TheGood5CentCigar

Disturbed's new release brings plenty of energy
Aaron Tessman
Issue date: 10/7/08

If you're into heavy metal, it doesn't get much better than Disturbed's new album Indestructible. The title track could put some psychiatrists onto their own couches.

The recording opens with the sound of air-raid sirens, jet engines and machinegun fire. All of a sudden, the drums start and "Indestructible" sustains an overall, four-wheel, hyper-drive with the same force as old school Rage Against the Machine.

Since 1997 when David Draiman joined the trio of Mike Wengren, Dan Donegan and Steve "Fuzz" Kmak (since fired), Disturbed has produced six full length albums; starting with The Sickness in 2000, and has toured all over the United States. Other compilations include 2002's Prayer and 2005's Stricken .

While Draiman screams into the microphone, Wengren abuses the drums and Donegan jams on the guitar as John Moyer keeps the bass throbbing. Unlike some albums with long songs that you want to skip over, I was a bit disappointed when the recordings kept suddenly ending. Then the CD was over, and it was like it had just begun. Even though not one track clocks in at more than five minutes, it is still a very impressive CD.

The hoarsely-yelled lyrics are almost indistinguishable over the drumming, guitars and fierce energy that the band creates. However, after listening to the CD some more, I realized there are some common themes to the songs - mainly, the question, "what are you going to do when life backhands you across the face?" Singing, "And though you try, you'll never find a way to break me/I hear the sirens but they're never gonna take me," Disturbed talks about individuality and the freedom to be who you want to be. "Perfect Insanity" alludes to going insane and being labeled. "Enough" describes losing all of your worldly possessions and having "your heart broken a thousand times with every moment." Real, in-your-face, life occurrences.

In June, Indestructible was released in the number one spot on Billboard's Top 200 album chart and stayed in the top ten for over a month. If that doesn't scream "buy me!" then understand that Disturbed has sent three albums straight to the number one spot. Their first album, The Sickness has gone triple platinum and all-in all they have sold around ten million albums globally.

With all the volume the album is producing, it is not one to play while studying for finals - but fortunately finals are not, yet, upon us.