The Awakening (P.O.D. album)

Last updated

The Awakening
The Awakening by P.O.D.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedAugust 21, 2015 (2015-08-21)
Recorded2014–2015
Studio
Genre
Length45:24
Label Universal, T-Boy
Producer Howard Benson
P.O.D. chronology
SoCal Sessions
(2014)
The Awakening
(2015)
Circles
(2018)
Singles from The Awakening
  1. "This Goes Out to You"
    Released: June 8, 2015

The Awakening is the ninth studio album by American Christian metal band P.O.D. It was released on August 21, 2015. [1] The album is unique in that it is the band's only concept album of their career, complete with skits and voiceovers before and after each song. [2]

Contents

Background

The Awakening had a music video for each song, and the group intended to release a full-length film which would tell the storyline behind the concept album. They were initially scheduled for release 2010, but due to issues with the record label, the film and videos were never made publicly available, and the album was delayed until 2015. [3]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
About.com Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [4]
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [5]
CCM Magazine Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [6]
Cross Rhythms U+25A0.svgU+25A0.svgU+25A0.svgU+25A0.svgU+25A0.svgU+25A0.svgU+25A0.svgU+25A0.svgU+25A0.svgU+25A0.svg [7]
HM Magazine Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [8]
Kerrang! Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [9]
New Release TodayStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [10]

Doug Van Pelt, giving the album four stars for HM Magazine , writes, "When looking back at P.O.D.'s amazing career, there's probably going to be some landmark albums that stand out in most fan's minds... This one is not far behind." Awarding the album four out of five stars from CCM Magazine , Matt Conner states, they will "remain at the top", with Howard Benson's production, where it has the theme of a "central character coming to terms with his own mistakes...[giving the album] meaningful depth." [6] Mary Nikkel, rating the album four and a half stars at New Release Today, says, "The Awakening easily one of the strongest rock releases of the year, a must-have for longtime fans and newcomers thirsty for some heavy music with substance." [10] Indicating in a ten out of ten review at Cross Rhythms, replies, "An album likely to be eventually acknowledged as P.O.D.'s finest ever release." [7] Chad Bowar, rating the album three stars from About.com, says, "P.O.D. fans will be intrigued by the wide variety of styles and the memorable songs on The Awakening." [4]

Track listing

All tracks are written by P.O.D.

No.TitleLength
1."Am I Awake"5:56
2."This Goes Out to You"3:50
3."Rise of NWO"3:12
4."Criminal Conversations" (featuring Maria Brink of In This Moment [11] )5:02
5."Somebody's Trying to Kill Me"5:12
6."Get Down"3:39
7."Speed Demon"3:51
8."Want It All"3:33
9."Revolución" (featuring Lou Koller of Sick of it All)4:05
10."The Awakening"7:04
Total length:45:24 [12]

Personnel

P.O.D.

Additional musicians

Production

Charts

Chart (2015)Peak
position
US Billboard 200 [13] 75
US Christian Albums (Billboard) [14] 3
US Top Hard Rock Albums (Billboard) [15] 9
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard) [16] 15

References

  1. Weiner, Natalie (June 8, 2015). "Listen to P.O.D.'s New Single 'This Goes Out To You': Exclusive Premiere". Billboard . Retrieved December 20, 2018.
  2. "P.O.D.'s Sonny Sandoval Discusses Concepts Behind 'The Awakening'; Hints at Short Film & Tour with ICP [INTERVIEW]". BREATHEcast. Retrieved September 22, 2015.
  3. Sandoval, Sonny (February 25, 2025). Son of Southtown. Baker Books. pp. 247–248. ISBN   9781540904423.
  4. 1 2 Bowar, Chad (August 21, 2015). "P.O.D. - The Awakening Review". About.com . Retrieved October 29, 2015.
  5. James Christopher Monger. "The Awakening". AllMusic. Retrieved September 22, 2015.
  6. 1 2 Conner, Matt. "P.O.D.: The Awakening". CCM Magazine (August 15, 2015): 30. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
  7. 1 2 Birtley, Rob (October 25, 2012). "Review: The Awakening - POD". Cross Rhythms . Retrieved October 25, 2015.
  8. Van Pelt, Doug (August 21, 2015). "P.O.D.: The Awakening". HM Magazine . Retrieved August 26, 2015.
  9. Lawrence, Alistair (August 29, 2015). "P.O.D.: The Awakening". Kerrang! . Retrieved June 7, 2024.
  10. 1 2 Nikkel, Mary (August 26, 2015). "Waking Up Rock and Roll". New Release Today. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  11. "P.O.D. lift lid on The Awakening". Metal Hammer.
  12. "P.O.D.'S 'The Awakening' To Feature Guest Appearances By in This Moment's Maria Brink, Sick of It All's Lou Koller - Blabbermouth.net". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. June 9, 2015. Retrieved June 13, 2015.
  13. "P.O.D. Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
  14. "P.O.D. Chart History (Christian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
  15. "P.O.D. Chart History (Top Hard Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
  16. "P.O.D. Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 1, 2015.