2008 Woodie Awards
Disturbed delivers
'Indestructible' lays foundation for hard metal band to go down in infamy
By: Ben Johnson
Issue date: 8/29/08 Section: Features
Many bands in today's music industry go their entire career with only one successful album. A few others are able to string together two consecutive albums that show a progression in proficiency and achieve mass appeal. The number of bands capable of producing an evolving level of thunder and
lightning dwindles as the number of albums released increases. For this reason, "Indestructible," the fourth release from American born-and-bred band Disturbed, manages to impress on multiple levels.
Released on June 3, the album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and remained in the top-10 for five weeks. As the band's third consecutive No. 1 debut, the album put Disturbed among only six other rock bands to achieve such levels of stardom. By July, the album reached gold status in the U.S.
The album begins with the low wail of a siren accompanied by the sounds of distant gunfire and explosions, reminiscent of Black Sabbath's "War Pigs." In that song, Black Sabbath preached against the evils of war. The title track of Disturbed's album, however, shifts into a thickly layered anthem filled with militaristic and combat oriented imagery. "Inside the Fire," the album's first single, follows in the track lineup and offers one of Disturbed's more personal moments lyrically as vocalist Dave Draiman tells the story of a loved one he lost to suicide. The song brims with references to the afterlife and centers around the idea that the singer can only be reunited with his beloved in hell. Accompanied by a thoroughly disturbing (no pun intended) music video, the band has used the single as a means to promote awareness of suicide and begins the music video with a message from Draiman and a suicide hotline number.
From there, "Indestructible" meanders down many a dark path, although the most recurring theme appears to be that of Draiman's romantic misfortunes. In "Façade," "Haunted" and "Deceiver," Draiman pours out his anger against deception, betrayal and failure as only he can.
lightning dwindles as the number of albums released increases. For this reason, "Indestructible," the fourth release from American born-and-bred band Disturbed, manages to impress on multiple levels.
Released on June 3, the album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and remained in the top-10 for five weeks. As the band's third consecutive No. 1 debut, the album put Disturbed among only six other rock bands to achieve such levels of stardom. By July, the album reached gold status in the U.S.
The album begins with the low wail of a siren accompanied by the sounds of distant gunfire and explosions, reminiscent of Black Sabbath's "War Pigs." In that song, Black Sabbath preached against the evils of war. The title track of Disturbed's album, however, shifts into a thickly layered anthem filled with militaristic and combat oriented imagery. "Inside the Fire," the album's first single, follows in the track lineup and offers one of Disturbed's more personal moments lyrically as vocalist Dave Draiman tells the story of a loved one he lost to suicide. The song brims with references to the afterlife and centers around the idea that the singer can only be reunited with his beloved in hell. Accompanied by a thoroughly disturbing (no pun intended) music video, the band has used the single as a means to promote awareness of suicide and begins the music video with a message from Draiman and a suicide hotline number.
From there, "Indestructible" meanders down many a dark path, although the most recurring theme appears to be that of Draiman's romantic misfortunes. In "Façade," "Haunted" and "Deceiver," Draiman pours out his anger against deception, betrayal and failure as only he can.
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