Before San Diego-bred P.O.D. (Payable on Death) landed on a major label in 1998, they were successful indie recording artists. In fact, their Atlantic debut, 1999's Fundamental Elements of Southtown is actually the lineup's fifth album since forming in 1992. And Snuff the Punk was their debut, a heretofore out of print effort now rereleased, remastered and remixed, with new graphics as well. P.O.D. had a strong following in Christian music circles before crossing over with Southtown, and Snuff the Punk shows why. Vaguely progressive thrashy metal with lots of funky rhythms and major hardcore rap influences, the time changes and aggressive musicality of this raw CD, originally released in 1993, is timely in 2000 and beyond. And despite the many religious references, open-minded secular music fans should be able to listen and groove to the positive, heavy tunes that populate Snuff the Punk (the punk being the devil) without feeling preached to. ...