Review: Disturbed – Asylum
Palmer reviews Disturbed’s Asylum.
Artist: Disturbed
Album: Asylum
Genre: Hard Rock
Year: 2010
Asylum… Hmm… I’ve heard this album before somewhere. Oh yeah, I remember – it’s every single Disturbed album that’s come out since their debut, The Sickness, back in 2000. There’s no originality to be found here. In fact, there are tracks off the album that sound entirely ripped from other hits that they’ve had. For instance: the second track, ‘Asylum’, sounds an awful lot like a combination of ‘Stricken’ and ‘Indestructible’. There are plenty of other examples of this blatant plagiarism of their own material scattered throughout the album and it’s a shame really, because this is one of the few hard rock bands that I actually like – well, at least at one point I did like.
Aside from the fact that Disturbed is cooking up the same meat and potatoes that they’ve been serving us for the past decade, the album isn’t entirely bad, it’s boring and stale, but hey – some people want a band to keep recycling the same shit over and over again. I will say, that if there’s a band on the face of the earth that recycles their material well, it’s Disturbed. Their hard rock anthems continue to keep my feet tapping and I made it through the whole album without too much of a problem.
I’m sure the singles off this album will receive tons of radio play and be part of action movie trailers featuring lots of explosions and testosterone, but is this really what commercial rock has become: blatantly rehashed material? I’m not trying to use this album as an excuse to go off on a rant about how mainstream music is destroying artist’s potential creativity, but, god dammit, I’m going to. People need to stop buying into an artist that creates the same crap over and over again and markets it as something NEW.
Yes, I understand that all bands, in one way or another, maintain a similar sound throughout their career, but look at bands like Thrice, or Brand New, that have viciously redefined their sound with their latest albums despite the consequences. While both of their albums took time to grow on me, grow on me they did, and I consider them some of the best entries in their respective libraries. That’s part of the artistic process – creating, shocking, keeping the listener on their toes and guessing. Yes, it involves taking a chance, branching out in new and unexplored directions – who knows, it could be something that goes and f*cks up their careers, but what would we do without people who took chances? I know I would appreciate it a hell of a lot more then listening to the same song with different arrangements over and over again for twelve tracks. Disturbed’s fan base is more than established enough for them to branch out and try something new, if it doesn’t work then go ahead and head back to your old formula. Metallica did it, and people still love them.
Disturbed’s new album Asylum is more of the same. When a band allows itself to get comfortable in its element, things become bland. They’ve obviously gotten pretty damn comfy. I’m sure there are people out there who will eat this up, but there’s only so much more of this I can take. As a fan, I challenge them to create something drastic and new that will recapture my attention – f*ck the consequences. Until they do that, I’m done.
Verdict:
+ My body absentmindedly bobbed its head a couple times
+ I would still much rather listen to Disturbed then 95% of the rest of the modern hard rock scene
- Â Their sound is getting very, VERY, stale
-  They’ve blatantly robbed riffs, structure, even instrumental and vocal arrangements from their past hits
66/100
- Palmer Sturman
palmer@musicreview.co.za
www.twitter.com/despitefulminat
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great review there and i couldn’t agree more. Isn’t it sad that this album will crack the billiboard top 10 list. Just shows.. any form of commercial rock is almost always boring and stale. Radio listeners.. you can have it!
Clinton – I’m glad you agree. Knowing there’s other people out there that share my perception makes me feel better. I agree with your final comment, radio listeners can indeed have it. Like I said, I’m done until they get the balls to change.
Yes i completely agree its just like their other albums, only the thing is, i still haven’t gotten the least bit tired of it! it did take a couple listens for it to grow on me, which is uncommon for a disturbed album, but yes, i do agree its too much of the same. It would be nice if they changed their sound and took a risk, but if they don’t, it won’t stop me from buying their albums!
I liked Disturbed for all of one day. Until they played ‘The Sickness’ 7 times on the mainstream rock radio station in one day. And that scream.. “Ooo-ah-ah-ah-ah” what the fuck is that? P.s palmer your reviews are always top notch. Always detailed open minded and exactly what I think haha
Thanks for the compliments guys. Always happy to know there’s other people out there that share my opinion. Stan, I’m glad you’re enjoying it. Bravo for having the guts to stand up for what you think about the album.
Nobody here seems to accept the fact that a band is supposed to sound like that band. Disturbed is going to sound the same because thats how he sings, and thats how they play their guitars. They shouldnt have to change because some other people think they should. And everyone that rips on them wouldn’t have any idea how it is to be in a band anyways. They barely listen and then just dismiss it. Disturbed should keep doing what they do best, which is BE the band called Disturbed and say f%$* the haters.
I totally disagree i’m afraid, i’ve been a fan of Disturbed since “The Sickness” album and i find them original and great. Davids voice makes the songs great anyway and they’re definately one of the best bands of the decade, but i understand your point of view.
I don’t care what you people say Disturbed is Disturbed they’re amazing no matter what!!!!!!!!!!
Disturbed suck and always will suck.
Firstly, @Paul: you are entitled to your opinion, here’s mine: clean out your ears with some industrial strength solvent and get a life.
Secondly, @Palmer: I enjoyed your honest appraisal, and agree with a lot of what you’ve said, especially this: “I would still much rather listen to Disturbed then 95% of the rest of the modern hard rock scene”. Amen to that. Yes, we’ve heard it all before, but dammit, nobody does it better.
For me the highlight of this album is the brilliant drumming of Mike Wengren, which shows real progression since “Indestructable”, especially in the double bass department. As a drummer myself, this guy is indeed something special.
[...] One of the most commercially successful hard rock bands of the past decade, Disturbed concerts are certain to be full of major win and send a couple of you to an Asylum. [...]
Finally!! So glad someone said it! Unfortunately, it doesn’t stop at Disturbed…FFDP anyone? Bring the creativity back!!
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