Disturbed

Disturbed is underrated -- it's that simple. Five years ago, the band's first album, The Sickness, mixed electronic beats and synth textures with crunching guitars. Abetted by a frontman who seemed to let his inner orangutan out at all the right moments, the act was more KMFDM than Korn, but got lumped in with the nü-metal crowd anyhow. Believe, Disturbed's sophomore disc, was a thoughtful exploration of emotional and spiritual malaise disguised as a collection of 21st-century power-metal anthems. David Draiman expanded his range dramatically, becoming as commanding as a drill sergeant. He even crooned a few tracks for the ladies. The group's latest, Ten Thousand Fists, combines all of its strengths and adds a few new (old) tricks to the bag. Guitarist Dan Donegan is soloing now, which makes the classic-metal roots more obvious. Fists' one unredeemable misstep is a cover of Genesis's "Land of Confusion." But a live set featuring all the best songs from three very solid albums will give mainstream heavy-rock fans plenty of reason to jump up and down and pump their fists.

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