ARTIST STORY
DISTURBED.
From handing out demos in Chicago to The Sound of Silence: Disturbed built a distinctive sound on power, rhythm and the unexpected fluidity of David Draiman’s voice. Explore more at SJELF: Evolution on vinyl · Divisive on vinyl · Immortalized on vinyl · heavy metal.
IMAGE CREDIT: Biha / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. David Draiman at Nova Rock, June 10, 2016. Photo unaltered, scaled.
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Open in Spotify ↗You don’t need to know David Draiman’s name to recognize his voice. With Disturbed, one rhythmic outburst can be enough. Yet that sound tells only part of the story. Behind the menace is a band that builds a melody just as carefully as a heavy riff. Listen further on LP with Indestructible and The Sickness.
CHICAGO, CASSETTES AND ORIGINAL MATERIAL.
Guitarist Dan Donegan, drummer Mike Wengren and bassist Steve Kmak were already playing together in Brawl when Draiman joined in 1996. The name changed to Disturbed. According to music publisher Primary Wave, the new singer brought exactly the melodic identity the group was looking for. John Moyer later took over on bass.
An audience didn’t appear overnight. In an interview about the early days, Wengren recalled how the band handed out demo cassettes at gigs. Small shows funded new recordings. In this way, a following grew out of bars on Chicago’s South Side, before a record label came on board.
THE VOICE AS A PERCUSSION INSTRUMENT.
On 2000’s The Sickness, vocals, guitar and drums lock together tightly. Stupify and Down with the Sickness work with short accents and a menacing cadence. The vocals support the rhythm, but also open up the chorus. That’s the distinctive quality: angular verses find a melodic release.
That melodic side grew with Believe and Ten Thousand Fists. Listen to the shift from a choppy riff to the chorus of Stricken. The energy holds while the song suddenly opens up. The band was part of the nu metal breakthrough, but also drew on classic heavy metal and hard rock.
A DIFFERENT KIND OF INTENSITY.
After a hiatus, Disturbed returned in 2015 with Immortalized. It featured an orchestral version of Simon & Garfunkel’s The Sound of Silence. Draiman builds from dark, restrained vocals to a powerful climax. This time, the tension comes primarily from restraint.
The performance also reached people outside the metal audience. One notable example is dancer Nyle DiMarco. The deaf contestant on Dancing with the Stars asked the band in 2016 if he could use their version. Disturbed shared his request: in his dance, the song took on a new meaning connected to the experiences of the deaf community.
Evolution made more room for the quieter side; in 2022, Divisive brought heavy riffs back to the fore, with Ann Wilson guesting on Don’t Tell Me. The single I Will Not Break was released in 2025 on their own Mother Culture Records. In the official discography, Divisive remains their eighth studio album.
ONE THING YOU DIDN’T KNOW.
At his audition, Draiman didn’t ask to play a familiar cover. Instead, he wanted to hear the band’s original music and improvised a vocal line over it. According to Wengren, it was that combination of initiative and a distinctive sound that immediately convinced the others.
THE FACTS
ESSENTIAL DISCOGRAPHY
All released studio albums, in chronological order. Live albums, compilations and EPs are not included.
- 2000The Sickness
- 2002Believe
- 2005Ten Thousand Fists
- 2008Indestructible
- 2010Asylum
- 2015Immortalized
- 2018Evolution
- 2022Divisive
FAQ
Where is Disturbed from?
Disturbed was formed in Chicago. The band combines metal, hard rock and alternative influences with the distinctive voice and rhythmic delivery of singer David Draiman.
Who are the members of Disturbed?
The best-known lineup consists of David Draiman, guitarist Dan Donegan, bassist John Moyer and drummer Mike Wengren. Donegan’s riffs and Wengren’s tight rhythms provide the foundation for Draiman’s vocals.
Which album was Disturbed’s breakthrough?
2000’s The Sickness was their debut and breakthrough album. Singles such as Stupify and Down with the Sickness made their heavy, staccato sound instantly recognizable.
What does Down with the Sickness mean?
The song isn’t a literal diagnosis, but uses aggression and alienation as an outlet. The combination of a simple riff, the familiar vocal intro and a captivating chorus made it their signature song.
Why did The Sound of Silence become so well known?
Disturbed recorded Simon & Garfunkel’s The Sound of Silence as a restrained, orchestral ballad. The arrangement showcases a different side of Draiman’s voice and consequently reached listeners beyond their core metal audience.
Which Disturbed records are worth checking out on vinyl?
The Sickness is a direct starting point, Ten Thousand Fists builds on the big riffs, and Immortalized features the version of The Sound of Silence. For recent reissues, it’s worth comparing the track list and number of LPs, as special editions can differ.
Visit the DISTURBED artist page for vinyl releases and more to discover.
Read more about NU METAL.
THE FINAL WORD.
POWER ALSO LIES IN RESTRAINT.
Put Down with the Sickness next to The Sound of Silence. The contrast is stark, but both are connected by their attention to rhythm, build and an instantly recognizable voice. Between them lies the world of Disturbed.
