DISTURBED | Evolution | Album Review

Disturbed have achieved a status of being one of the most easily recognizable names in rock and metal in general. Coming from the nu-metal movement in 2000 and eventually becoming a radio mainstay and a highly popular band, Disturbed's unique style is not one to be replicated. After coming back from a four year hiatus in 2015 in "Immortalized" we got an album that raised the popular status of this band to a new level with the overnight smash cover song  "The Sound Of Silence". It's unclear if this influenced the band to approach new soundscapes this time or they just wanted to shake things up after noticing quirks in their style, but in 2018, we now have the seventh studio album from the band entitled "Evolution". To prove once more that Disturbed is putting their focus one hundred percent on making a divergent piece of music, the band has stated about "Evolution" that it was influenced somewhat by classic rock music that each of the four members loved as younger people, as well as vocalist David Draiman hyping the project up even further by boldly comparing the disc to Metallica's self-titled effort. This all should set the standard that this is NOT an album filled with clones of well-known Disturbed hits juxtaposed together on a tracklist. So, with that and the fact that it is also a tribute to fallen musicians that have been associated with Disturbed in the past, there is so much riding on this album that it's like someone lifting a boulder. 

After so much talk about the band evolving and anticipation for the band's next trajectory, "Are You Ready" was released as the leadoff single from this record, and it falls pretty much in line with what you'd expect from Disturbed. That's definitely a good sign because you don't want to throw off your fanbase with a song that sounds nothing like you've ever done before. We have seen a ton of bands break that rule in the past. With "Are You Ready", Disturbed satisfy the longtime fanbase and the die-hards that are familiar to the formula that Disturbed have established for years. It may cause some people to dislike the song but at the same time there is no denying that this song gets the job done as an opening track. The second of the songs put out before the album, "A Reason To Fight" is much more leaning towards the acoustic side of the band that was brought to everyone's attention with "The Sound Of Silence" and it's another song that works very well. The opening of this song alone sets a very calm atmosphere that you would want to experience while driving through a forest at night or while looking out your window during a rainy day. The chorus does somewhat take you out of that mood but it still is well executed especially with Draiman's voice which is fantastic throughout this song and the other songs you will hear on this album. Overall, there is a precedent set here and these two singles were a wise decision to set listeners up for what to expect throughout this album. 

Listening to the ten tracks that make up this album and the bonus tracks that were added to the deluxe edition (aside from the live/remixed stuff), there is a shift back in forth between loud and somewhat aggressive tracks and passionate acoustic and softer moments as well, and there is even an accentuation placed on orchestral elements on a couple of tracks. It would be very easy for a band who is not experienced in this department to mess the idea of shifting from loud to quiet up, but these tracks aren't as sudden of a shift and they don't feel boring or skippable. Yes, there are always going to be those tracks that people are more inclined to hear a lot more, but there is still a unity within each of these tracks. A good example of this is "In Another Time", a fantastic song about the effects on people looking at their computer/phone screens instead of actually speaking with somebody, and "Stronger On Your Own", being directly followed by "Hold On To Memories", an acoustic track that surprisingly takes on a more positive sound which is not too common for this band, and it works. Everything meshes together well here. Also noticeable is the seamless transition from "Savior Of Nothing" which is a melodic rocker that features a great solo, into more acoustic territory and my personal favorite song on the record, "Watch You Burn", which is honestly one of the best songs I've ever heard from this band. The melody and the writing in this song is fantastic and that's a theme you will find throughout this album. With these highlights and others like "No More", "Already Gone", and bonus track "Uninvited Guest", you are bound to find something that appeals to you on this album. 

This album is not necessarily perfect as I find one song that brings the album to a complete halt, that being "The Best Ones Lie". I am totally not a fan of the songwriting here and even though they work in a riff that I could potentially consider alright, this is the worst song on this album hands down. Aside from that road bump, the rest of the album exceeds to showcase the typical side of this band we've seen multiple times and some new shades that we've never seen before. It's safe to say that this album improves upon the sound that "Immortalized" featured in 2015, which did have standout parts but had a couple of songs that could have be rearranged or taken off entirely. "Evolution" doesn't give a listener that feeling and could actually be one of Disturbed's best albums overall. And that is crazy to think about for a band that people have claimed does the same thing with every record. The hiatus Disturbed took from the studio and the stage has definitely influenced them to think about what new ideas they want to bring to the table in order to keep their legacy going strong. Overall, this album will please any Disturbed fan. If you're a fan of songs like "Indestructible" and "Down With The Sickness", you will like some of the heavier stuff. If you like "The Sound Of Silence" and wanted more of that sound, you will gravitate towards the softer material on this album. Either way, Disturbed are on a roll and how they evolve next is anybody's guess. 

RATING: 8/10 

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