Review Summary: Are you ready?
The pointlessness of even writing a review for a Disturbed album circa 2018 defies even the limitations of the band’s constantly reliable organic hard rock sounds. Draiman’s trademark “Ooh-wah-ah-ah-ah” has become both a statement and a sad reminder for fans who have clear preferences for Disturbed’s early days.
The Sickness may have forged paths for new fans eighteen years ago with the album’s endless hooks and cutting rhythmic edge, but with every subsequent release that followed 2005’s
Ten Thousand Fists fans hoped to dream that Disturbed would keep their momentous run going.
Fairly,
Indestructible led most fans to believe that Draiman and co. would continue on their merry little reliable way, continuing to produce their brand of consistent, albeit unremarkable hard rock. From there the combination of unflattering monotonous releases were forced into being, given praise on the backs of covers and borrowed ideas. Even considering the slump of quality offered to fans the music-by-numbers-if-it’s-not-broke style of
Asylum and
Immortalized still maintained Disturbed as a band, selling albums and tickets alike.
Evolution, is anything but. With the introduction of a ballad heavy record Disturbed have moved inches instead of miles, failing to match a suitable production. Dan Donegan’s guitar tone has always had a flat crunch that hides some of the flourishes in his playing, but it’s not so much as an issue when Disturbed are playing the typical high octane, gain heavy banger (see “Saviour Of Nothing” and the main riffs of the title track). Taking into consideration the rather acoustic, softened strummed approach that
Evolution attends to the chordal clarity is compromised by autopilot. Instead of warm vibrancy, the listener is forced into a world where quality tones don’t actually matter. The same, in fact can be said about Draiman’s vocals. I’ll be the first to admit the guy had some pipes, his ability is technically sound (being the most proficient here on this album) but his age is starting to show, if not for the vocals being pushed so high in the mix Draiman would have some performance issues. It’s a double edged sword; listeners can hear both how technically sound Disturbed’s frontman can be, but at the cost of natural quality and at times Draiman can be heard clearly rushing his lines, being unable to define the track’s hooks within a catchy phrasing. “Saviour Of Nothing” and “Stronger On Your Own” suffer heavily from Draiman’s new found lyrical patterns, borrowing not only in theme but in lyricism and instrumentation.
Evolution has forgotten about quality songwriting, working with a so-called previously successful formula in order to capitalise on the success of a few well chosen covers...
Overall, there’s pretty well nothing listeners will take away from a new Disturbed record this year. The singles are proof enough. And while a few choice moments showcase the very nuances of the band we grew up with, there’s just not enough substance on this record of D-sides. Funnily enough, “Watch You Burn” is a few choice lines off being a perfect emo-break up track. Despite the sweeping lyrical references that could relate to any success and failure of any particular party, Disturbed are happily clutching at straws in order to capitalise on the generic. As much as fans would like to jump to the defence of a 2018 Disturbed that both “innovates” and “restores older sounds”,
Evolution stands resolute and unchanging. The band themselves have never made what is to be considered a ‘bad’ album (up til now) but the borrowed musical ideas, lacklustre musicianship and willingness to play it musically “safe” wherever and whenever possible has left a sour taste in the mouths of listeners. If this is indeed
evolution, then I’m not ready after all.
