P.O.D., standing for Payable On Death, were formed in the early 1990’s in San Diego, California. Friends Marcos Curiel (lead guitar) and Wuv Bernardo (drums) engaged in jam sessions in a band called Eschatos, and were soon joined by Bernardo’s cousin, lead vocalist Sonny Sandoval (following Sandoval’s mother’s death and his subsequent conversion to Christianity). Renamed to P.O.D., Traa Daniels joined in 1994 when they needed a bassist for a concert (replacing Gabe Portillo, who appeared on an earlier demo tape). P.O.D. signed with a relatively unknown label, Rescue Records, and released 3 albums under the label between 1994 and 1997, “Snuff the Punk”, “Brown” and “Payable on Death Live”. Shortly after the release of “Payable on Death Live”, Essential Records offered P.O.D. a recording contract, but it was declined because the band thought “God has a bigger plan for P.O.D.” In 1998, A&R rep John Rubeli from Atlantic Records caught a show at The Roxy on the Sunset Strip, and the band was quickly signed to a major label deal. P.O.D. soon released “The Warriors EP”, representing a tribute to their fans, as a transitional album from Rescue Records to Atlantic Records.

P.O.D.’s third studio album, 1999's “The Fundamental Elements of Southtown”, produced the US Modern Rock chart Top 30 hits "Southtown" and "Rock the Party (Off the Hook)" (which also became their first video to reach number 1). The album went on to become RIAA certified platinum.

In September 2001, P.O.D. released their fourth studio album, ”Satellite” “Satellite”. First single "Alive" went on to become one of MTV's and MTV2's top played videos of the year, making the Top 5 on both the Mainstream and Modern Rock charts in the US, and the concluding track of the album, "Portrait", received a 2003 Grammy nomination for “Best Metal Performance”. ”Satellite” went on to become RIAA certified triple platinum.

In February 2003, guitarist Marcos Curiel left the band due to his side project, The Accident Experiment, and ‘spiritual differences’. The remaining members were devastated about Curiel’s departure, and considered breaking the band up, but decided to stay together and recruit another guitarist. Curiel was replaced by Jason Truby, former member of Christian metal band Living Sacrifice, and assisted with the recording of P.O.D.’s "Sleeping Awake" (from “The Matrix Reloaded” soundtrack). In November 2003, P.O.D. released their fifth studio album, “Payable on Death”, and with the help of the album's singles "Will You" and "Change the World", it went on to sell over 520,000 copies and was certified gold.

In November 2005, P.O.D. released “The Warriors EP, Volume 2”, featuring demos from upcoming album “Testify”, which was released in January 2006. The album's first single, "Goodbye for Now" went on to become a number 1 video on MTV's Total Request Live (the band's 4th number 1 video on TRL). Second single "Lights Out" was featured as the ‘official theme song’ to WWE's “Survivor Series” in November 2005.

In August 2006, P.O.D. announced that they had left Atlantic Records, and the following month joined Rhino Records to release a greatest hits record, “Greatest Hits: The Atlantic Years”, released in November 2006. In December 2006, it was announced that Jason Truby had left the band, however Marcos Curiel asked to rejoin P.O.D., and his request was accepted.

2007 began with the band securing a new record deal with INO Records, and began work on their next album, “When Angels & Serpents Dance”. First single "Addicted" was released in February 2008, peaking at number 30 on the Mainstream Rock chart. It was followed in April by the album’s release.