Album Review: DISTURBED – Immortalized

I have been a fan of Disturbed since I was in junior high; their music was the crutch that I leaned on during awkward adolescent phases, transitioning into college life, and coping with shifts in religious and political beliefs. Thus this preface exists to say I did my best to review this as objectively as possible and leave out any emotional links that are not blatant (see description of “The Light”). As a musical piece, Immortalized is their most focused and dynamic work since Indestructible. Gone are the days when Disturbed had to deal with the nu-metal stink. Here now is their time to rise to the modern music world by unraveling monumental powerhouses with signature artistry.

The album opens exactly like their next most recent release, with an instrumental minute-long track that began to make me nervous as there was no way I was going to enjoy hearing a second Asylum. That was a time when the band was clearly on their last leg. But once the title track boomed in my ears, it was evident that an evolution of boldness and creativity was at play. Granted, there are definitely songs that sound like they belong on a previous disc; ”You’re Mine” is emotionally driven; it’s brooding yet touching as Draiman somehow manages to simultaneously express both. “Open Your Eyes” is politically doused with rally cries and a marching industrial flare that just screams Ten Thousand Fists. For the most part however, Disturbed seems to find their groove—actually, they find multiple grooves, which makes this album their most captivating.

The highlight of the album is “Vengeful One,” where drummer Mike Wengren dominates with a powerful Genesis-like intro that summons some of his most profound drumming on a Disturbed album yet. Dan Donegan’s chord plays and John Moyer’s bass lines are foundational for multiple attacks and releases that make this track the feistiest yet robust feature of the album. David Draiman stands front-and-center, his voice matured and confident, the most majestic I’ve yet to hear. Draiman has an uncanny knack for emotional projection, and though said emotional projection was a team effort in “Vengeful One,” the ferocious frontman stood alone in the dramatic monologue that was “The Light.” What distinguishes Disturbed from other musicians is their ability to send an empowering message while never compromising the integrity of a song that is heavy by nature.

Whether it’s a song with a humorous outlook like “Fire It U Of Cainp,” or the inventive re-interpretation of the classic Simon and Garfunkel “Sound of Silence,” there is something that every music lover can embrace in this album. Disturbed has never been about limitations, be it genre, religion, or lifestyle difference. Immortalized deliver compelling symphonies that spell out the vast extent of their musical metamorphoses.

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