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Metal/Prog Metal CD Reviews

Disturbed

Indestructible

Review by Travis Jensen

It’s that time again! It's time for the release of another metal masterpiece from Disturbed. For any of you who aren’t from this planet, Indestructible is the fourth studio album from David Draiman, Dan Donegan, Mike Wengren, and John Moyer. Indestructible was recorded at Groovemaster Studios in Chicago, Illinois, and features two songs, titled "Perfect Insanity" and "Divide,” that were written by Disturbed prior to their first album, The Sickness, but were never previously featured on an album.

Indestructible was released in June of 2008 and managed to peak number-one on the Billboard 200 in its first week, making it their third consecutive number-one debut on the Billboard 200. That’s only ever been achieved by five rock bands before. The album was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America in July 2008, for shipping over 500,000 copies in the United States. The song "Inside the Fire" was nominated for a 2009 Grammy award in the "Best Hard Rock Performance" category. Indestructible shipped over 253,000 units in its opening week. The album's lead single, "Inside the Fire" remained at number one on Mediabase's Active Rock chart for fourteen weeks, setting a record as the longest running number one single on that specific chart. The title track, "Indestructible,” also reached number one on Mediabase's Active Rock chart, making it Disturbed's second number one song on that chart in 2008.

Vocalist David Draiman states that, lyrically, the album was inspired by various occurrences of bad luck that happened to him. "I had a motorcycle accident, and I had my garage burn down with most of my vehicles," Draiman commented. "... I’ve had really bad relationships that I’ve been in and out of. They’ve left their mark,” he concluded. The song "Indestructible" is "an anthem for soldiers,” Draiman comments. "It’s meant to be something that would make them feel invincible, take away their fear, make them strong and that’s what this whole body of work on this record does. It’s music to help you feel strong. To match the themes Draiman had in mind, he told his band mates "give me your darkest, nastiest, most aggressive tribal rhythmic material you can.”

This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2009  Volume 1 at lulu.com/strangesound.
Track by Track Review
Indestructible
I really like the eerie intro to this one, which leads to some ripping vocals. There is definitely a heavy, rhythmic appeal to this one, mostly backed by the guitars, bass and drums. I can see why this is the first track. It is the first impression that sets the stage for what is to come. My neck is still sore from this one…thrash until you cannot stand up anymore!  
Inside the Fire
This is one where the rhythm and lead guitars work very well together. The way they carry the beat of the vocals and make it seem somewhat evil. Perhaps the intro, which gets a little bit “techno,” helps to give that impression throughout the rest of the song.
Deceiver
This one reminds me of the butt-kicking style that Disturbed had on the Sickness LP. I think that it is because of the lyrical style in a few select areas. I especially like the guitar riffs and background vocals in this one. It is kind of tormenting and keeps you wanting more.
The Night
This one is very cool, because this is what Disturbed has been about all of these years. Not that you need to be in any certain frame of mind in order to enjoy or relate to the song, you just need to realize that it’s just something you can really get into.
Perfect Insanity
For all of you drum and guitar freaks out there, this track is for you. This one is not only the true epitome of Disturbed, it is also my favorite song on the disc. It is not that I dislike any other song on the album, but it is the same thing that draws me to these guys today that did eight years ago when I first heard The Sickness. The repetitive, “choppy” combination of vocals and guitars make this one something to pound your fist to. The exiting vocals kicks into high gear for a triumphant ending as you really get into the vibe of the song. 
Haunted
This is one that you to play at a high enough volume, as it is a highly mesmerizing song. It reminds me of the earlier days of the group. Dan Donegan’s, precise, evil guitar riffs along with John Moyer’s bass rhythm really bring me back to the style of the first three albums. I particularly like the chorus of the song on which Draiman puts his vocal abilities to the test.
Enough
The intro to this track seems to start out very heavy melodic and melodic, but it quickly changes after the vocals start. The change in rhythm from the chorus to the verses really add to the diversity of the song. I like how the creative style of this one seems to differ slightly from the others.
The Curse
This one kicks butt right from the very beginning just like a shotgun blast. David Draiman’s views on any type of supernatural power, is something that we can all probably relate to, and who better to belt out these views than him. Donnegan’s  guitar riffs are the perfect complement to the idea and evident aggression of the song.
Torn
I love the guitar grind and drum intro to this one, followed by the heavy, yet fluid vocals that tie it together as one of the more instrumental cuts. This song has sort of a different appeal to me in the sense that some parts seem like the older metal that I grew up on. Combine this with the intricate guitar solos, and you have one heck of a cool song.
Criminal
The drums and bass guitar really come alive on this one, as the first chorus beats into your skull. I particularly like this because of the way the guitar riffs are able to breathe as they are spread further apart. This is another one of my personal favorites, because of the distinct variety from verse to chorus. Certain parts are deep and somber, and other sections make me feel like I wish I was in a mosh-pit. Play this one as loud as you can!
Divide
Here’s another rocking tune! This one has a very exciting rhythm throughout the entire song. The harmonies are a solid foundation for the backbone of this and the leads in the chorus are incredible. This is the true color of the band…black. There is also a ripping guitar solo to break up the fire that comes from the lungs of David Draiman.
Façade
It is said that you often remember the first and last item on any list. They made a good choice with selecting the final cut on this album with this one, as it is an eye-gouging song. This number is flawless musically and is simply amazing when you consider the level of perfection between each member coming together as part of a finely-tuned machine.
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