Disturbed, Indestructible (Reprise Records)

by Thom Copher

Several weeks ago, I was vacationing in Florida with my family when a familiar sound bellowed from the radio. "Everybody shaddup... it's the new Disturbed!" I commanded, fully confident that we were experiencing the pre-album-release single "Inside the Fire."

That immediate recognition is such the case with the Chicago-based quartet. Disturbed has forged and refined its sound into that which is unmistakably its own. That sound had origins in quasi-industrial metal with 2000's debut The Sickness. Steadily, the band has beefed up its presentation with subsequent offerings, Believe, released in 2002, and Ten Thousand Fists from three years ago. The band's latest, Indestructible, is a logical - if not predictible- progression at this stage in its career.

There have been countless bands in the past who have made a wrong turn when they tried to take their sound "where it should be"; this is usually at the hand of some big-name producer whose knowledge of "what the music should sound like" supposedly outweighs that of the blokes who are playing the instruments. Disturbed have 180ed that theory by producing Indestructible themselves - guitarist Don Donegan on main production with vocalist David Draiman and drummer Mike Wengren co-producing. Subsequently, the fact that the new album sounds more full-on metal compared to its predecessors is firmly rooted in the band's understanding of itself.

Let's look at the obvious. Disturbed's rhythm style should be trademarked. Their songs' tempos have always been determined by a kick-drum/bass-guitar syncopation that, when properly cranked up, works on the senses like a euphoria-inducing drug (or so I'm told... ahem). The bass work of John Moyer and Wengren's tympanic exercises are difinitely on the same page when it comes to laying it down over Indestructible's twelve songs. The evolution of Donegan's six-string rhythm mastery has blended the band's sonic foundation so that now, as a unit, they sound more like a symphony conducted by a jack-hammer. The guitarist has also made the transition from "solo-shy" to ripping out leads which are tasty without being shred-style and overblown.

Equally vital to the equation, to nobody's surprise, is the strength and precision of Draiman's vocals. It is common place for his lyrics to fit within the groove of the music like a vocal rhythm guitar, especially during the bridges of songs where Disturbed are masterful at grabbing the listener. However, as Donegan has learned to layer his guitar sound, Draiman's efforts sound more like an ingredient rather than the main provider.

Given this analysis of how the band has pinpointed its aural approach, let's consider the tunes on Indestructible. There's no guesswork that the disc begins with (possibly) its two strongest numbers. The fast-paced title track kicks things off and lyrically it conveys the sentiment of how Disturbed must be feeling about itself nowadays.

Next up is the aforementioned "Inside the Fire" which has a personal hitch as Draiman recalls his experience of a girlfriend's suicide years ago. The lyrics psycho-analyze what may have been the motivation ("Devon, no longer livin', who had been rendered unwhole as a little child") as well as the human and divine reactions and responses. I have to mention that this song's video is a must-see; it's graphic as to the subject matter and extremely thought-provoking even beyond the song, itself.

The follow-up "Deceiver" is another scorcher, again with an irresistable melody, which may size up as a single on down the line. From there, the band weaves between mid-tempo ("The Night," "Haunted," "Enough" and "Criminal") to heavier rocking ("The Curse," "Facade" and "Divide," which features a solo that is unmistakably influenced by the band's late friend, "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott) to flat-out getting down on it ("Torn," which is arena-ready and includes what may be a career-best lead break by Donegan).

Also highlighted is a holdover from pre-The Sickness days, "Perfect Insanity." Compare the original version, which dates back to 1998, with the retooled inclusion here and its not difficult to piece together the orchestrated maturation - speaking in terms of more metal than less - which brings us to present-day Disturbed.

The boys from The Windy City aren't breaking any new ground in a major way this time around. Just a couple of well-placed tweaks to keep the machine rolling on. In a nutshell, Indestructible will satisfy fans who have grown up with the band and could even convert a few doubters who may have questioned the band's heavy-metal conviction.

(Disturbed will be co-headlining the Rockstar Mayhem Festival with Slipknot. The show makes an area appearance on August 2 in Pittsburgh at the Post-Gazette Pavilion.)

Thom Copher is a local musician who also teaches adult education in Kanawha County. He can be contacted at gazzrock@yahoo.com.