Review Summary: Some good moments, but still proof that "evolution" isn't always a good thing.
Naming your album "Evolution" just kind of feels like asking for trouble in the first place. This feels especially true when you're a mainstream radio rock band, and the only evolution that usually occurs with those kind of bands is the type that the label allows--which is typically just more radio-friendly slower material. So really, that's not even evolution. That's complacency. So with that in mind, how does Disturbed fare with their follow-up to their comeback album Immortalized?
Well, let's get this out of the way: the album does not get off to a very good start. It begins with lead single "Are You Ready," which was obviously tailor-made for the radio, sports events, et cetera. And it's about as generic of a Disturbed "empowerment/rise-up" anthem as can be. The opening riffs, manufactured though they may be, are actually the best part. The next couple songs aren't any better. "No More" actually feels like a b-side to "Are You Ready," only with more ham-fisted lyrics. Then we get the first ballad on this album, "A Reason to Fight." I suppose I could give them credit for trying, but that song just doesn't work. It's not that interesting musically and the lyrics are too cliched.
And while we're on that topic, let's talk about the acoustic-tinged ballads. A big deal has been made by both the band and some listeners about the "evolution" part of this album--and how that supposedly takes up a big chunk of the album. In all actuality, only 4 of the 10 songs on this album are actually ballads. And this only serves to make the album title Evolution feel even more ill-advised; yes, there's a higher percentage of slower material on this album. But the majority of the album (even if that's a slim majority) is still typical Disturbed heavier material.
And for all that fuss about "evolving" more on this album, it doesn't work. Of the four ballads on this album, only one works--album closer "Already Gone." We already discussed "A Reason to Fight" just not working; "Hold On to Memories" is more of the same. This one's less lyrically cliched, but it's just not that compelling musically. And "Watch You Burn" is the worst song on here, going for a more upbeat acoustic feel which might have been effective if the overall tone of the song didn't feel like one that should've actually been a heavier song.
So with one exception, the ballads on this album are flops. The so-called "evolution" didn't even work. So what does work? Basically any of the heavier songs not named "Are You Ready" or "No More." "In Another Time" and "Savior of Nothing" stand out, both for being good rockers and for having less cliched lyrics; these two songs take on social media and people's behavior and dependency on them. Disturbed tackles that subject well; the lyric "In another time ... when the world was more than what we saw online, when we actually lived instead of watching life" stands out a bit amidst a sea of mostly forgettable or just plain poor lyricism. "The Best Ones Lie" also stands out musically, having probably the best guitar work on the album.
Evolution is undeniably a step down for Disturbed; it's even probably their worst ever. It really does not help matters that their attempts at complacency--ahem, "evolution"--didn't even really work. There's still some good jams on here that help make it a decent enough listen, although you'll have a few misfires to get past at the beginning. It should still be said that ballads aside, this is still a fairly typical Disturbed album, and whether that strikes your fancy or not will probably determine your opinion of the album. Whether you do find enjoyable material on here or not, one thing is undeniable: Disturbed's best days are probably long behind them.
Song Highlights: "In Another Time," "Savior of Nothing," "The Best Ones Lie," "Already Gone"
