If the Billboard charts have anything to say about it, rock metal band Disturbed greatly underestimated itself by titling its new album Ten Thousand Fists. What would be more appropriate is 239,000 fists, considering that is how many copies of the band's third effort were sold after only a week, putting the Chicago-based band at the very tip top of the charts.
The album starts out strong with the title track and rally cry "Ten Thousand Fists." While the song's first 20 seconds are vaguely reminiscent of anything put out by Linkin Park, the track saves itself by diving head first into a head-banging, drum heavy anthem. The song's strong point is a building, catchy (or as catchy as Disturbed can be) chorus in which singer David Draiman spins an image of "the night you were struck by the sight of ten thousand fists in the air." This song is definitely conducive to pumping one's fist in the air and it leaves listeners hungry to be part of the picture Draiman creates.
Beyond the first track however, Disturbed seems to be heeding the old axiom that if it ain't broken, you better leave it the hell alone. Separately, Draiman's voice, Mike Wengren's drumming and Dan Donegan's guitar have potential; these are obviously three talented guys. However, when their respective talents are added together, the album doesn't amount to a whole lot more than a series of unoriginal, interchangeable tracks. The sound is vaguely reminiscent of early Metallica, but definitely not as good.
There's not a whole lot that sets Ten Thousand Fists apart from Disturbed's first two albums, 2000's The Sickness and 2002's Believe. Draiman's signature "OH WHA HAHAHA" sound, made famous by Disturbed's biggest single "The Sickness," is present on several tracks, which leads one to wonder exactly how any human can make such a noise. This album may possess more of a guitar-heavy thrasher vibe than the two that came before, but in the end it is still, unfortunately, the same nu-metal, alt-rock sound.
Bright spots on this mostly unremarkable album are the tracks "Guarded" and "Land of Confusion." The first track alternates between thrashing, head-banging guitar rock and a slower, more goth-metal sound. The two different styles aren't a natural or obvious fit, but together, they work. Draiman's voice lends itself well to both styles and carries the song, one of the few that are actually noteworthy.
"Land of Confusion" may sound vaguely familiar to Disturbed's middle-aged metal head following because the track is a cover, borrowed from 80's pop extraordinaire Genesis. The song carries over to the hard-rock genre amazingly well and there are moments where you can almost forget about Phil Collins rocking the drums and the vocals. Almost. Disturbed does get points for, at least, choosing something unexpected, even inexplicable, to cover.
The overall mood of the album isn't one of anger, an emotion that lends itself so well to this genre, but rather a feeling of uplifting revolt. It sounds as if Disturbed went through counseling and learned to re-channel all of their negative energy into an album that sometimes sounds like a religious youth rally. Lyrics like "Where do I begin, the choices are endless, my art, my redemption, my only salvation, I carry a gift that I have been blessed with," give Ten Thousand Fists a feeling of riotous spirituality. There are points on the album where Disturbed could easily pass for Christian metal, although this may not be one of their goals.
In the end. there just isn't enough to differentiate Disturbed from similar bands like Linkin Park and Drowning Pool. Disturbed can barely differentiate itself from itself. Disturbed's sound has been done before — by it. Listening to this album makes it clear that while all those fists may be powerful, there is not a whole lot for this band to stand behind.
Grade: D
