2008 Woodie Awards
Fists Proves Disturbed Is Still Sick in The Head
Ben Morrow
Issue date: 10/24/05 Section: Entertainment
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If you have spent any time in a weight room or happened to catch a horror movie or two in the last few years, then the band Disturbed really needs no introduction. For the rest of you, this band is as solid as stone and the music they play hits about as hard. Their brand of grits and growl have built them a loyal following of rabid fans, all with hands fists in the air, risen in praise. And at that comes the title of Disturbed's third album, Ten Thousand Fists, which was released by Reprise this past September.
Birthed in 1996, Chicago was the home base for the band, where they honed a sound that was clear and concise, even as it was spearheaded. With the start of the new millennium came the album that got things moving for the band, their debut album, The Sickness, going on to a certification of triple-platinum status. Led by the singles "Stupify" and "Down With The Sickness," the band adopted and lived by the line "music as a weapon." Nationwide touring ensued until it was time to record the follow-up album.
Now, it is a common occurrence for a band's sophomore release to be somewhat flaccid and un-inspired(ing), but this curse did not befall disturbed with 2002's Believe. Of course, this is a matter of opinion/interpretation, and record sales of a mere 1.6 million of the second album don't quite reach the high water mark of the debut. However, by looking at band and how they remain when "nu-metal" has died and vanished, one can see that the maturity and melody of the latter release is the stuff of legends.
After a few trips around the globe and hopping onto the Ozzfest 2003 bill, the band settled back into recording mode. Tracks were laid out by guitarist Dan Donegan and drummer Mike Wengren while the bassist, known as "Fuzz", decided to part ways with the group. The biggest difference in the recording schedule this time around, according to frontman David Draiman, was that "Danny has finally come out of his cage...he's ripping solos on a bunch of the songs on this record." While he's not pulling any Kirk Hammett or Joe Satriani, Donegan certainly puts in a serious effort and the result is a tasteful take on one of the missing elements of guitar players as of late.
Birthed in 1996, Chicago was the home base for the band, where they honed a sound that was clear and concise, even as it was spearheaded. With the start of the new millennium came the album that got things moving for the band, their debut album, The Sickness, going on to a certification of triple-platinum status. Led by the singles "Stupify" and "Down With The Sickness," the band adopted and lived by the line "music as a weapon." Nationwide touring ensued until it was time to record the follow-up album.
Now, it is a common occurrence for a band's sophomore release to be somewhat flaccid and un-inspired(ing), but this curse did not befall disturbed with 2002's Believe. Of course, this is a matter of opinion/interpretation, and record sales of a mere 1.6 million of the second album don't quite reach the high water mark of the debut. However, by looking at band and how they remain when "nu-metal" has died and vanished, one can see that the maturity and melody of the latter release is the stuff of legends.
After a few trips around the globe and hopping onto the Ozzfest 2003 bill, the band settled back into recording mode. Tracks were laid out by guitarist Dan Donegan and drummer Mike Wengren while the bassist, known as "Fuzz", decided to part ways with the group. The biggest difference in the recording schedule this time around, according to frontman David Draiman, was that "Danny has finally come out of his cage...he's ripping solos on a bunch of the songs on this record." While he's not pulling any Kirk Hammett or Joe Satriani, Donegan certainly puts in a serious effort and the result is a tasteful take on one of the missing elements of guitar players as of late.