Disturbed Album: “Indestructible [PA]”

My review of Disturbed's debut

labeled them "The New Kings of Metal". I think that there would be more than Ten Thousand Fists in the air in agreement that Disturbed certainly still hold their position in the hierarchy of Metal with the release of this new disk.

What an impressive follow-up Indestructible is to Disturbed's

. Indestructible is a disk of hard rocking, melodic music with terrific vocals by David Draiman that can be understood all the way through. Dan Donegan (guitar) and Mike Wengren (drums) once again work together in a way that keeps every song rocking along with head bobbin, foot stompin precision (this as opposed to music where the drums and bass merely keep time in the background).

There are many bands trying to be hard these days. Disturbed do not have to try. Clearly their music is what comes naturally to them. Indestructible is not the awful manufactured Pop Metal like Nickelback and most recently the American Idol cookie cutter music from the likes of Daughtry and David Cook. Indestructible is straight-up Hard Rock.

In my last review of Disturbed's music I called them Metal and caught a lot of flack from fans of hardcore bands like Lamb of God and Slipknot who said Disturbed isn't Metal. I say Disturbed is Metal. Disturbed sounds a lot more like the pioneers of Metal like Zeppelin, Priest and Maiden than some of the unlistenable Nu Metal and Hardcore Metal that seems to have taken over today.

If fact, Indestructible is Disturbed's first CD where Donegan is fully released from guitar solo prison. Donegan is clearly one of the more talented guitarists on the Hard Rock scene today. But when Nu Metal became popular, it became taboo for a band to include guitar solos, and Hard Rock bands like Disturbed were guitar solo-silenced...much to the chagrin of outspoken critics like the great Zakk Wylde (of Ozzy fame). But fear not, Zakk, because one listen to Indestructible will bring a giant guitar soloist smile to your face.

Indestructible is Heavy Metal in its most grass roots form of the art...vocals that you can follow, harmonies, melody, intensity...a uniqueness to each song where there is no confusion as to whether the track has changed. Indestructible is great, hard rockin' fun.

This disk is an absolute must for your Metal/Hard Rock collection. That's right...I said Metal.

When I first saw the cover art for

, I thought it looked suspiciously like the art for the previous album (or like the cover to a single from that album). When I finally heard Indestructible, I figured out why; it's pretty much the same album as

. The unfortunate thing is that I actually prefer this album to its immediate predecessor,--I think most of the songs are technically better--but the feeling of sameness that accompanies the tunes detracts from them. If Indestructible had been released first, I would have a much higher opinion of it.

Similarly, if

and

had both been released before

, I would hold them in even higher regard. I feel

is by far their best album as it shows them much more willing to experiment a bit with their sound. They mixed the heavy with the melodic to greater effect on songs like "Prayer," "Believe" and "Remember," and they didn't even mind throwing in some odd meter here and there. (Catnip for prog nerds like myself.) Given that they've since released two albums that sound exactly the same as each other, I fear they've settled on what they feel to be their definitive sound and that we won't be hearing much innovation from them in the future.

That said, there are definitely some good tracks on here. The first two especially stand out. "Inside the Fire" may be one of their poppiest tracks yet--I keep getting the image of dancing girls performing some nifty synchronized choreography during the chorus--but it lends to its incredible catchiness. I really like the new recording of "Perfect Insanity," which I didn't really care for much in its demo incarnation. Honestly, if you took the standout tracks from this, the standouts from

and combined them with some of the B-sides from the

recording sessions, you'd have an incredibly solid album on the level of

.

It took me a few listens to really get involved with what they were trying to accomplish with Indestructible, but it is truly a great release. Its definitely not as immediately accessible as 10,000 Fists (which hits you right in the face instantly). But this is a super release, one that can be listened to from beginning to end over and over.

I never get sick of David Draimans voice, as he can go from harsh to growl to melodic in the same passage. He is for sure a great frontman and serious vocalist in the metal world.

The band is tighter than ever, and the tunes just pound and pound away at you. Its really a great listen, especially if you need a few spins and some time in between to get used to this new collection of music from Disturbed. Definitely a great addition to 2008's music. I pre-ordered it and would do the same again!!

I read through pages of Reviews, and no one seemed to 'get' the cd. it was all about how 'rockin' it was. how awesome. music lovers threw in their descriptions of how the music builds, but no one seemed to pay attention to the Lyrics.

This CD was a Dark one. Most of the songs influenced by...we'll call it a Rough Patch in Davids life. 'Criminal' and 'Inside the fire' seem to throw this fact out there the most. Criminal is by far my favorite song on the cd, but it's probably because I'm in Constant excruciating pain, and i can relate to the idea of wanting the pain to end, even if it means i have to die.

all in all, this cd was incredibly powerful. Business as Usual for Disturbed. you feel what they want you to feel, and you feel it powerfully. Davids voice is incredible, I love that fine line he balances between Rough and Melodic. It isn't more one way than the other, rather a perfect balance. If you've never heard Disturbed before, this is a band you have to hear. While the Sickness will always be my favorite since it was the first i heard, Indestructible is an amazing combination of emotion and Powerful music.

Myself, I didn't much like _Ten Thousand Fists_--only two songs were memorable and one of them was a cover. I also don't like overtly political songs, for the simple reason that in five years, ten years, they're ancient.

The great news is that Disturbed apparently got that stuff out of their system and are back to doing what they do best. They're you younger generation's Iron Maiden--they are an institution unto themselves. Dave's unique voice and their signature syncopation changes are back, along with driving rhythms and that terrific 'wall of sound'. It's hard to believe this is just four guys, and all that noise isn't just distortion--there are very intricate rhythmic and melodic changes underneath.

Reviewers who have commented on alleged 'cheesiness' in this album really ought to listen to some King Diamond before they start throwing around silly accusations like that, or reading Brujiera lyrics. CHEEZY is death metal Cookie Monster vocals. And if you're looking for life-changing philosophy in a song-lyric, the problem lies with YOU and not with the band. I think Disturbed is aiming for 'dark' here, and they hit it spot on. And not many bands would use words like 'obdurate' in their lyrics. For that, I could kiss them. With tongue.

Some albums you have to listen to several times before songs 'grow' on you, and sometimes on the first listen, songs will reach out and grab your eardrums and won't let go. This album is definitely in that second category. They do feature a few 80s-esque guitar solos, which I think anyone who grew up with 80s/90s metal will appreciate rather than diss. It's a solid album that shows that they're secure enough in their own sound that they aren't going to sell out to the latest trend.

Though I do miss the usual 'cover song'. :(