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For some, it might seem like P.O.D. is keeping a low profile these days. After all, it's been nearly 10 years since they rose to prominence on MTV and the mainstream rock charts. But the band members have been anything but inactive, and their core fan base of "Warriors" remains strongly dedicated. Having switched from Atlantic to a partnership with Christian label INO and mainstream label Columbia, P.O.D. is pumped to start a new chapter of their career with the release of When Angels and Serpents Dance, an album that finds them taking their hard rock sound into newly eclectic territory. And just as exciting for the band is the reuniting with their original guitarist Marcos Curiel. Lead singer Sonny Sandoval chatted with Christian Music Today from a charity tour with Hard Rock Café to discuss P.O.D's changes in band roster, record label, and sound as they continue to relate with sacred and secular culture alike.

Sonny Sandoval (left)—along with Marcos, Wuv, and Traa—are ready to reconnect with fans through their new album.

How did you get hooked up with the Hard Rock chain and what type of buzz has those dates built for your new CD?

Sandoval Hard Rock approached us to help with [their charity] Musicians on Call and it was kind of a no-brainer—"Of course we'll do it!" It also gives us a chance to get out on the road, and we've been eager to play. We've just been doing a few fly out dates over the past year because most of the time was spent in the studio. We just played in San Diego and talked with [some Hard Rock executives] who said the shows raised more money in two weeks than any of their other bands or events they've done, which was an awesome thing. And we've gotten nothing but awesome feedback from reviews and from playing five of the new songs live. People are digging it, even though they go off a little more on the songs they already know. But with the new ones, they're just listening and trying figure out the lyrics and the groove.

As you've returned to the road, who do you see as the band's fan base?

Sandoval It's so funny because we've been going on 16 years and this whole promo run has been filled with a lot of old-school friends. They're just like us—all married with kids now—and they're bringing their families out. When Satellite came out and we entered the whole MTV "TRL" world, we definitely gained a lot of the radio crowd, but the radio crowd comes and goes. Radio has been a blessing, but we've also built up such a loyal following—people that came out when we first started, who were brought by their parents or grandparents. It's cool that those same parents and grandparents are still coming out with them, saying how grateful they are for a band with such a good message. It may not be their style, but they appreciate the heart and soul.

At this point, do you find the audience to be more familiar with your underground Christian beginnings or the secular scene?

Sandoval It's definitely split, but there's always been a loyalty of Warriors that get it completely. Those are the fans that love us for what we're about more than just the music. If we do a huge radio show with 50,000 people, the whole crowd sings along to the radio songs, so P.O.D.'s definitely known and recognized. Believers continue to come out and support us, and they keep doing so after such a long time, which we continue to be grateful for.

Does P.O.D. ever find a hard time fitting in with either audience?

Sandoval We're fortunate that believers come out and support us even when we play secular venues. We've also been asked to do more conservative Christian events, like a Billy Graham crusade. We'll pray about it, but generally haven't really done them because we know people are going to come whether we're there or not and it also doesn't really seem the right fit as far as our music goes. When we're playing [more mainstream minded venues], hopefully people understand where we're coming from and see our hearts.

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