Disturbed at Rock im Park 2016. Photo: Stefan Brending (2eight) via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Is Disturbed Metal Or Is Their Music Much More?
Whether you have recently stumbled across their music around the web or have been rocking out to them since the 1990s, you may have wondered, ‘Is Disturbed metal or does this band’s music fall under other genres as well?’
At Jukebox Saturday Night, we get that this is a fair question to ask. While Disturbed is best known as a heavy metal band, the lines separating genres can sometimes blur, especially when it comes to innovative and experimental acts like this one.
Plus, there are rarely any hard definitions and qualifiers for what counts as a certain genre. There are even times when artists dare to venture beyond their established sound, making their brand as an artist even more complex and interesting to listeners.
Don’t worry, though – you don’t have to look up questions like ‘Is Disturbed metal?’ or ‘What genre is Disturbed?’ In this article, Jukebox Saturday Night unpacks Disturbed’s body of work and where it places the iconic band in the metal music landscape.
Many genres and styles fall under metal.
While the answer to the question ‘Is Disturbed metal?’ is an obvious yes, what certain fans are wondering is if the band only falls under the metal genre. The thing is, though, the metal genre itself has grown very diverse over the many eras of music and continuously evolved as the artists did. So, it’s important to this discussion that we unpack this evolution.
Hard rock is considered the heart of metal.
You can’t answer the question, ‘Is Disturbed metal or does it fall under other genres too?’ without taking a look at metal roots – hard rock.
When you think of genres related to hard rock music, you may think about psychedelic rock bands like The Doors and Pink Floyd or garage rock talents like Poison Ivy’s Kristy Marlana Wallace. However, heavy metal has ties to this genre as well. In fact, hard rock music is often seen as a precursor to heavy metal, and many early metal bands have roots in this rock genre.
Heavy metal often forms the base.
Heavy metal is the foundational genre from which many of its sub-genres have evolved. This is characterised by its loud, aggressive sound, distorted guitars and powerful vocals. The instrumentation heavily relies on electric guitars, bass and drums, frequently featuring intricate guitar solos. Vocals can range from clean singing to more aggressive styles, including growls and screams.
There’s the alternative metal difference.
Rock is the first thing that comes to mind for most fans when asked to look back on the late 1960s and early 1970s. After all, it is the era of rock icons, from The Beatles to Johnny Thunders.
However, this was also in this era that heavy metal emerged. So, it wasn’t long before alternative metal came around, combining elements of rock with heavy metal and creating a unique sound that often incorporates a variety of musical influences.
Nu metal also stands on its own.
Nu metal emerged in the late 1990s and is characterised by the incorporation of turntables and synthesisers alongside traditional metal instruments, bringing a unique blend of sounds to the genre. Vocal techniques can include a mix of singing and rapping, with a significant focus on emotional expression.
Disturbed actually spans all these genres.
‘Is Disturbed metal or is it much more?’ Unpacking the different influences and evolutions of the metal genre seems to point towards the latter, and a look at the Disturbed songs fans have loved over the years makes it very apparent.
Disturbed’s history of nu metal and alternative metal
Fresh out of the ‘90s, their The sickness album had unmistakable nu metal and alternative metal reminiscent of the synthesiser sound and rock influences of that decade. In fact, ‘Down with the sickness’ is one of the most well-known nu metal songs from that time.
Then, with Believe (2002) and Ten thousand fists (2005), Disturbed leaned towards alternative metal.
Their heavy metal works have rock influences too.
Even during the late ‘00s and early 2010s which people often refer to as the band’s era that was most purely metal, there were still rock elements in the Disturbed albums released in these years. You can hear it in the anthemic sounds in Indestructible (2008) and the softer melodic moments in Immortalized (2015), which are qualities you’d find in the seventies jukebox staples rock fans love.
So, is Disturbed metal? Definitely, but their band history proves that their music is also so much more than that.
David Draiman of Disturbed performing live
Reason #1: They’ve always made a name for themselves in the metal genre.
Let’s run it back and look at Disturbed’s history.
The band consistently overcame criticism throughout their career.
They were at first seen as side figures in the genre, with many asking, ‘Is Disturbed nu metal enough?’ However, the original Disturbed lead singer, Erich Awalt, shares his distinctive simian calls. This distinctive feature quickly became a talking point and trademark.
Unlike other artists like Korn or Limp Bizkit, Disturbed’s sound and style didn’t involve hip-hop as much. Rather, they leaned towards an industrial metal vibe that shared elements from proto-punk works. This edge was a fitting choice for a band from Chicago, the city that had Wax Trax! Records and is home to groups like Ministry, Front 242 and KMFDM.
Reason #2: The band has made five albums that debuted at #1 before.
They started their streak with Believe (2002).
This was the first of Disturbed’s albums to debut at #1. Released shortly after the tragic events of 9/11, Believe offered a harder, more conventional heavy metal sound. The lyrics touched on themes of sadness and even spirituality, capturing the mood of a difficult period.
This resonated with many people around the web, propelling the album to achieve significant commercial success, including three hit singles and a double platinum certification.
The band continued with Ten thousand fists (2005).
This album took the Disturbed lyrics and sound to even heavier and more political depths. It’s known for arena-suited songs and striking guitar solos, creating a powerful listening experience. Notably, it includes an impactful cover of Genesis’s ‘Land of confusion’, which stood out both musically and thematically.
In the end, the album gave rise to five whopping singles and achieved double platinum status. It reinforces the band’s growing influence in the genre, even to those who were asking, ‘Is Disturbed nu metal enough?’
Fans continued to support them in the release of Indestructible (2008).
Often seen as their darkest and most brutal album with industrial thrash pieces like ‘Perfect insanity’ and ‘Divide’, the album pushed their sound to a grittier place. However, it kept the band’s signature anthem-like qualities, similar to the work in R’n’R heaven. This is particularly seen with singles like ‘The night’ and ‘Inside the fire’. The same even goes for the track ‘Indestructible’.
With this, the album gained platinum status and ‘Inside the fire’ even garnered a Grammy nomination for continued critical acclaim.
Asylum (2010) was another great album they worked on.
This collection of Disturbed songs gave renewed heaviness with fewer electronic and industrial elements.
Tracks like ‘The animal’, ‘Another way to die’ and ‘Warrior’ even showcased the band’s ever-evolving sound. While the album did debut at #1, it achieved gold rather than platinum certification, reflecting a slight dip in commercial success but the willingness and versatility to change styles slightly. However, this may be part of the reason why fans ask, ‘Is Disturbed nu metal enough?’
Disturbed came back strong with Immortalized (2015).
After a short break, the album Immortalized marked a significant turning point for the band.
Shaped by producer Kevin Churko, the album had fewer electronic features and a brighter and live feel to it, bringing a fresh edge to their music. A standout statement was their cover of ‘The sound of silence’, which became a significant hit and showed their flexibility.
These changes helped the band regain platinum status, despite earlier mixed reviews for side projects and fans thinking, ‘Is Disturbed nu metal enough?’
Reason #3: The album Evolution (2018) is still influential even if it didn’t debut at #1.
There were market dynamics and consumer shifts.
Just like the shifts after seventies jukebox, the music industry scene was changing in a similar way around the time Evolution was released. There was a notable decrease in physical record sales, mainly because mainstream retail stores reduced their availability.
Major retailers like Best Buy, Walmart and Target cut back on their music offerings, limiting the visibility of new albums. Additionally, online giant Amazon didn’t push new music in its store placements, making it harder for new releases to catch the public’s eye.
There’s also the potential that Disturbed’s core fan base is keeping up with the times, the same way that fans of artists like Johnny Thunders are modernising, which means they might prefer streaming or experiencing live shows over purchasing physical albums.
The album was received well despite everything.
General talk suggests Evolution is one of Disturbed’s most underrated works. The second single, ‘A reason to fight’, while missing the impactful choruses Disturbed is known for, still carried their classic energy. This album also featured more subdued tracks like ‘Already gone’, ‘Hold on to memories’ and ‘Watch you burn’, all of which diverged from their usual hard-hitting style.
The album’s inclusion of several ballads might have surprised fans expecting traditional hard anthems, leading more people to ask, ‘Is Disturbed nu metal enough?’
However, this move showed that Disturbed was always open to changing, experimenting and refining their style to align with industry waves. Regardless of future achievements, their outstanding 13-year streak with five consecutive #1 albums has placed their work within the upper ranks of metal, unlike some of the talented yet forgotten 70s bands.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What are the influences behind Disturbed’s music style?
The band draws heavily from heavy metal and hard rock while also incorporating elements from nu metal and alternative metal. They have cited iconic groups like Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Metallica and Pantera as major influences, which are evident in their powerful riffs and intense drum patterns.
That’s why, when answering the question ‘Is Disturbed metal?’, it’s important to consider all the other genre influences that have shaped their work.
What themes are commonly found in Disturbed’s lyrics?
Many artists have touched on politics and social commentary in their music, from James Brown to U2, and that includes the Disturbed band. The band frequently critiques societal issues like media influence, government control and organised religion while promoting messages of individuality and self-acceptance.
Existential struggles are a recurring topic in their songs as well, addressing concepts of Heaven and Hell, personal turmoil and the human condition.
In addition to real-world issues, their incorporation of fantasy elements like vampirism, werewolves and demons adds a twist to their songs’ imagery and storytelling.
How has Disturbed influenced other bands or the metal genre?
Their early 2000s success, particularly with their debut album The sickness, reignited interest in heavy metal, introducing a new generation to the genre. Plus, their ability to fuse melodic elements with aggressive instrumentation has set a standard for other artists, influencing the sound and approach of many contemporary bands.
How does Disturbed’s music compare to other nu metal bands?
Distinct from many nu metal bands, Disturbed integrates traditional heavy metal components and a melodious style.
Unlike the typical nu metal reliance on hip-hop elements and sparse guitar solos, Disturbed opts for robust guitar riffs and complex solos, evolving from their initial nu metal influences and musical style in The sickness to incorporate more intricate lyrical themes in later albums.
That’s why fans always end up asking, ‘Is Disturbed nu metal?’
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Disclaimer: The information provided is for educational and entertainment purposes only. While we strive for accuracy, music history is often based on available documentation and interpretation.
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