Music As A Weapon II CD

This release includes a bonus DVD featuring a music video for Disturbed's "Liberate."

Anyone curious about the state of nu-metal in 2004 need look no further than MUSIC AS A WEAPON II, named after the second successful tour led by headliners Disturbed. Along for the ride on this compilation of live performances are Chevelle, Taproot, and Unloco. On stage, as in the studio, Chevelle's Loeffler brothers proudly wear the odd-tuning and off-kilter-tempo influence of Tool on their sleeves by way of "Forfeit" and "The Red," brandishing an intriguing maelstrom of riffs. Taproot equally stakes its ground by punctuating loud-soft dynamics with Stephen Richards's sporadic death metal yowl on "Myself" and "Poem." But of all the bands on this bill, Disturbed is the most adept at breaking away from the screaming aesthetic that defines so much of nu-metal. Frontman David Draiman is a quietly intense vocalist whose glowering presence on an acoustic version of "Darkness" and the previously unreleased "Dehumanized" make for a far more powerful effect than any amount of amped-up distortion or howling can achieve. The piece de resistance is Disturbed's take on Metallica's "Fade to Black," a reading that perfectly captures the power and nuance of the original.

Music as a Weapon II is a keepsake of Disturbed's 2003 tour of the same name, which also featured Taproot, Chevelle, and Ünloco. But it's ultimately about Disturbed. The Chicago combo isn't entirely free of genre homogeny, but its vigilant dedication to melody and a decent standard of bone-crushing metallurgy have helped carve a unique sonic niche. Both traits are evident on Weapon. A brooding introduction sidles up to the spiky, thick boot-heel strut of "Bound," and the previously unreleased "Dehumanized" -- "Let me see those fists!" David Draiman implores the gathered throng midsong -- should satiate those lying in wait for the band's next full-length. Disturbed know how to bring the house down, which they absolutely do with an incredible closing version of "Stupify." Too bad Beavis isn't around anymore. He would've loved Draiman's guttural yawps. "Don't denyeee meeee!" [Reprise issued a CD/DVD edition in 2004.] ~ Johnny Loftus

Music as a Weapon II is a keepsake of Disturbed's 2003 tour of the same name, which also featured Taproot, Chevelle, and Ünloco. But it's also a time capsule for the active rock radio format, which in 2002 and 2003 was bombarded by bellowing pretenders to the Korn and Tool throne. Minor leaguers like Taproot and Chevelle had nothing to offer beyond compressed production, roaring guitar sludge, and laughably stale woe-is-me lyrics; naturally, they sold millions of records. Here, Taproot get the worst of it. Music as a Weapon's shallow sound quality is a definite disservice to all of its bands. Still, Taproot's "Myself" is a painfully uninspired mess of overcompensating vocals (in both the melodramatic moan and scary growling departments) and tuneless guitar. "Sumtimes" and the hit single "Poem" fare a bit better, but in general the live setting reveals Taproot's tunes as tepid, blustery rewrites of the recent post-grunge past. As for Chevelle, their earnest Tool reproductions are rescued by some genuine instrumental chemistry, especially in the final thrashing moments of "Forfeit." Since Ünloco's metallization of Nirvana is neither here nor there, Music as a Weapon II is ultimately about Disturbed. The Chicago combo isn't entirely free of genre homogeny. But its vigilant dedication to melody and a higher standard of bone-crushing met

This 2-CD + DVD combination package features Disturbed, Chevelle, Taproot and Unloco in a live sledgehammer concert in front of nearly 6,000 fans, from the Aragon in Chicago, Il. The DVD is a direct visual companion for the CD's, along with a music video by Disturbed.

Recorded live at The Aragon, Chicago, Illinois in 2003.

Personnel: Pete Loeffler, Stephen Richards (vocals, guitar); David Draiman, Joe Loeffler, Joey Duenas (vocal