DISTURBED

Considering frontman David Draiman has indicated that his band may be on indefinite hiatus it seems like the time is right for the release of a collection of B-sides and rarities. Entitled "The Lost Children", this 16-track album should have an appeal that reaches beyond the hardcore fans since many of these songs of are of a quality consistent with those contained on DISTURBED's proper releases.

What pleasantly surprises is that "The Lost Children" flows well from start to finish and includes tracks that could have easily been released with the original material on any of the previous five albums. The best of the batch includes standout "Hell", "A Welcome Burden", which appeared on 2010's reissue of "The Sickness", and the bass-rumbling, electronics peppered "Old Friend". It is hardly a surprise that the majority of these songs feature DISTURBED's signature mix of chunky grooves, Draiman's precision vocal patterning, and expansively bright choruses. Several others are no worse than solid, if more of what one might expect from a B-Side, including "Run" (from the "Indestructible" limited edition),"Leave it Alone", "Two Worlds" (one of three cuts from the U.K. tour edition of "Ten Thousand Fists") and the thick-riffed chop of "God of the Mind", which also appeared on "The Sickness" reissue. "Sickened", another other track appearing on the U.K. tour edition of "Ten Thousand Fists", falls on the more generic end of the spectrum. Previously unreleased cut "Mine" is notable for the electronic coloration, samples, and a degree of structural variety not typically associated with DISTURBED. "3", a benefit song recorded in support of the West Memphis Three, is less noteworthy, but nonetheless decent. Covers of FAITH NO MORE's excellent "Midlife Crisis" and JUDAS PRIEST classic "Living After Midnight" round out the collection. Neither departs much from the original, but both are enjoyable.

In lieu of an album of new material or as a product to hold over fans waiting for a decision on DISTURBED's future, "The Lost Children" is worth the purchase price. It also comes off better than the average collection of B-sides and rarities. That's not because it shows another side to the band or holds much in the way of surprises. Rather, "The Lost Children" offers a level of songwriting nearly commensurate with what fans have come to expect.