Tag Archives: Disturbed

Band of the Week: Digital Summer

Posted on by Tommy D

My apologies for being a bit late with the newest band of the week (or, more realistically, 7-12 day period).  I know there must be so many annoyed readers out there (….), but this week’s band is definitely worth the wait.  The featured group is a Phoenix-based outfit called Digital Summer.  This band first came to my attention with a couple of songs that I heard on Sirius satellite radio about a year ago, and I was reminded of them when they started following me on Twitter (nice!).  In the genre of hard rock/alternative metal, where it is so tough to stand above all the clutter, this band shows a penchant for great guitar riffs and catchy yet edgy melodies.  It’s a shame that they are not more widely known, but then again, that’s why they’re one of Tommy’s bands of the week!

Digital Summer first formed in Phoenix, AZ in 2006, through the initiating efforts of brothers Kyle and Ian Winterstein.  Kyle is the lead vocalist, while Ian plays guitar.  The duo filled out the rest of the band’s lineup by recruiting Johnmark “Fish” Cenfield to also play guitar, Anthony “Guido” Hernandez for bass, and Ben Anderson for drums.  The band’s first full-length album, called Cause and Effect, was released in 2007 and featured the single “Whatever It Takes.”  This is the song I first heard on the radio a little over a year ago, and it certainly grabbed my attention.  The aggressiveness, as well as the melodic yet raspy lead vocals, and the occasional background screaming, were the elements that I found to be most captivating.  Stylistically, Digital Summer reminds me somewhat of Breaking Benjamin; while they don’t sound a whole lot like BB, Winterstein’s vocal delivery and the construction of the band’s songs are where I see the similarities.  So, if you like Breaking Benjamin, or alternative metal at all for that matter, you will probably thoroughly enjoy Digital Summer.

After Cause and Effect, Digital Summer released an EP called Hollow in 2008, which was headlined by the singles “Rescue Me” and “Use Me.”  The band’s most recent release, Counting The Hours, came out less than a year ago, in May of 2010.  The lead single was “Just Run,” and hearing this song was confirmation for me that this is a high-quality band that deserves a ton of attention.  It is probably my favorite track by them to this point, but in fairness, I have never heard a bad song by them.  Some of my other favorites include “Hostage,” “Disconnect,” “Counting The Hours” (which features an infectious guitar riff), and “Suffocate.”

While the band has gained a following in its home state of Arizona, and has also been able to perform alongside big-name acts such as Sevendust, Drowning Pool, Godsmack, Alice In Chains, Disturbed, and Theory of a Deadman, they still deserve more widespread attention.  The following quotations from the media and other bands (taken from Digital Summer’s Myspace page) show that Digital Summer is certainly something special:

“These guys are SICK!” – Morgan Rose, of Sevendust

“Fan favorites with a great live show; packed floor to rafters every time.” – Fitz Madrid, 98KUPD

“Strong and engaging…memorable after just one listen. And thats really what it’s all about.” -TAXI A&R Company

“A good STRONG band!” – Alex Varkatzas, of Atreyu

“Truly a hard working band that won’t take “no” for an answer when it comes to showing their passion for making great music in today’s stagnant rock scene!” – Shan Man, 98KUPD

“Full of emotion, raw energy, along with harmonious tunes, that are sure to make anyone hit the repeat button on their CD player!” – Jerry Manley, The Voice Magazine

“Modern hard rock bliss!” – One Night Stand Presents

“All in all great band who lets the music do the talking…and the talking is good!” – Metalmonthly.com

“These guys should be huge! This is commercial, modern heavy rock of the highest order!” – Melodic.net

“The crowds, screaming. The venue, packed. The band, intense. Their enthusiasm on stage is contagious!” – The Lumberjack, NAU

“Arizona based Digital Summer doesn’t hold back with their powerful track “Suffocate” Fans of Trapt, Sevendust and Chevelle need look no further for the next rock gods on the radio!” -GotRadio.com

“Digital Summer is the kind of band that grabs at your throat and won’t let go! Real talent with a real following. I can’t wait for the next show.” – Cori James, 103.9 KEDJ

Emotionally Packed Songs – List & Discussion

Posted on by Ryan Kantor

It’s time to revisit our list of emotionally packed songs. If you haven’t read this post already, give it a read and listen to some of our music picks. If you’ve already read it, we need some new suggestions. What songs do you listen to that really hit you emotionally (please don’t say Lady Gaga or I’ll really think something is wrong with you).

One of my favorite bands, Black Gold, was asked the question “how does a person [aspiring musician] get to that next level?” Black Gold’s drummer, Than Luu, said this, “…Write from the heart. You know, if you’re writing songs or you’re performing do it from the heart. You know, because people can tell, I certainly can, when you’re on stage or you’ve recorded something that’s truly kinda BS. It’s not really…you’re doing it for the wrong reasons.”

I’ve asked Tommy, and I’m asking anyone reading this to please send your song suggestions either via comment at the bottom of the article or via twitter (@Ryan_Kantor). I’ll try to add as many good suggestions as I can to the article (I will be updating it as people give songs). So here are some songs that were written from the heart, a they’re linked to YouTube videos so you can hear them for yourself.

“Blackbird” by Alter Bridge: I don’t even feel like I’m exaggerating when I say this is one of the best songs I’ve ever heard. It is truly is flawless, both musically and lyrically. It is about a friend of singer Myles Kennedy who was ill and eventually passed away, and about how it was Kennedy’s hope that his friend would find peace.

With the haunting opening guitar pattern, the soaring and incredibly emotional vocals of Kennedy (evident throughout, but when you hear the chorus, you can’t help but appreciate the emotion and drama), and the interlude that evolves into a two-phase guitar solo (the first part is done by Kennedy, the second by Mark Tremonti) that is powerful and dramatic enough to send chills down your spine, this song is an absolute masterpiece.
–Tommy Dianora

“Shine” by Black Gold: The dramatic soft intro, the vocal interlude (2:41), the delivery, it all comes together in a great sounding, dynamic, emotional tune. You absolutely must watch the video to understand what the song is about and have a true appreciation for it. Please share you’re interpretation in the comments!
–Ryan Kantor

“Never Again” by Disturbed: If you’re going to sing about the Holocaust you better do it justice and create a musical masterpiece. Jewish-American singer David Draiman pours his soul out in “Never Again,” aptly named after the Jewish post-Holocaust rallying cry.

This emotional song takes you from sadness to anger to pride and then does it all over again. It even takes a subtle shot at Iranian President and Holocaust denier (AKA idiot), Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. ”Never Again” is one of Disturbed’s deepest tracks and hits an emotional chord with any listener, especially those that feel a connection to the Jewish community (me).
–Ryan Kantor

“A Man Needs a Maid” by Neil Young: A soft yet extremely powerful song. It has a somber tone throughout, and Young’s emotional vocal delivery, as well as his elegant piano work and the epic orchestration, make it a truly great song. The meaning is somewhat open for interpretation; clearly it has something to do with Young’s personal life–perhaps about him falling out of love but still being dependent on a woman.
–Tommy Dianora

“Venice Queen” by Red Hot Chili Peppers: Even though the Chili Peppers have had numerous huge hits, two of their best and most emotional songs didn’t get the attention they deserved. One would be “Wet Sand” from their Stadium Arcadium album, which I’ve heard on the radio, but was overlooked in favor of Dani California. The other is “Venice Queen”  from their By The Way album.

Venice Queen is a tribute to the drug counselor (named Gloria) that helped lead singer Anthony Keidis overcome his addictions. The lyrics:
“I know you said you don’t believe
In god do you still disagree
Now that it’s time for you to leave
G.L.O.R.I.A
Is love my friend”
are some of the best written.
–Ryan Kantor

“45″ by Shinedown: This incredibly emotional song has an apparently blatant meaning about suicide, but vocalist Brent Smith says that it is more symbolic than it seems. He describes the 45 as a metaphor for “what [the world] hands you every day of your life.” The main theme of the song, according to Smith, is about moving on and becoming comfortable in your own skin. Regardless, it is one of the most emotional hard rock songs I have ever heard, and it is this powerful delivery that helped it become one of the songs that launched Shinedown’s career.
–Tommy Dianora

“Konstantine” by Something Corporate: Epically long and packed with symbolism, Konstantine certainly fits the bill as a song written from the heart.

It’s about the singer’s ex-girlfriend who he loved, but due to his constant touring and dreams of a successful music career they were unable to make their relationship work. Open to interpretation, this ballad may be especially emotional for high school sweethearts  going to different colleges or college aged couples trying to figure out what they’ll do when they graduate.

Here’s a live version that captures the epicness (is that a word?) of the song. This is my personal #1.
–Ryan Kantor

“The Runaway” by Something Corporate: While maybe not as emotional as “Konstantine” this song is another one written from the heart.

This song is about a girl (“the runaway”) who Andrew McMahon is in love with but unfortunately the love isn’t mutual. In fact the love may not be healthy, which I take from the lyrics “I find myself in you” and even more so from the lines “I know what you really need, what you need, or I need, but either way this is where you should be, here with me.”

The inflection in McMahon’s voice and the accompanying guitars, drums, etc make this tune stand out.
–Ryan Kantor

Missing the Cut:

“Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence Suite” by Dream Theater: “This is the band’s longest song to date, at an insane 41:58. Broken up into movements (classical music buffs know what I mean here), the song focuses on six different mental illnesses, and six different characters, each afflicted with one of the aforementioned illnesses.”
Submitted via comment by Chris Dianora

“I Would Be Sad” by The Avett Brothers: Submitted via Twitter by @TrobTiger: While the song was probably written with some genuine emotion, it doesn’t make the cut because it isn’t delivered with emotion and simply doesn’t sound good…at all.

“Keepsake” by State Radio: Submitted via Twitter by @uublog: This song doesn’t make the cut because the music behind the lyrics is weak and unappealing.

Album Review: Rooney - “Eureka”

Posted on by Ryan Kantor
Crazy intense hard rock band, Disturbed, is not the typical type of band I’d like, but man they are talented. Their guitar work is impressive.  I am looking forward to listening to the rest of their new album, Asylum. So far I’ve listened to the title track, “Asylum” (with the instrumental intro they call “Remnants”) which was very cool and the single from the album, “Another Way to Die” which wasn’t so cool. ”Another Way to Die” is about the global warming, pretty lame.
 
In this new era of digital music, it’s rare that I (or anyone) actually buys a physical CD, but this summer I bought three. Two of them were old Something Corporate CDs (Leaving Through the Window and North) and were very good. The other was Rooney’s new Album, Eureka, which came out on June 8th and was supported with a summer tour. They played with Black Gold (awesome live performance) and The Young Veins (markedly weak live performance), and I was lucky enough to see them in Atlanta.
  
 
I’ll keep this brief, share a little about Rooney’s new album, and hopefully I can just get one person to stop listening to rap or even worse…whatever Justin Bieber‘s noise is!
 
Eureka opens with “Holdin’ On,” which is far and away my favorite song on the album. It has the classic Rooney sing along feel with great guitar work and of course Rob Schwartzman’s great voice.
An aspect of the song I really like, is how they reference a personally tough experience the band members went through, as they felt trapped and bullied by their former record company (Eureka is self-produced). At least that’s how I interpret these lyrics:
And my mother said, “You’re theirs to your dead,
To them, it’s just another meal.”
Now I’m fat with regret, I’m placing my bet on me.
 
Track #2 is the album single, “Can’t Get Enough.” It’s extremely catchy, which I assume is why it is the single, but it is awfully poppy. It’s a very good sounding song, but it lacks emotion and doesn’t have rock elements that make “Holdin’ On” so great.
 
Stars and Stripes, Track #8, represents a different sound for Rooney, but the more I listen to it the more I like it. It is a keyboard based song, and keyboarder Louie Stephens truly shines. When they played it live in Atlanta, they extended the song giving everyone a long solo, and it was amazing. It definitely has some political commentary too. My favorite line is this reference to the national debt:
What have we gained at the end of the day?
Just a bill that we can’t pay.
As beachy and happy as Rooney sounds, a lot of their lyrics are rather dark or mean (e.g., I wake up in so much spit and sweat, it is not normal from “I’m Shakin’”). That said, Track #10, “You’re What I’m Looking For,” is a nice love song with positive lyrics and an enjoyable sound.
 
Track #11, “Not in My House,” has a great classic rock feel, but I’ll leave it at that. I’ll let you make your own judgements on the rest of the tracks. I’ve listed each song below and linked them to a YouTube video with the song.
 
Enjoy!
 
Eureka
1.
04:07
2.
03:51
4.
03:33
5.
03:55
6.
02:30
7.
03:20
10.
03:29
12.
Ignore the track listings in the actual YouTube videos, as they are incorrect.

Album Review: Disturbed - “Asylum”

Posted on by Tommy D

On August 31, edgy hard rock/metal band Disturbed released their fifth studio album, Asylum. Disturbed’s identifying qualities are again evident on this album; in fact, they showcase their abilities with good variation, making this one of their more mature releases. Some of the songs have that typical, rough sound with guitarist Dan Donegan’s chunky riffs, while others showcase singer David Draiman’s oft-overlooked vocal abilities. While most people recognize him for his caustic voice and gimmicky sounds (a Draiman trademark), Draiman also has supreme talent as a smooth, melodic singer. While this appears in some doses on all of the band’s releases, it is most evident on 2002′s Believe. On Asylum, it makes up probably around 50% of his vocal lines, providing a good mix that gives listeners the full scope of Draiman’s talents.

Nothing on Asylum is truly groundbreaking; rather, the album effectively fuses all of the elements we’ve heard in the past from Disturbed to form a complete effort from start to finish. As was mentioned, you hear all of Draiman’s vocal abilities, and Donegan’s guitar work is simultaneously heavy and technical. Draiman and Donegan are so powerful and noticeable that they almost overshadow the fine work of John Moyer on bass and Mike Wengren on drums. Regarding the band as a whole, one of their best qualities, and the thing that I personally like the most about them, is that while they can be very heavy, they really don’t ever sacrifice melody as a result. Metal-heads will love the aggression of the music, but most audiences will find themselves hooked by Draiman’s soaring melodies.

Lyrically, the band continues in the direction of dark subject matter, ranging from Draiman’s personal angst (Asylum, The Infection, Crucified, My Child) to disturbing (no pun intended) political, social, and historical issues (Another Way To Die, Never Again, Innocence). Some who have never really listened to the band might find some of the lyrical content to be disturbing (this word keeps coming up!), but personally, I feel that dark lyrics and negative themes often translate to more powerful and deep music, and Disturbed really verifies that notion.

I’ve gone over a lot thus far, but I haven’t really gone into detail about any songs specifically. I’ve listened to the album several times through, and I will now go over each song individually and give them a score out of 10:

1. Remnants: An awesome instrumental track that sucks you in with its mysterious and dark, yet elegant, sound. It flows into the next track seamlessly and beautifully, and is a perfect way to lead off the album. 10/10

2. Asylum: An aggressive and emotional track, this song sets the tone for the remainder of the album. The opening bit of guitar work by Donegan is especially captivating, and the interlude intensifies the dramatic tone of the song. One of the album’s real gems, and a perfect choice for the title track. 9.5/10

3. The Infection: Despite the intense opening, this song really showcases Draiman’s smooth, melodic voice. It also features what is probably the best guitar solo on the album. A very solid tune. 8.5/10

4. Warrior: Begins with an extremely aggressive guitar riff, followed by one of Draiman’s trademark “noises” that creates a nice transition into the first verse. Draiman shows off his vocal diversity here, as much of the caustic vocals in the verses are sure to remind long-time fans of The Sickness. 8.5/10

5. Another Way To Die: The lead single off Asylum, this song deals with the issue of global warming. The band makes it no secret that it sees global warming as a huge problem for the world, as it is described as “another way to die.” Whether or not you agree with the band’s stance, the song is pretty cool, as it opens with an elegant first minute that quickly becomes aggressive with a nice transitional riff by Donegan. Like I said, it’s a pretty cool song, but I feel that even though it’s the lead single, it still leaves something to be desired and ranks lower than many of the album’s other tunes. 7/10

6. Never Again: An awesome, hard-hitting tune about the Holocaust. Draiman grew up in a devout Jewish household, so the subject definitely has some strong meaning to him. This song really embodies Disturbed’s best element–it is heavy yet very melodic and dramatic. One of my favorites on the CD. 9/10

7. The Animal: This song is about the idea of a werewolf transformation. It has a dark, ominous beginning that really enhances the track overall, and Draiman once again comes in with his animalistic noises (what better song to use them in than The Animal?). An excellent song overall. 9/10

8. Crucified: Not a bad song, but it doesn’t really compare to most of the others. Highlights are Draiman’s soaring vocals and Donegan’s nifty guitar work, especially in the interlude. 6/10

9. Serpentine: I love this song. The opening guitar work and background instrumentation create a truly desperate and dramatic feel. Having said that, the true highlight of the song is the interlude, which features a catchy little pattern by Donegan, some deep whispering by Draiman, and bell sounds in the background that really contribute to the dramatic tone. The stringed instruments at the end are the icing on the cake. 10/10

10. My Child: Features a creepy beginning with the sound of a crying baby. The rest of the song is very solid (the interlude/solo is a highlight), but overall, the track doesn’t really stand out. 6.5/10

11. Sacrifice: The beginning riff is quite delectable, and Draiman again demonstrates his versatility; his deep, harsh voice in the lines preceding the chorus is one of the most memorable parts of the song to me. There is also a nice little guitar solo. 7.5/10

12.  Innocence: A strong close to a very solid record. The song is is about corrupt attorneys and the people they defend. The chorus is a true highlight, as the melodic lines are really gripping, and Donegan’s background guitar work between the first and second parts of the chorus, and towards the end of it, is pretty awesome. Also of note, Wengren’s work on the drums truly shines in the interlude. 9/10

Overall, this is another excellent release by Disturbed, who were able to combine their most identifiable elements to create a very mature album. While there is nothing truly revolutionary about this CD, it features all of the things about the band that fans have come to love, and it does so with good balance. Any Disturbed fans (or hard rock/metal fans for that matter) who don’t like Asylum should probably be put in a madhouse themselves!

Tommy’s overall score for Asylum: 8.5/10

Chris’s Chatter: Resurgence in the Realm of Rock?

Posted on by cedxc2005

Allow me to begin this vicarious post with a brief introduction: I am Chris, the older brother of Tommy on this board. An engineer, tinkerer, amateur chef, and casual guitarist, I will be entering my first year of graduate school at Virginia Tech. I would like to believe that I am chiefly responsible for Tommy’s tastes in music, for which I am most proud.

As the title of this post suggests, I wish to draw your collective attention to the resurgence of what Tommy and I call real music. While what Neil Young said is true, rock certainly did take a back seat recently. As such, it pleases me that a slew of new hard rock bands are gaining attention on the national level. Perhaps there is hope for music yet.

This past year has been particularly fruitful, with nearly a dozen new albums from major rock and metal bands, including Disturbed, Chevelle, Bullet For My Valentine, All That Remains, Halestorm, Sevendust, and even Puddle of Mudd. Capping this peak of progress is Avenged Sevenfold, releasing their new album, Nightmare, in the wake of the passing of their drummer, Jimmy “The Rev” Sullivan. Barely two weeks old, the album is being hailed as the band’s greatest work to date, and achieved the rare honor of holding the #1 spot on the Billboard 200 list. More importantly, the record usurped the position of bestselling album in the country from Eminem’s freshest attempt to polish a turd.

Rock has gained new exposure from the video game market in the form of the Guitar Hero/Rock Band series, which have sought out increasingly more difficult guitar pieces for their games. Their search seems to have landed them on the goldmine known as metalcore – harsh, loud, aggressive, and most of all, technical, metal that will blast the pop crap out of one’s rear with extreme repugnance.

So, cheers to rock and metal, striking fear into the hearts of the ignorant, joy and euphoria into those who are not, and proving that some of us still realize that lip synching and prancing about onstage is not music (or even evidence of talent for that matter). Cheers to those out there who have joined the ranks of rockers and metal-heads and who have thus helped bring about this change in the wind. Now go to the nearest concert and rock out!