Disturbed-Believe (DVD-Audio) (2002) (NTSC)

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General		Extras
Category	Music	Menu Animation & Audio Music Video-Prayer Featurette-Behind the Scenes on the "Prayer" Video Set Featurette-In the Studio Recording "Believe" Trailer-Highlights from Disturbed's DVD "M.O.L" Web Links DVD Credits Booklet
Rating
Year Of Production	2002
Running Time	47:20
RSDL / Flipper	No/No	Cast & Crew
Start Up	Programme
Region Coding	1,2,3,4,5,6	Directed By	None Given
Studio Distributor	Warner Vision	Starring	David Draiman Dan Donegan Mike Wengren Fuzz
Case	DVD-Audio Jewel
RPI	$32.95	Music	Disturbed

    I was first exposed to Disturbed through their cover of Tears for Fears' 80s hit Shout which was featured on their debut album, The Sickness. Their most recent effort benefits from some more cohesive production, but the basic sound is still present, best described as somewhere between Pantera and Zakk Wylde. Unlike a lot of hard rock and metal bands, Disturbed's lyrical subject matter is generally positive and focuses on issues of self empowerment and strength. What sets this band apart from the rest in my opinion is the unique rhythmic style of vocalist David Draiman, matching the precision and aggression of the music with great ease.

    Personally, I think this format best serves albums that have an above average production with an abundance of layers, the kind of album where you notice something different every time you put it into your player. Believe is not one of those albums.

Video

    The video content of this disc is part of the extras and appears clear and sharp apart from some brief grainy home video footage. All video portions of the disc are NTSC, including the menus and various stills.

Audio

    We have four audio options. Those with DVD-Video players get Dolby Digital 5.1 (448Kb/s) and Dolby Digital 2.0 (448Kb/s). If you have DVD-Audio capability there are MLP 5.1 and MLP 2.0 tracks, both of which are presented at a slightly wimpy 48 kHz. I listened to both MLP tracks and the two Dolby Digital tracks in their entirety.

    I found a number of irritating problems relating to the menu system and accessibility of the various audio tracks. The DVD-Video main menu allows you to select either stereo or surround with ease, but the DVD-Audio menu has no audio selection options whatsoever. 5.1 playback is default in both cases, but the only method I found to access the MLP 2.0 track is by commencing MLP 5.1 playback and manually switching over using the remote. The two Dolby Digital tracks are not accessible in DVD-Audio mode.

    I began my reviewing session in DVD-Video mode, experiencing the entire album in Dolby Digital 5.1. Unfortunately, there is absolutely no panning performed across the rears, and sadly this remained true for the entire length of the album. Believe kicks off with the single Prayer which packs a punch, the rhythm guitars pounding from all four corners and the kick drum pulsing in unison. The main vocal soon joins in, remaining centred in the front until backing vocals break in during the chorus, spilling to the rears to join the guitars. A strange keyboard effect with deep, distorted bass dominates the rears for part of the chorus and gives the song a slightly electronic feel. The second track Liberate contains a very prominent bass line and some spoken word parts that instantly reminded me of Pantera. More great subwoofer use was noted in the track Breathe, accentuating the rolling drum fills across the toms. Track ten, Bound begins with an almost mono introduction, then suddenly explodes into surround - a great effect. This song also saw the return of the fuzzy, distorted keyboard sound that was present in track one.

    Next was the Dolby Digital 2.0 track, mixed by Andy Wallace who is known for tweaking the knobs with Faith No More, Sepultura and countless other bands. This stereo mix was noticeably brighter and lacked the depth that was present in the surround mix, particularly in the rhythm guitars. Some elements of the 5.1 mix were very hard to discern from the rest of the music; the backing vocals and keyboards had much less presence in this mix.

    In DVD-Audio mode the volume level was slightly higher, and the clarity and sharpness of the MLP 5.1 recording impressed me. The rhythm guitars had the same placement in the mix with no rear panning, but were more biting and crisp, freed from the muddiness of the Dolby Digital track. Backing vocals were more prominent as a consequence, and the entire mix seemed to come together with more fluidity. However, the song that benefited most from the high resolution transfer was the album's closing ballad, Darkness. Featuring a complex arrangement of acoustic guitars, piano and cello, this song gained a warmth and depth that was only hinted at in the Dolby 5.1 track. Of the four audio options, this was my favourite.

    The MLP 2.0 option was a chore to locate, since it is not accessible via any of the menus. It relates to the MLP 5.1 track in the same way that the Dolby Digital tracks related to one another, a good stereo representation, but lacking some of the signature elements of the 5.1 mix.

Audio Ratings Summary

Dialogue
Audio Sync
Clicks/Pops/Dropouts
Surround Channel Use
Subwoofer
Overall

    All menus and extras are presented in 1.33:1, full frame unless noted otherwise. I often wonder why a 'high-end' product such as DVD-Audio rarely has 16x9 enhanced content.

Menu

Booklet

    An average five page belt-fold booklet, containing lyrics, credits and photos.

Music Video - Prayer (3:45)

    A decent music video with good special effects. The band are shown encountering various mishaps and accidents that escalate from a simple car crash into a fully blown act of God. The clip closes with the group performing on a pile of rubble in the decimated city. It is presented in an aspect ratio of 1.78:1 and is not 16x9 enhanced. The only accompanying audio is Dolby Digital 5.1.

Featurette - Behind the Scenes on the Prayer Video Set (7:44)

    This is a brief look at the process of making a music video, including storyboards and brief interviews with the director and band members.

Featurette - In the Studio Recording Believe (4:45)

    Home video footage of the band and producer Johnny K at work laying down tracks for the album and goofing about in the studio.

Trailer - Highlights from Disturbed's DVD M.O.L. (9:27)

    In a similar vein to the series of Pantera home videos, Disturbed have compiled live footage and debaucherous home movies to create a snapshot of their life that countless teenagers will want to replicate. The concert segments look like a ripper, though.

Web Links

    Simply an html file that you must locate on the disc yourself, with links to the band's official site and their record label.

DVD Credits

    These repeat what is already stated in the booklet.

    This DVD-Audio release is identical across all regions.

    Fans with surround capabilities will love this version of the album, and those with a taste for hard rock or metal will certainly appreciate its aggression.

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall