Tuesday, October 23, 2018

Disturbed - Evolution (2018)

So the new Disturbed album is called "Evolution", ehh? Hahahahahahahahhaahahahahhahaahahahaahhaahahahahaahahahahahaahahah aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah hahahahahahahahahahaahahahaahahahahaahahahahaha... I think I am dying, hahahahahahahahaahahahaahahaha. Okay, that may have been a little mean, but you gotta be honest, Disturbed is one of the last bands that would evolve their music in any significant way, so that they release an album that is called "Evolution" is just silly. But wait, what is this? There is actually some differences in here from the average Disturbed album, like the fact that the always beloved The Guy is missing from the album cover for the first time since their second album "Believe". Maybe there is something to the title after all, or maybe it is just a mirage.

Well, not to spoil anything, but we got both a yes and a no to that. It still sounds like Disturbed with most of their classic tropes, and they are all early displayed as well in the two opening tracks "Are You Ready" and "No More". Both of them are groovy tracks in typical Disturbed fashion, containing some catchy rhythms, an edge that is not too edgy, and a David Draiman who makes his own special growls and sounds, this time without piercings. The band has made tracks that have some more punch to them, but "Are You Ready" and "No More" gives "Evolution" a positive, and familiar, opening that every fan should be pleased by.

After that opening duo, we get to hear what I think is the main reason to why this album is called "Evolution", an acoustic ballad. It does not surprise me one bit that Disturbed tries to make more calmer songs since they gained a bunch of new fans thanks to their decent, but highly overrated cover of Simon And Garfunkel's "The Sound of Silence". As an attempt, "A Reason To Fight" is not that half bad, it has a good message, and as far as ballads go, it is not too annoying. A valid effort from a band that you would think would be unable to create such songs.

Here is the problem though, "A Reason To Fight" is one of four (!) acoustic songs in this 10 track album. This is utter madness, why in the hell would this band do this? Not that I doubt that the band cannot write ballads, but this is simple metal math good folks. One ballad is enough, two is pushing it, and four is just way too many for a simple minded metal head to handle. It is certainly good news for the newer fans, but it is a major disappointment for those who grew up with albums like "The Sickness", "Believe", and "Ten Thousand Fists", with few moments that takes you back to those times (one being a bonus track called "This Venom", why was this one left out of the main line-up?).

The ballads are one part, but the rest of the songs (outside the opening two) just seems to lack energy. It all feels a little too constricted in the song writing, displaying a band that maybe is aiming more for radio air time than showing originality. Everything in here definitely sounds like Disturbed, but with an added, weaker filter that is extremely far from the in your face attitude that we are used to see from this band. The ultimate price for this approach is an album that is incredibly boring to listen to. A sluggish record that is certainly different than its 6 brothers, and it is unfortunately not for the better. Disturbed may call this an evolution, but I call it a major regression

Songs worthy of recognition: No More, Are You Ready

Rating: 3/10 Saviours of Nothing

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