Released By : Reprise Records
Genre : Modern Metal, Alt. Metal
Links : http://www.myspace.com/disturbed
http://www.disturbed1.com/
Lineup:
David Draiman – Vocals
Dan Donegan – Guitars/Electronics
Mike Wengren – Drums
John Moyer – Bass
Tracklist:
1. Remnants
2. Asylum
3. The Infection
4. Warrior
5. Another Way To Die
6. Never Again
7. The Animal
8. Crucified
9. Serpentine
10. My Child
11. Sacrifice
12. Innocence
I always get comments from people when they find out how much I like DISTURBED. “But they aren’t real metal!”, “They are so gay”, “It’s lite-metal for kiddies and queers” are all things that I am very used to hearing by now. Maybe it’s because as well as being into metal, I also have an affection for many different types of music and don’t shut bands out just because it’s the cool thing to do. For me they have always been a consistently good band that has great catchy tunes while still being aggressive enough to slam your head if you wanted to.
Over the course of DISTURBED’S career, I have seen them go from Nu-Metal upstarts and then from there start refining their sound and always keeping it moody and modern. Leading up to the release of the new album ASYLUM, members of the band had stated to press that they though it was their most ambitious album yet and was a fresh start musically for them. I must say that while I do agree that ASYLUM is an overall better beast than previous efforts, but if you like their usual style don’t fear as there is there is plenty of that to still be found.
Parts of the album lean closer to a modern alt. rock sound and there are many more less obvious influences that you will discover upon multiple listens as I did. ALICE IN CHAINS, SOUNDGARDEN and TOOL all came to mind more than once whilst I listening to ASYLUM, but never in a direct copycat way, more just mild influences that really add some color to the usual DISTURBED formula.
As soon as the album starts it is clear that DISTURBED are adding to their sound, with instrumental intro tune REMNANTS being very JUSTICE era METALLICA in style. Title track ASYLYUM is very typical DISTURBED and has all the groove and catchiness that the band is best known for except here it is all turned up to eleven. THE INFECTION is the closest the band have ever been to Alt. Rock, but mixed with their usual style ensures that there is still a nice heavy groove running throughout the song. WARRIOR could have really been an left over from the INDESTRUCTABLE sessions and would have fit on that album very well. ANOTHER WAY TO DIE was easily my favorite tune on the album and features slow brooding verses and a pounding chorus line, it may also be vocalist David Draiman’s best lyrical contribution yet. NEVER AGAIN takes the usual formula in yet another direction adding some trash metal elements into the mix. THE ANIMAL is the bands tribute to their early days and is a very Nu-Metal sounding tune complete with lyrics about werewolves and such, don’t let that scare you off though, it’s a great song in its own right. CRUCIFIED and SERPENTINE are two tracks that will cause some talking points among fans and haters alike and both feature a very TOOL-esque feeling with slow, moody passages. MY CHILD is a very deep and emotional song written by Draiman for his first child that died in his ex-girlfriends womb during the pregnancy. If the lyrics in this song don’t make you choke up at least a little you may want to check and see if you are actually human or just a robot. The last two tracks SACRIFICE and INNOCENCE are decent enough in their own right, but at the end of an album that already offered up so much they left me a little hollow really.
If your one of those closed minded metal heads that hate DISTURBED just because you’re trying to be hardcore, ASYLUM probably won’t change your mind, even though it should. Fans of the band are in for a real treat though and can safely buy this without hesitation. A slight readjustment of the usual formula that keeps DISTURBED in good stead moving forward.
Written By ZeeZee
Rating: 9/10
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