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Concert Review: Disturbed

Roundup Centre, Calgary
- December 3, 2008
By LISA WILTON - Sun Media


CALGARY - Disturbed might not have the same household name recognition as U2, Metallica or Van Halen.

But like these superstar bands, the Chicago four-piece can boast a number one spot on Billboard for three consecutive albums.

Not only has their major label releases -- 2002's Believe, 2005's Ten Thousand Fists and their 2008 CD Indestructible -- hit the top of the charts, they've also gone platinum.

Some of Disturbed's success can be attributed to their willingness to take any avenue available to get their music heard.

The band -- which has been churning out blistering hard rock for 12 years -- have licensed their music to the WWE, video games and film soundtracks and have always been able to hone into the tastes of their target audience.

Which, by the looks of last night's crowd at Roundup Centre, is mostly dudes

The testosterone was raging as Disturbed took the stage and began their aural assault.

In a nod to The Silence of the Lambs' legendary psycho, Hannibal Lecter, singer Dave Draiman was wheeled out onto the stage in a straight jacket.

A wild moshpit erupted when the band launched into their first song, Perfect Insanity from their new album.

Draiman fed off the crowd's energy and encouraged the mayhem. Whether you're a fan or not, there's no denying the guy has great vocal ability.

His pipes filled every corner of the Roundup Centre, especially on the melodic metal anthem Just Stop and their cover of Genesis' 1986 hit, Land of Confusion.

Draiman is a charismatic frontman and it's clear he loves being on stage. Although he takes up most of the spotlight, he often stepped back to showcase guitarist Dan Donegan's wicked licks.

Drummer Mike Wengren wailed away on his mountainous drum kit and bassist John Moyer provided strong backing vocals.

As with last night's Rise Against show, the sound in the largely concrete Roundup Centre was less than stellar.

Bass notes were a little distorted and some of the lyrics were indecipherable, but it was still an improvement over the sonic sludge of the previous evening.

The sound didn't seem to bother the 5,100 fans who managed to get tickets to the sold-out show. If it wasn't fists pumping in the air then it was devil horns shooting up every couple of seconds.

Draiman didn't have to prod the audience to sing along as they seemed to know every word to every song.

Just when you thought nu-metal was dead, along came opening act Egypt Central.

There is very little to differentiate Egypt Central from other bands of their ilk. But the Memphis quintet did their best to warm up the crowd with songs from their self-titled debut, which spawned the modern rock hit, You Make Me Sick.

They play the kind of thumping mainstream metal you would expect to hear as a WWE wrestler makes his (or her) way down the ramp.

The WWE must have thought so, too, because they've included the band on the Smackdown vs. Raw 2009 official soundtrack.

Egypt Central follows in Korn's well-trodden footsteps. It's nothing new, but will probably find its fans.