Back in 2015 modern metalheads Disturbed had a MASSIVE hit with the old Simon & Garfunkel ballad “The Sound Of Silence”, a weird choice that worked brilliantly – depending on who you ask, that is. Negative comments came on pretty hard at times but I loved their version and it helped the album Immortalized sell shitloads, making it their most successful album in years. It was a damn good record too, maybe their best yet and how do you follow such a success, then? In Disturbed’s world – with an album crowded with ballads and radio-friendly pop-rock-metal tunes. The album didn’t fare well. While it didn’t bomb, it wasn’t a big success either. Evolution (2018) wasn’t a crap album but it was far from a killer too – sad to say they took the wrong path with the album. Time for revenge, then, with this album?
Opener and leading single “Hey You” says the revenge is on. It’s a heavy and riffy kidney-punch of a song, very direct yet melodic with a distinct main-melody. It’s rhythmic, ballsy, live-friendly and in-your-face and holds that classic Disturbed style. It’s a damn catchy Metal number, kicking and tough with a chorus impossible to forget. Great stuff. “Bad Man”, also a single, brings on some edgy riffing and a slammin’ rhythm. It’s a straight forward metal-banger with a darkening atmosphere and a hardcore groove. It’s aggressive yet melodic and it has David Draiman spitting out the words only to go into a sharp-hooked chorus that catches on right from go. Very good.
The title-track “Divisive”, the latest single from the album, is a chugging, heavy and adrenaline drenched metal-groover, very immense and distinct with a fat, ballsy and hard-hitting rhythm and menacing guitars. It’s also quite melodic with hooky melodies that grabs a hold and especially the chorus brings on some catchy edges. Great stuff. “Unstoppable”, single # 2, is rowdy and slamming with some edgy riffing, gut-punching rhythms and a whole lot of attitude and aggressiveness. It’s intense and powerful with a straight forward and rowdy chorus that’s live-friendly and in-your-face. It’s a good song but maybe not as strong as the previous ones.
On a more melancholic note “Love To Hate” might be darker on the slower side but it’s still a heavy tune. We get a fat, chunky groove and some easily embraced melodies that culminates in a pop-laden, slightly softer chorus that’s so damn catchy it hurts. That this isn’t a single is a mystery as it smells like a hit for miles. They stay on the heavy and dark path for “Feeding The Fire”, a tune that’s less intense but still holds some robust guitars and a ballsy rhythm. It holds a haunting ambience that at times feels slightly creepy. Still, the tune brings along a distinct chorus melody with a really sharp hook. Very good.
The slow, down-beat and laid-back ballad “Don’t Tell Me” features none other than Heart’s Ann Wilson duetting with Draiman. Wilson is always brilliant and on this dark, mellow and even heavy ballad she creates a different dynamic that’s touchable. It’s heartfelt, passionate and emotional. The duo shows off some amazing vocal talents and the whole song is a brilliant contrast to the rest of the album. Fan-bloody-tastic. “Take Back Your Life” takes us back to what we’re used to. It’s upbeat, punchy and aggressive with a concise rhythm and edgy guitars over which Draiman barks and spits out his anger. Sure it’s melodic enough but it lacks the sharp hooks. It’s ok but feels more like a filler.
On a muscular and heavy metal-groove, “Part Of Me” comes on strong with some raspy and edgy staccato riffage over a beefy beat. It’s a rhythmic piece, very crowd-friendly with some raspy vocals and razor-sharp guitars. There are some memorable melodies all over but the chorus fails to deliver and never really takes off. Closing track “Won’t Back Down” comes on strong with stompy rhythms, a lively bounce, crunchy metal riffing and a firey outlook. It’s a short and concise rocker, rough and energetic and very much in-your-face. It’s aggressive yet it holds some very embracing melody-hooks and the chorus sticks like a damn tattoo, very catchy. A great closer indeed.
While the new album might not beat albums like Ten Thousand Fists (2005), Indestructible (2008) and said Immortalized (2015), it sure beats the rest of the band’s discography and especially their last debacle. This is a classic sounding Disturbed record and if that’s your thing, I can’t see any risks of disappointment. It’s heavy, aggressive, dark and edgy but also very melodic, hooky and live-friendly with easily embraced choruses filled with catchy hooks and memorable melodies. A welcome return by a band that lost their way the last time around.
7/10
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Tracklist:
1. Hey You
2. Bad Man
3. Divisive
4. Unstoppable
5. Love To Hate
6. Feeding The Fire
7. Don’t Tell Me
8. Take Back Your Life
9. Part Of Me
10. Won’t Back Down
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