In 2000, Disturbed entered the music world with about as much grace as a sledgehammer. Their debut album, The Sickness, was greeted with immense success. It started with the metal hit Stupify, and only grew with their hit Down With the Sickness. Everyone knew this song, and lead singer David Draiman's unique screaming. The album was a raw, sometimes amateurish, but always intense, metal party.
In 2002, their second album, Believe, came out, and it exhibited a more mature sound. The production value went up, and the screaming went down (a little). The album did very well, spearheaded by such singles as Prayer and Remember, but true metal fans, ones that fell in love with the first album, began to become a little disappointed. The album focused more on melodies, and tried to preach certain things about religion that apparently David Draiman wanted to get off his chest. The sound was different, and very good, but certain people started to feel their Disturbed had left them for good.
This week, Disturbed released their third album, Ten Thousand Fists. And all worries of Disturbed going soft have officially ended. Make no mistake, this is a near perfect album. It manages to take the melodies of Believe, and fuse it with the intense rock of The Sickness. The album is filled with almost nothing but highs.
1. Ten Thousand Fists The opening track of this CD is the title track. This is a call to arms in the way only Disturbed can accomplish. Plainly put, this is the perfect song to open with. It has a slow build up, heavy drums, and starts in earnest with a belted scream from Draiman. The guitar is heavy, the drums shake you, and the lyrics will get the crowd at a concert on their feet, shoving their fists in the air. An anthem for the metal freaks like me. The perfect live song. Rating: 10/10
2. Just Stop Traditionally for Disturbed, the second song on the album is the most electronic. And while this is still true, there is actually very little tech on this song. Just some in the beginning, before hitting into a hard, low guitar riff. This song is simple, not a bunch to it, but is sure to become a mosh pit favorite. Rating: 9/10
3. Guarded Holy shit. The song wastes no time, starting with the most intense guitar/drums mix I think I've ever heard. Like Holier Than Thou on Metallica's Black album (which was also track 3 on that album), this is nothing more than a 3 minute metal fest. Fast, aggressive, and some sudden guitar stops that I just totally love. This was the first song I heard from this album (they released it on iTunes about a month ago) and it got me incredibly worked up for the album. Great song. Rating: 10/10
4. Deify 4 songs in and the album is still not slowing down. Quite the opposite in fact. The song opens with a sound clip of George W. Bush. And the songs lyrics seem to be written about him. "I won't let them deify you/they view you as the new Messiah." In an interview, Draiman said the song is about attributing God-like qualities to politicians and public figures. "People in those red states saw him as a God," he said. The primal screams of Draiman create a scary tone, and the guitar is incredible. One of my favorite songs on the album. Rating: 10/10
5. Stricken The first single off the album. A truly great song from Disturbed. Has a great mix of singing and screaming from Draiman, and features a unique part, the first solo in a Disturbed song. The solo is short, but fun. In the end, the only way this song suffers is that for the most part it sounds like it could have been from Believe. However, if it was on that album, it would have been one of the best songs there. Rating: 9/10
6. I'm Alive This song is the closest this album gets to a filler song. I don't mean to diminish how good this song is, it just sounds like they didn't spend as much time on this song. Kind of standard Disturbed song. That's not really a bad thing, though. And this song serves as a perfect bridge from the first part of the album to the next. Rating: 8/10
7. Sons of Plunder Okay, clearly Disturbed have been hearing the same cookie cutter metal bands that I've had to suffer through for the part few years. (Trapt, anyone?) This song is an angry fight against record producers who are just looking for the same band redone over and over again, always looking for that combination that will make them the most money. "All the pimping sons of plunder will roll up their sleeves" I mean, how can you not love a lyric like that? The song has a sound kind of like Droppin' Plates off their first album, except manages to not sound nearly as silly, and creates a really great sound. Rating: 9/10
8. Overburdened Okay, here we have my only problem with the album. This is Disturbed going for the power ballad. It's a good song, mostly. I have a slight problem with Draiman's vocals. I've never thought his voice was suited for songs like this. The base he tries to accomplish seems just a little below the range where his voice is comfortable. And the placement of the song on the album, between Sons of Plunder and Decadance almost hurts the momentum. But the lyrics are powerful, and the guitar work, especially featuring another solo. Good song, just not as incredible as the rest of the album. Rating: 7/10
9. Decadance This song can be best described by saying base drum. Damn. This song uses base drum behind Draiman's voice during the verses the create a sound that I can honestly say I've never heard anything like before. It's creepy, fast, scary, intense, and I can't wait to see them perform this one live. The mosh pits are going to go crazy over this one. Rating: 9/10
10. Forgiven This song also comes dangerously close to being filler, but the guitar work and drums save it. The vocals are pretty much what we've come to expect from Draiman, occasional singing interspersed throughout the screaming. But the drums in the back ground prove that Mike Wengren knows how to use drums for something other than just keeping beat. They really drive this song. Rating: 8/10
11. Land of Confusion Nothing quite like Disturbed covering Genesis. Yes, this is the same song Phil Collins did. I've never really been too fond of the last cover Disturbed did, Shout 2000, but this time they pull it off. They chose it because the lyrics really seem to relate to the world we are in now. They worked then, they work now. And the sound of this isn't quite Disturbed, they managed to change their sound to mirror the original, only if Genesis happened to be a metal band. Now I can just hope for a Disturbed/Phil Collins performance. Rating: 9/10
12. Sacred Lie Once again Disturbed goes political on this one. This song is about the war in Iraq, plain and simple. About how the people were lied to about the reasons for going to war. Lyrically, I like it, but I agree with what he's saying. Musically, it also happens to be a good song. It's got a nice rythm to it, and once again I love the drums on it. And a little past the half way point there comes one of Draiman's low base, almost rap, primal riffs, that I have always loved. Rating: 8/10
13. Pain Redefined Yes, here we are. I believe this is currently my favorite song on the album. The guitar is in spot on. The drums once again managing to be an intergral part of the song, not just keeping beat, the lyrics are good, and the rhythm. Dammit the rhythm and melody of this song are something truly great. I also love the fast pace of the verses. Love this song. Rating: 10/10
14. Avarice Anyone who was worried that they would end the album without a slow ballad like they did with Believe need not worry. They finish this one with a fast, intense, screaming rock song. Plenty of screaming, heavy drums and guitar, in short, exactly the way a metal album should end. And the message behind the song pretty much sums up the theme of the album, about politics and apathy. Perfect end. Rating: 10/10
I'm giving the album 10,000 out of 10,000 fists. Too obvious? Fine, 5 out of 5 headbangers. This album is the one Disturbed has been trying to make their entire career. It has a more mature sound than their first album, and a more fun tone than their second album. If you even remotely like hard rock or heavy metal, waste no time, buy this album now. Help them pick up sales, help make Disturbed the successful band they deserve to be.
