Disturbed has had a powerful presence and an ever-changing sound in their close to twenty year career. From the humble beginnings of a band influenced by the then widely popular nu metal sound, hailing from Chicago, their first nationwide tour was performing on the second stage during Ozzfest 2000 and they would quickly go on to packing arenas with vocalist David Draiman bellowing to the riffs of Dan Donegan’s guitar. Disturbed has excelled in powerful anthems and slow ballads and their newest album

Evolution

features more prime examples of these type of songs they perform so well.

The two singles featured from this album were awesome when I first heard them. The energizing “Are You Ready” could kick start anyone’s day with an inspiring sensation of taking on the world. The song was the first song to be revealed off the album, premiered with a music video as energizing as the song, and the song is featured as the album’s first track. The second single, the third track on the album, is “A Reason to Fight”, a slow, supporting ballad showing Draiman’s phenomenal vocals and his love for all those who struggle with depression while reminding them they have a reason to fight.

My biggest complaint is that these two songs for the past several months have been overplayed. I listen to the Eagle up in Dallas because of their wide variety of rock that they play, but with all radio stations, they play the same selection of songs frequently. As for the Disturbed singles, these labels, stations, or whatever really push these tracks for the new album. Because of this overplaying, I find myself skipping the songs on the album as I’m tired of hearing them all the time. Besides, there are greater ballads and anthems on this solid album.

Second track, “No More”, is a fantastic follow up to the frequently heard “Are You Ready”. After hearing “Are You Ready” for so many months and enjoying it one more time out of obligation to hearing the album as a whole, “No More” is the strengthening anthem to tell us all to take just that, no more. That we no longer have to sell ourselves short and that we are worth more than what they think. Draiman is able to show off his skills as a lyricist once again while accompanying with beats of Mike Wengren’s drums and Donegan’s rhythm. The vocals flow swimmingly across the rhythm and dipping in ever so often to sing along to the rhythm. The song is a powerful follow up to “Are You Ready” letting you know you are in for a fantastic album that the singles were just the start.

Following “No More” is, of course, the single “A Reason to Fight”, then succeeded by the contemporary song “In Another Time”. The fourth track is a refreshing reflection on the twenty-first century and highlights the melodies and riffs of Donegan once again. I can’t express how different and satisfying to hear a metal song about how much we as a society try to connect but disconnect from ourselves in the process. Technology has made an interesting creature out of ourselves according to the guys in Disturbed. Outside of the intriguing lyrics, halfway through the song, Donegan lays down an impressive breakdown of a solo with sharp chords as it transitions into the chorus once again.

My personal favorite track on this record and the strongest anthem, “Stronger On Your Own” has an empathetic and empowering rhythm with Draiman’s bellowing vocals sing words of wisdom along to Donegan’s riffs creating a song to fuel us all. The song preaches the concept that people sometimes must walk alone from time-to-time to discover themselves, and can find themselves to be even stronger. That people must save themselves first and foremost. The song invigorates excitement in me every time I listen to it and would sometimes find my hair standing on end. The song features the classic Disturbed fashion of falling into a heavy, fast riff while Draiman growls with lyrics in a rapid succession. This element has been used since

The Sickness

days and helps fuel the excitement. The best song on the record, an all-time Disturbed great, and one hell of an arena anthem.

The second half of the album features some great songs where the slow ballads lie and songs of frustration thrive. The next track is a sad yet welcoming ballad accepting the inevitable endings and the new beginnings that follow. “Hold On To Memories” honors the changes in life featuring heart-felt, dramatic vocals and a nice slow, acoustic melody. The chords strike well and have the classic romanticist vocals. The song pulls at the heart strings and reminds us all not to forget the ones we love or enjoyed the most.

“Saviour of Nothing”, the succeeding song, takes a dramatic turn as instead of a slow ballad, the song criticizes those who change for the worst. The moving lyrics tell the story of those that fall and become those they promised to never be. People are so easy to not practice what they preach and warp things to their desires and the need to feel righteous. The heavy melodies combined with these lyrics create a devastating song that pound through as an incredible movement. The mixing on this track has some great synthesizers which reverberate within leaving a lasting impact.

The hits keep coming on this record. The remaining tracks deliver with the classic Disturbed formula. “Watch You Burn” is a riveting song that surprisingly is majority on acoustic and the power is carried by the vocals. A fiery song played in a slow style is a refreshing taste. The band tells you again to not their fire of those burn you and to defend yourself; that people can’t judge you on the life you live. Chords stricken on the acoustic have a double attack on the emotions building up your sympathies within.

The album closes out with the slow and saddening “Already Gone”. A depressing ballad that focuses on all those gone too soon. It seems as though Draiman and company have had a rough go through the years with the loss of friends. They have expressed their sorrows with death already in their iconic songs “Inside the Fire” and “Save Our Last Goodbye”. This song feels as if the emotion lies towards the passing of Disturbed’s brothers in arms, Chester Bennington and Chris Cornell. As of the writing of this article, it was just a couple weeks prior when Disturbed performed at Madison Square Garden that they stopped the show to give a heartfelt dedication to the Linkin Park and Soundgarden singers respectively. Both frontmen committed suicide and are gone from this world all too soon. This emotion and sadness is reflected in “Already Gone” that I believed is mainly inspired by these two tragic deaths as well as encompassing the feelings of all those the band has lost over the years.

I’m sure you’ve been noticing I have broken down each individual track, well now let’s talk about the album as a whole and how it compares to the rest of the discography. The album is solid. It flows relatively well and I can enjoy myself listening to it as a whole without skipping any tracks. Some of the slow songs, especially the depressing ones, can curveball a little too hard after hearing an inspirational and rage filled anthem. Now, for the long standing Disturbed Ones, I’m sure you’re wondering how I feel where the album stands with the rest of the catalogue. To put things into perspective, I have listened to all of Disturbed’s albums and before this record my favorite Disturbed album was

Indestructible

… and it still is.

Indestructible

features a nonstop roar of rage and redemption. No other Disturbed album flows like

Indestructible

. I find Disturbed’s later work to be the better where everything after

Ten Thousand Fists

is their better. That’s not to say their first three albums aren’t great, I just feel Disturbed matures in their career to create a deeper sound much like other bands I love such as Judas Priest, Slipknot, and Iron Maiden.

The riffs hit hard and the vocals bellow as time goes on, it is just with Disturbed that I prefer their more matured sound than their earlier work. I put

Evolution

at number 3 or 4 in ranking the albums especially considering the single “Vengeful One” on their preceding album I feel is better than “Are You Ready”. I’m not sure if

Evolution

is better than

Asylum

which leaves me uncertain of that number. Walk away knowing this,

Evolution

is a great album. If you’re a metal head, you’ll enjoy it. If you’re a Disturbed fan, you’ll love it.

Note: You must pay an additional $6 to read this bonus review.

Don’t worry, my reviews are free, but that is how much you’ll pay for the deluxe version of the album. Let’s break down what bonus tracks come with the deluxe version. The first bonus track is a live recording of Disturbed’s infamous rendition of “Sound of Silence” featuring Myles Kennedy of solo fame and singer for Slash’s solo projects. This live recording itself is almost worth buying this special edition as the two perform phenomenally together.

The second bonus track is a great original track, “This Venom”, which I can’t help but wonder why it wasn’t in the normal album. The song is an anthem that is fitting of Disturbed nature. Following that is a track I feel does not have a place on the normal album so I guess fits on the bonus track, but still does nothing for me, that is the “Are You Ready? (Sam De Jong Remix)”. The song is different, but nothing that I feel crazy about.

“Uninvited Guest” is the last bonus track on the album that is a worthy song to listen to. A serenade reflecting on the past and those we just can’t seem to forget. The song almost feels like a ballad that is filled with resentment. A very Disturbed style song that belongs here and could fit on the main album. I personally felt the deluxe album was really worth it, but no rush for everyone to go out and buy the deluxe version exclusively.

D-Jed will return in

D-Jed’s Metal Madness this summer. You can follow D-Jed’s Metal Madness on Facebook.