Maximum Metal Reviews

Maximum Metal Rating Legend

5	Excellent - Masterpiece. A classic.
4.5-4	Great - Almost perfect records but there's probably a lacking.
3.5	Good - Most of the record is good, but there may be some filler.
3	Average - Some good songs, some bad ones at about a half/half ratio.
2.5-2	Fair - Worth a listen, but best obtained by collectors.
1.5-1	Bad - Major problems with music, lyrics, production, etc.
0	Terrible - Waste of your life and time.
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Band

Disturbed

Title

10000 Fists

Type

LP/EP

Company

Reprise

YOR

2005

Style

Hard Rock

Popular Reviews

10/28/2005 - Review by: Frank Hill

Disturbed - 10,000 Fists - Reprise - 2005

Track Listing1. 10,000 Fists
2. Just Stop
3. Guarded
4. Deify
5. Stricken
6. I'm Alive
7. Sons of Plunder
8. Overburdened
9. Decadance
10. Forgiven
11. Land of Confusion
12. Sacred Life
13. Pain Redefined
14. Avarice

Disturbed was a pretty hot band with their first release "The Sickness". They were a jolt of aggression in the music scene at the time and kids took to them like as the new saviors of really, really heavy rock. Their popularity did start to create a backlash with the traditionalists who eschewed the mallcore following the band built up so quick.

Then came the sophomore release "Believe" and many of the fans I knew expressed a certain amount of disappointment in the band's direction. Most of the anger had been stripped away for a positive lyrical stance that wasn't exactly wanted by fans who wanted a cathartic release of hatred. Same music; different attitude. People wondered if the band was now corporate soft and set to release nothing but mediocre crud from this point on.

The new CD "10,000 Fists" combines the prior CDs and comes out a winner in my book. Musically it's tougher than "Believe", but it's lyrically not as clobberingly mean as "The Sickness". Everything from fan worship (Ten Thousand Fist) to declarations of independence (I'm Alive) to /political activism (Deify) is in there consistently. Of note, is a decent cover of Phil Colin's "Land of Confusion" which was also covered recently by the melodic death metal band In Flames.

Dave Draiman's singing is still strong and unique (yes, there is a return of some of those much desired animal noises), but the guitar work really hasn't changed from the power grooves of the first CD putting them into the Godsmack class where you know pretty much what you're gonna get each track. With 14 tracks so similar, it begins to wear thin, but overall it's a tight CD.

I can give it my two fists in the air.

Score: 8 of 10

--Nailer 10.28.2005