Ethical quandaries are real pains.

On one hand, Disturbed’s Indestructible is probably the… Ethical quandaries are real pains.

On one hand, Disturbed’s Indestructible is probably the strongest album released by the band in recent memory. On the other hand, it sounds like the same old Disturbed that many know and love, not opening itself to innovation and attracting new fans.

I’m so conflicted.

Disturbed’s strongest point is its music. Heavy metal thrashing never sounded so melodic, accentuated by some of the smashing-est and coolest guitar solos in a metal album I’ve ever heard, courtesy of Dan Donegan. David Draiman’s vocals are the same as they ever were — booming and rhythmic — which works well with the band’s musical style. Plus, with the album totaling almost 50 minutes, you get your money’s worth.

And the lyrics are as angry as ever, leading one to ponder why the band doesn’t just call itself Angsty McAngst-Angst. Just check it out: ‘Branded like an animal / I can still feel them / Burning my mind / I do believe that you made your message clear / I think I am losing my mind.’

Both elements combine to make quite a fun, albeit angry album. This is definitely something to blow out your car’s subwoofer.

As for its weak points, Disturbed falls victim to its own hype. Donegan said the album would be ‘ballsier’ than previous installments, and Draiman said it would have a darker, more evil tone. Granted, it’s hard to make mad metal albums sound even more evil.

But the album doesn’t sound ballsier. It sounds almost exactly like the group’s previous albums, down to some of the rhythms and musical keys employed. The lyrics, as said, are as angry as ever, and that’s about it. They don’t deviate from their normal path, not allowing for much introspection of current affairs.

For another bit of nitpicking, and probably some weirdness, these songs drag. They’re not to the point of going more than six minutes, but they feel like they border on six minutes when they’re really four minutes long.

How this kind of audio black hole is manifest is anyone’s guess, but this album might be one to skip if you’re bored in class (unless you like spending your time in a no passing zone).

Back to the hype, it’s the main reason why the letter grade has been docked a few points. Despite it, the album falls flat as the band settles for staying its traditional course rather than carving its own swath for others to imitate.

The album also restricts the audience. Metal bands tend to be so stuck in a niche that the stereotype of nappy-haired head bangers reigns supreme. With just the slightest tweak to its sound, Disturbed could obliterate the dike and carve its path of destruction for a rising empire. Instead, the band members have settled for sticking their fingers in the leaky hole.

That’s not to say this album’s bad. It’s probably the group’s strongest to date. But to make all the claims about more balls and evil and not deliver, you have to expect some sort of punishment.

Though maybe, in retrospect, it’s probably for the best that it didn’t innovate. Some bands have fallen victim to experimentation, and it’s hard to imagine how a metal band could reinvent its sound while still retaining the energy and darkness of which it’s made an empire.

So, Disturbed acquired a balance. It’s a good album with great music (especially the solos) that sounds the same as its previous albums.

Then again, I guess the credo of ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ exists for a reason.’

In short, Disturbed fans are sure to eat it up. For those who have never listened to them, give this album a try first, and then follow up with Believe, a close second. That’s right — I’m a Disturbed fan and proud of it. What I’m not proud of is giving it a bad grade, but when promises are broken, someone’s bound to be hurt.

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