviewed by Marco PovervestOkay, I'm a bit late with this review. Already more than two million copies have been sold of this album while it's only six months out or so. Satellite is the follow-up to the platinum release The Fundamental Elements Of Southtown. Their music is mainly rapcore but it's sometimes melted together with some hardcore influences and new metal. Some of the songs have proved to have hit potential. The…The Phantom Tollbooth 2002Reviewed by Vik BansalWhen "the boys from the South(town)", P.O.D., released their second major label album on September 11, 2001 (yes, really), few could have predicted that over the next year it would make them the best-selling artists on Atlantic Records. I mean, exactly when did the world have its good taste transplant? A year on, and the people at Atlantic have seen fit to prevent anyone from having an excuse for…Dead Zine 2002Reviewed by the ProjectSatellite is without a doubt P.O.D.'s best album ever! A masterpiece! WOW! I have never heard such great stuff in my time. Satellite is P.O.D.'s second release off Atlantic and is a really awesome disk. It is hip-hop, core, reggae, R&B and everything else! Reggae master Eek A Mouse appears on this disk in the track "Ridiculous" and tears up! This disk is so phat! I love it! My favorite track is…Dead Zine 2002Reviewed by D_ListerI read an article in a secular magazine recently about P.O.D., the title of that article was along the lines of 'P.O.D.'s Satellite, moving away from God, Heaven can wait.' The article went on to say that the boys of Southtown were stepping away from the strict Christian stance they had thrust upon the world with their previous album. Knowing that satan will try anything to take down a Christian…The Phantom Tollbooth 2001Reviewed by Aaron BellIt seems almost surreal, on a day that will be forever marked as a day of national tragedy paralleling, if not surpassing, that of Pearl Harbor, the Challenger explosion, or the assassination of President Kennedy; on a dark day when America stood still, one of the brightest spots in music released an album. The musical bright spot is P.O.D., and the music they make is from a Christian world view.…Similar sounding releases
2000A Perfect CircleMer de Noms
2003SkilletCollide
2002BlindsideSilence
2002Project 86Truthless Heroes
2003Lucerin BlueTales of the Knife
2004Breaking BenjaminWe Are Not AloneMore from P.O.D.
1993Payable On Death (1993)
2003Payable on Death
1994Snuff the Punk
1996Brown
1997Live At Tomfest
2002Still Payin' Dues (Video)
