Disturbed @ EntertainmentCentre, Adelaide (23/04/11)

Mon 25th Apr, 2011 in Gig Reviews

I’ll just come out and say it. I do not like metalcore. It makes my ears bleed. However, the massive triple bill of As I Lay Dying, Trivium, and Disturbed was far too good to pass up.

Having missed the opening act (what kind of show starts before 7pm anyway?), San Diego’s As I Lay Dying were first up. Their relatively generic sound is by no means something we haven’t heard before, nor are the songs from their latest album The Powerless Rise any different from their past releases, but they certainly know how to put on a show. Tim Lambesis is a captivating front man, and his vocals were flawless. The same could not be said, however, for bassist Josh Gilbert whose backup melodic vocals were anything but. While technical difficulties could explain away some of the hit and miss moments, for the most part Gilbert was off key and out of time.

Playing a good mix of old and new songs, As I Lay Dying were well received by the solidly growing crowd. Tracks from their 2007 album, An Ocean Between Us, including the title track and Nothing Left in particular got the pit warmed up for what was yet to come.

Trivium are no strangers to Australian shores, having toured here as recently as last year as part of the Soundwave Festival. An all too familiar foreboding introduction track welcomed them to the stage before the opening chords of Pull Harder On The Strings Of Your Martyr got underway.

The minor sound issues which started with As I Lay Dying only got worse, to the point where it appeared as though nobody was controlling light or sound for most of Trivium’s set. With instrument volume constantly changing, and lighting effects drilling the eyes of anybody unfortunate enough to have seated tickets, most of the band’s set was, unfortunately, not a pleasant experience.

No songs from band’s upcoming album made an appearance, but plenty of fan favourites including Down From The Sky, Rain, and Throes Of Perdition did. What could, and should, have been a stellar set, was severely ruined thanks to such poor efforts on the part of technicians. Trivium were hardly their usual energetic selves, but one can’t help but think they would have been under different circumstances.

Last time Disturbed visited Adelaide (Thebarton Theatre, 2008), they were confined to a relatively small stage, with an average at best turnout. The same could not be said for 2011. Their stage set up is by no means complex, but it is certainly impressive. Making the most of the Entertainment Centre’s arena stage, a series of screens formed a fitting backdrop.

The opening track from the band’s latest album, Asylum, played alongside a video intro portraying vocalist David Draiman (fittingly) fleeing an asylum as the remaining band members played on the dark stage. The real Draiman ‘escaped’ onto stage and launched into, you guessed it, Asylum.

The band’s 2010 album has received an almost universal positive response, and after hearing it live, it’s no surprise why. What sounds like a relatively generic Disturbed album on CD at first is anything but. The songs are at a much higher level than 2008’s Indestructible; darker, and more powerful. Having said that, there was still a healthy dose of oldies to keep fans happy on the night.

While most songs played were from Asylum, The Game (off 2000’s The Sickness) was definitely a crowd pleaser, as was Liberate (off 2002’s Believe). The accompanying video visuals added a great deal to the performance, as did the pyrotechnics. Yes, it just wouldn’t be a metal show without some fire.

Draiman’s voice was strong throughout with the exception of a few mishaps (or an act of laziness on his part, we may never know) when it came to his trademark growl. The other band members were far more active than their last visit to Adelaide, showing a great deal of energy and enthusiasm.

Set list regulars Stupify and Ten Thousand Fists fittingly ended the show before the band returned to play the title track from 2008’s Indestructible. Mike Wengren’s drum solo probably had more to do with showing off his fancy drum kit (complete with multicolour LEDs) than anything else, but it certainly was a more interesting, and suspense building, way to launch into the finale, Down With The Sickness.

One couldn’t deny that Disturbed put on a good show. Their energy and stage presence far surpassed their performance in 2008. The new songs sounded powerful while the old songs kept fans happy. Thankfully Disturbed suffered none of the technological setbacks of the bands before them, which insured a top notch rock show for band and fans alike.