The heavy songs on Evolution should please longtime fans, with a couple harkening back to the dynamism of Disturbed’s first couple of albums, but the glut of softer tracks may have been served better on a separate acoustic EP.
Wwhile it's hard to argue that Evolution lives up to its moniker, the familiarity of the architecture is lent considerable gravitas by the overall execution, which as per usual, leaves nothing but perspiration in its wake.
They might have over-egged the acoustic balladry here, leading to their airiness unbalancing the syncopated beefiness elsewhere, but it's delivered so slickly and confidently that few fans will care. [20 Oct 2018, p.55]
The frustrating desire for something daring or interesting is never satiated. To be blunt, Evolution is essentially a blander version of Immortalized, which was the flavourless porridge version of Asylum, which was the graham cracker version of Indestructible. Even the song titles are uninspired.
'The Sound of Silence', the Simon & Garfunkel cover, is easily the best song on the record, despite Draiman singing his parts like he’s The Count from Sesame Street.
Evolution certainly doesn't sound like anything they've done before. At best, Evolution could add a few more bangers to their roster and slip by unnoticed. At worst, it could knock the band down to Creed levels of self-parody.
I am a longtime fan of Disturbed and love their earlier ,harder albums but maybe because of getting a little older I really enjoyed theI am a longtime fan of Disturbed and love their earlier ,harder albums but maybe because of getting a little older I really enjoyed the variety of hard and softer tracks on this album. Great album!…Expand
I feel like this album gets some undeserved criticism. Disturbed chose a different path this time around, hence the name Evolution. ItI feel like this album gets some undeserved criticism. Disturbed chose a different path this time around, hence the name Evolution. It features a lot of smaller experimental elements, which adds a deeper musical layer to the tracks.
Most of the songs are calm, but with a lot of power behind the lyrics and feelings involved.
Meanings delivered through songs on the album feel genuine and fit quite well to the musical tone of each respective song.
David Draiman's voice really shines though and he delivers a wide variety of vocals throughout the album.
My personal opinion is that Evolution is better than their last album Immortalized. Even though they took a step in a different direction, it feels like the right one.
A band cannot keep doing the same if the want to evolve.…Expand
This album will upset neckbeards that are only able to enjoy one narrow and specific type of music, but I absolutely love the ballads on thisThis album will upset neckbeards that are only able to enjoy one narrow and specific type of music, but I absolutely love the ballads on this album. It's great to hear something fresh from Disturbed after their last few albums yielded far too much samey tripe.…Expand
This album is going to be divisive, because it's different to what Disturbed has done in the past.
There are some heavier songs, but thereThis album is going to be divisive, because it's different to what Disturbed has done in the past.
There are some heavier songs, but there are several ballads too. Which means we get a nice mix of David Draiman using his "hard" voice AND his "soft" voice, which actually reminds me a bit of his vocal work on Believe, Disturbed's second album. If you're like me and your favourite thing about Disturbed is the vocal work, you'll love this album.
If you didn't like their cover of The Sound of Silence, you probably won't like the ballads.
Personally I'm glad they're doing something different as I didn't enjoy Immortalised, which felt washed-out and defanged compared to the albums that led up to it. Each of Disturbed's albums sounds quite different, and takes elements of their previous work with some changes to create a different sound and tone for each album. This one is no exception.
Right now people seem to be losing their minds over the ballads, but I think time will tell. Once the initial surprise of "whaaaat? You mean Dave wasn't kidding when he said half the album would be very different? But I want more of what I've heard already!" wears off I think people will look on this album in a more positive light; a step in the band's evolution and growth.
Immortalised was too 'same-y' for me (from song-to-song and compared to their previous work. It's one I listen to in playlists, but never sit down and listen to the whole album), but The Sound of Silence cover was one of the few things I liked about it; it stood out as different and brought back Dave's soft voice in a way we hadn't heard in a new song for over a decade. Maybe that's why I've been listening to this album on a loop for the past few hours. Or maybe it's just that it's a good album, with enough range and variation in sound to demand my attention from beginning to end.…Expand
Back in the day, when I was an adolescent, and the Believe and Ten Thousand Fists albums were contemporary, there were two particular songsBack in the day, when I was an adolescent, and the Believe and Ten Thousand Fists albums were contemporary, there were two particular songs that always stuck out to me from the rest of Disturbed's discography: "Darkness" and "Overburdened". These two songs were so vastly quieter in comparison to the rest of their music that it made me pause, made me listen, and made me realize that Disturbed was something more than just another nu metal band. Not only did they have a passion and a talent for their art, but they also had important things to say through their medium.
I didn't often have reasons to visit these two tracks. But they did re-contextualize Disturbed for me. For example, I realized that David Draiman is a legitimate psychopath who constantly struggles to suppress his instincts in order to be a better person. In this way, David became a role model for me and I knew that I'd always closely follow Disturbed.
Anger and conflict, and especially fighting, are the focus of the majority of Disturbed's discography. And I would venture that the primary reason for Disturbed's appeal is that they are able to channel these topics in awesome and epic ways. However, as the years went by (especially by the time Immortalized came out), it became clear to me that Disturbed's well of anger was running dry and that David wasn't viewing himself as a threat to others that had to be continually monitored and channeled in healthier ways. Their iconic sounds and topics were beginning to ring hollow like empty threats. And the songs in which their talent and their passion clearly shined was shifting in its tone.
Evolution was inevitable. And I'm glad that it's finally arrived. Those who want anger in their music will be largely disappointed by Evolution. Those who want that should go back and enjoy the earlier albums and wait a couple years to come back and enjoy this album. For the rest of us who have literally grown alongside Disturbed and who have begun to struggle with adulthood, marriage, and parenting, Evolution is precisely what we wanted, needed, and wish to see again (a song in a major key literally made me laugh). I hope Disturbed doesn't stunt their own evolution based on demands from those that want the sickness back.…Expand
'Evolution' is probably the right name for this album. Because they've evolved. Unfortunately, the evolution was aMostly a snore-fest.
'Evolution' is probably the right name for this album. Because they've evolved. Unfortunately, the evolution was a regression.
Presumably due to the new found fame that came with their cover of Sound of Silence, Disturbed has learned they can make a lot more cash by going softer. And that they did -- despite it being their weakest attribute.
There are a few songs, like, "Are You Ready?" and "No More" that are tolerable, but overall, this album is a huge miss. They've walked away from the sound that made them in the first place.
I suppose after 6 solid albums, they were due for a turd. Here's hoping they learn from this and the next one is better.…Expand
