P.O.D. Delivers Sonic Sermons

Fast cars, fast women and reckless lifestyles may color the lyrics of today’s biggest rap-metal sensations, but there’s another faction of equally fervent rockers who have a more spiritual message. San Diego’s P.O.D. (Payable on Death) has become the leader of this pack with its pounding grooves and positive, Christian-inspired themes. At the Palace on Tuesday, P.O.D. offered the kind of sweaty sonic sermon that’s garnered it one of the most loyal followings in rock.

Dreadlocked singer Sonny Sandoval greeted many of the fans (who call themselves the Warriors) by name as soon as he took the stage and proceeded to join them in a sing-along. He then jumped into the audience and crowd-surfed.

Sandoval’s instant interaction with the crowd was a telling sign of things to come. As the band went through grinding riffs and raps such as “Hollywood,” ’Southtown” and “Freestyle,” all from their album “The Fundamental Elements of Southtown,” the energy in the room was electric, with faithful fans bouncing, moshing and yelling the words to each tune.

Although the band’s powerful sound is not as complex nor as well executed as that of, say, Rage Against the Machine, its rhythms were diverse, with sparks of Latin, reggae and punk fueling the beats.

--LINA LECARO