September 17, 2002 - Believe

Two weeks after my last release and two and a half years since "The Sickness", Disturbed released their second album "Believe" on September 17, 2002. This album is not as heavy as their debut, and while there are still elements of what make Disturbed a nu-metal powerhouse, it's a much more melodic and experimental album at times. Let's check it out!

The album begins with it's lead single "Prayer" and it's got a fairly simple but decently heavy main riff. David Draiman sings a fast verse that is still very nu-metal but the chorus is fairly tame and things seem a little toned down compared to all the energy from their debut. I guess I can see why it was chosen as a single, it's not too heavy at all and is accessible for Disturbed, but this isn't exactly what I'm looking for and I find it to be a bit of a bland opener. Up next is another single titled "Liberate" and it's got a pretty fast and cool main riff and right from the get-go this feels more like their debut with some high energy and Draiman singing a fast verse to nicely match the mood. Mike Wengren plays some cool drums in the chorus and Draiman sings in a pretty low voice that sounds pretty good as well. After another solid round they move into a slower, but super catchy and cool new riff with some epic guitar by Dan Donegan. They return to the chorus to finish things off and this was much more like the Disturbed I wanna hear! Track 3 is "Awaken" and Donegan kicks right into an offbeat and pretty cool chorus riff that nicely combines super low and super high notes. The verse is pretty quiet with Steve Kmak playing some decent bass, Wengren playing some nice drums and Draiman singing a slow verse that is pretty light. His chorus is much better and more up his usual alley and Donegan returns to the catchy offbeat riff. After another round they slow things down for a quiet part that I think is supposed to be epic, but I think it falls pretty flat. Aside from the cool chorus this was not one of Disturbed's better songs. The next song is the title track "Believe" and it's got another pretty catchy main riff with Donegan playing some more cool guitar, but the production of the whole album just seems toned down and reined in, which is not what you want from a band like this! It's good no doubt, but it just feels like it could've been even louder/heavier/better! Draiman's verse and chorus are also pretty tame and this seems like the perfect example of "selling out", even though it's still metal! They seem to have abandoned everything that made them stand out and just want to be another radio-friendly hard rock band, at least on this song. Track 5 is the final single "Remember" and this main riff has a bit more punch to it with some loud bass by Kmak and some hard-hitting guitars by Donegan. The chorus has some lighter but still pretty cool guitars, but Draiman's verse is just so tame and his chorus is pretty pop-y and so simple. What happened to the insane screaming Draiman from their debut? He hasn't really shown up yet on this album, and we know he's a great singer! Once again, it's not bad by any means, but it is definitely way, way lesser than pretty much every song on their last album. Up next is "Intoxication" and it also fits the album formula of a solid riff, but it sounds tame and reserved, and it shouldn't! Donegan is playing some cool guitar, but it sounds like someone is turning his amp in the wrong direction! Draiman, on the other hand, finally shows up! We hear his first trademark "wah-wah" of the album and he takes the spotlight with a really fast verse that finally sounds like he's really letting loose! He's spitting fast lyrics in the chorus as well and the guitars actually sound decently heavy as well! This is easily my favourite song far! Track 7 is "Rise" and Donegan leads the way with another solid guitar riff, but I just can't get over the toned down production on this whole album, it's like a parent shouting "keep it down!" the whole time. When Draiman is yelling he sounds pretty good but his singing is pretty tame once again; where is the fire?! There's a midsection ripe for a solo or some kind of exciting part, but they just lazily continue to jam out the main riff. It's not bad, but it's just so uncreative and uninspiring. The next track is "Mistress" and it too follows the album formula: it's not a bad main riff by any means, this one is a little catchy, but it's just made to sound so radio-friendly and tame, when it should be ripping you out of your seat! This might even be the tamest song yet as they slow things down even more after a bland couple rounds and there's just nothing on this one that makes me wanna get up and move at all! Track 9 is "Breathe" and it's got a unique, interesting and pretty cool main riff that really stands out for once! Kmak plays some cool bass, Donegan leads the way with a really cool guitar riff and Draiman delivers a light but decent verse to complete this welcome upbeat riff. Wengren plays some cool drums as they ramp up to the chorus and it's still a little toned down, but it's a solid chorus with some more cool guitar by Donegan. There's another missed opportunity in the middle of the song, but I still enjoyed this one more than most on this album. Up next is "Bound" and for the first time perhaps, things don't sound toned down! Donegan starts off with some distorted guitar and after a nice loud "are you ready?!" from Draiman they slam into a heavy main riff that sounds pretty cool! My head is actually banging for once and Kmak plays some groovy bass in the verse while Draiman sings a nice verse. The chorus is loud and emphatic for once and it's a little baffling honestly; why doesn't every song sound like this one? It's great! The middle section is used very nicely as well with another groovy and cool new riff and this just might be my favourite song on the album! (Although it's still nowhere close to the best songs off their last album). Track 11 is "Devour" and Donegan plays another pretty cool main guitar riff with a slow rhythm section backing him, but we're back to tame times as Draiman sings a light verse and the chorus is pretty simple as well. Once again, it's not actually bad, it just sounds like a hard rock band instead of one of the top acts in nu-metal. The final song on the album is "Darkness" and this is definitely their most experimental song yet with both piano and a guest cellist on this track! Donegan plays a light guitar riff, it's Draiman who adds the light yet creepy piano and the cello definitely completes this very somber and depressing mood that they are nailing pretty well. Draimain sings a haunting verse overtop and he sounds really epic, also nailing the vibe perfectly. Things roll right into a similar chorus but at the end of the second round the guitar starts to get a little louder and the cello sounds pretty epic as well. Who knew that the slowest song might actually be one of the better ones on a Disturbed album?!

That is the end of "Believe" and I thought it was a decent album, but a huge step down for the nu-metal titans Disturbed. I think I made my feelings pretty clear throughout the album, it all just sounded so tame and passive compared to what you would expect from the follow-up to "The Sickness". It pales in comparison, but hopefully Disturbed can get their oomph back!