Clearly Disturbed are from the ‘if it ain’t broke don’t fix it’ brigade but criticism of their last album (Ten Thousand Fists) for being a poor facsimile of earlier work seemed to knock the band back a bit. Strange really as they looked set for stellar stardom. So is the new opus any good/different? 

Well sort of, yes. The slide has been averted and this is a much more focussed effort. However vocalist David Draiman is both their strength and weakness. His singing on ‘Indestructible’ is as intense and powerful as during their classic ‘Sickness’ period but Draiman hasn’t moved on lyrically and still insists on all manner of grunts and growls.  

Everyone is still a ‘Motherf*cker’ (on ‘Criminal’ he even insists ‘you can call me Motherf*cker!) and god knows who the ‘ENERMEEEE!!!!’ is he keeps going on about. Suffice to say Draiman is immense in terms of performance but short on creative ideas. Perhaps they should think about hooking up with some maverick producer (this was produced by guitarist Dan Donegan) but then they risk alienating fans – so can’t win I suppose. 

Having said all that Disturbed are still a fine band and guitarist Donegan puts in a star turn, reinventing the Disturbed wheel, mixing things up, playing more solos and delivering the bollocks Disturbed are famous for. He riffs like a good ‘un throughout and certainly fans looking for the classic Disturbed signature sound won’t be disappointed. If only the band would try one experimental track or hint at a slightly new direction but I fear it’s never going to happen. That said this is still a fine rock record that hardcore fans of the band will drool over so it’s job done I suppose. At least there’s no Genesis cover this time!

Bryan Clarke