Review Summary: A classic nu-metal album released at the wrong time.
When Adema’s Unstable came out, it was slammed by critics, with even IGN expressing its disappointment. The album was released right at the cusp of nu-metal’s death (so they thought), so Unstable was never given a fair shot, with critics already embittered towards nu-metal. The internet is a hivemind as we all know, and it was/is the opinion of this reviewer that Unstable was always a good album. On surface level, it’s easy to see why complaints ensued - a handful of less heavy tracks were seen as weak and generic - that type of toxic negativity did an incredible disservice to a rather thoughtful piece.
Lyrics are raw and introspective here, talking about abuse, drug addiction, and other depressing topics. It’s par for the course, but the way the lyrics are written makes it seem as though we could have been witnesses to the events. The lyrics are even more powerful since Mark Chavez is the catalyst, a singer who evokes sadness and regret easily. When Mark screams, “Take this needle from my vein!” it’s raw and sincere - it’s also their heaviest song, shredding in a non-stop flurry of riffs and drums that match the vocal intensity. Mark is a great, underrated singer due to sounding similar to Jonathan Davis from Korn, but I fail to receive a negative point there.
Similar to how Earshot was crucified for sounding so close to Tool, Adema was considered a lite version of Korn - it turned out Korn lite sounds great. Some of these songs are just as catchy (sometimes catchier) as Korn: Co-Dependant, Unstable, and Rip The Heart Out Of Me are great tracks regardless of Adema playing them - these three mentioned tracks are ear worms, some of the better tracks. Adema found their rhythm in this album and capitalized on it. The album is certainly repetitive in that it’s consistently good even through less heavy segments. Riffs aren’t particularly complex, it’s more the catchy songwriting mixed with Mark’s passionate singing that has helped this album survive the test of time.
Looking back, Unstable was nowhere near as bad as people originally feared. It’s certainly not the heaviest nu-metal album, but it’s filled with consistently memorable tracks. Mark’s aggressive, effortless vocal style breathes life into these songs, and I dare call it an iconic performance. This is peak Adema, and the band have lost something great with Mark no longer in the band. For those who remember this album, it’s purely nostalgic, and in this case our nostalgia should lead us to retrying Unstable.
