Payable On Death - Music and Lyrics

Music and Lyrics

Payable on Death saw the band head in a more traditional metal sound and away from their well-known nu metal style which was losing popularity by 2003. It has been considered an overall darker approach than its predecessor. Vocalist Sonny Sandoval also utilizes a considerable amount of reggae style delivery throughout the album, namely in tracks such as "Change the World", "Execute the Sounds", and "Revolution", while Sandoval's typical rapping is largely deemphasized. The band's longtime hip hop influence, however, is not entirely absent; a verse from "Execute the Sounds" borrows the chorus, in altered form, from the Boogie Down Productions song "Stop the Violence" off their 1988 album By All Means Necessary.

Traa Daniels noted in May 2003 that the album would deal with the upsetting departure of Curiel but that "a lot of these songs are coming out fun. We're not a downer band. We're not trying to get too deep." Indeed, the album's lyrics maintain P.O.D.'s common themes of spiritual preservation; however, Payable on Death deemphasizes the upbeat urban rocks anthems of their past. It also includes Sandoval's first attempt at a traditional love song with "Will You" and features a considerable amount of anguished vocal performances.

In an unusual approach from P.O.D., the last track, "Eternal", is an instrumental song featuring famed guitarist Phil Keaggy. This was thanks to Truby who, when asked by the other band members who he'd like to collaborate with on the album, cited Keaggy as a major influence. Truby felt the guitar-based track was "a window into my playing and phrasing and a little bit into my influences" and described it musically as "like at the end of the movie you roll the credits. It's got that kind of feel." The track features Truby playing acoustic rhythm alongside Keaggy's electric guitar on lead.