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Though the band took a step back with their second release, "Believe," their latest album, "Ten Thousand Fists," finds them atop their genre once again, catapulting them back to the forefront of the metal scene. While not quite as gritty as "Down with the Sickness," songs like the ultra radio-ready "Just Stop" and the pretentious, but haunting "Overburdened" show a mature side of the band not evident before. Eerie electronics lurk throughout "Fists," usually drowning out Dan Donegan's guitar solos, or lack thereof. When not barking and howling like a madman, Draiman dramatizes with a rather smooth, melodic tone that adds a newfound depth to the band's infamously rough sound. The band's cover of Genesis' "Land of Confusion" serves as the best example of this. "Fists," much like the band's previous outings, still sounds like a mouthpiece for the disenfranchised, putting forth a combination of tracks riddled with constant aggression and anger. Only this time, the band revels in politics, especially with "Deify," which speaks out against blind devotion to political leaders. The song even begins with a sound byte of President Bush rattling on about defending freedom and all things that are just and good. "Fists" starts to sound the same after a while, especially during the second half of the lengthy 14-track metal extravaganza. Though the band makes a more conscious effort to differentiate each of the songs than they have in the past, some tracks flirt with embarrassing. "Sacred Life" and "Avarice" fall short of providing even the most devoted fans with anything worthwhile. 
On their third album, Disturbed continue to follow the familiar pattern found on past releases – while showing their potential in spades. Though "Fists" will satisfy most fans and maybe even gain a few new listeners, it's not groundbreaking. But with each album the band inches closer to greatness. Rating: B+ Have a comment? Please e-mail us. © The Voice 2005 Revised 09/17/2007 01:47:32 PM — http://www.uamont.edu/Organizations/TheVoice/3_10/disturbed.htm |
