The band has released six studio albums, five of which have consecutively debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. Disturbed went into hiatus in October 2011, during which the band's members focused on various side projects, and returned in June 2015, releasing their first album in four years, Immortalized, on August 21, 2015. They also recorded and released one live album, Disturbed: Live at Red Rocks on November 18, 2016, which was recorded on August 18, 2016 at Red Rocks Amphitheater in Morrison, Colorado, located about 10 miles west of Denver, Colorado. Their seventh studio album, Evolution, was released on October 19, 2018.
Before David Draiman joined Disturbed, guitarist Dan Donegan, drummer Mike Wengren, and bassist Steve "Fuzz" Kmak were in a band called Brawl with vocalist Erich Awalt. Before changing their name to "Brawl", however, Donegan mentioned in the band's DVD, Decade of Disturbed, that the name was originally going to be "Crawl"; they switched it to "Brawl", due to the name already being used by another band. Awalt left the band shortly after the recording of a demo tape; the other three members advertised for a singer. They posted an advertisement in the local music publication in Chicago, Illinois, called the "Illinois Entertainer". Draiman answered the advertisement after going to twenty other auditions that month. Guitarist Dan Donegan commented on Draiman: "You know, out of all the singers that we had talked to or auditioned, he [Draiman] was the only singer who was ready to go with originals. And that impressed me, just to attempt that".
With regard to Draiman being the singer for the band, Donegan said, "After a minute or two, he just starts banging out these melodies that were huge...I'm playing my guitar and I'm grinning from ear to ear, trying not to give it away that I like this guy, you know, because I don't want to, you know...[say] 'Yeah, we'll give you a call back. We'll, you know, discuss it.' But I was so psyched. Chill up my spine. I'm like, 'There is something here.'" As drummer Mike Wengren commented, "We clicked right off the bat." Draiman then joined the band in 1996 and the band was renamed Disturbed. When asked in an interview why he suggested to name the band "Disturbed," Draiman said, "It had been a name I have been contemplating for a band for years. It just seems to symbolize everything we were feeling at the time. The level of conformity that people are forced into was disturbing to us and we were just trying to push the envelope and the name just sorta made sense.
Disturbed headlined the 2018 Rock Fest, along with Godsmack and Incubus. The band announced via social media in early January of 2018 that they had entered the studio to begin recording their next studio album. In June 2018 lead guitarist Dan Donegan and bassist John Moyer confirmed with sources that the new album is complete, with 100% of the songs finished it is on to just mixing and mastering. Band members also posted a picture via Instagram together at a dinner party in celebration of completion of the recording process. The band's first album in over 3 years and the band’s first album in over 8 years to have bassist John Moyer being involved in.
The album, Evolution was released on October 19, 2018. On August 16, 2018, the lead single, titled "Are You Ready" was released. On September 21, 2018, the album's second single, titled "A Reason to Fight" was released.
Disturbed's mascot, named "The Guy", was originally just a drawing of a face with a large grin, as seen on the back of the album The Sickness. The original drawing of The Guy was then edited using a digital distorting program. After the original image had been distorted three times The Guy became the official mascot for the band. Later, he would be drawn as a full figure by artist David Finch.
Classified as a heavy metal or hard rock band, Disturbed is also regarded by some critics as nu metal and alternative metal. When asked about die-hard heavy metal fans not finding Disturbed heavy enough, Draiman at one time stated:
"We probably have too much melody going on or we're not quite as turbulent or caustic. While I really love that type of music, it's not what we try to do. If we have to place things in context, we're more hard rock than heavy metal these days. The secret is that we were never really part of any particular trend, although we definitely benefited from the popularity of what was called nu metal at the time ... We never had the stereotypical attributes that those bands had. We don’t rap; there’s no turntable involved; no fusion in that respect. We play, in my opinion, classic metal. Sabbath, Maiden, Priest, Metallica, Pantera: these are the bands that made us want to play."
They have often cited their influences as Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Metallica, Pantera, Iron Maiden, Led Zeppelin, Queensryche, Nirvana, Alice in Chains and Soundgarden.
Guitarist Dan Donegan uses guitar tunings Drop C, Drop C# and Drop B (also occasionally Eb), which are lower tunings than regular E standard. These lower tunings allow for a heavier sound and quicker chord changes in Donegan's riffs. Donegan also uses subtle electronic effects, which the rest of the band refers to as "The Danny Donegan Orchestra".
Breathe
Disturbed Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Forgetting what's forsaken the reason why
You are alone again
You will believe the lie
Judging from what you've taken
You breathe, alive
You are alone again
You call to me
Spirit racing on
There is nothing I can do
For you are next to no one
You will release your life
Joining with the god damned world
Of the dead and the lonely
You'll never leave alive
Now do you think you're too damn good
For the killing kind
You will begin to cry
Hearing the silence breaking
You breathe, alive
But you are alone again
From the heart of darkness
You call to me
Spirit raging on
There is nothing I can do
For you are next to no one
You will release your life
Joining with the god damned world
Of the dead and the lonely
You'll never leave alive
Now do you think you're too damn good
For the killing kind
You will release your life
Forgetting what's forsaken
You breathe, alive
You are alone again
You will release your life
Joining with the god damned world
Of the dead and the lonely
You'll never leave alive
Now do you think you're too damn good
For the killing kind
Nothing I can do
for you are next to no one.
The lyrics of Disturbed’s “Breathe” reference themes of isolation, loneliness, and surrender to darkness. The song opens with a bleak image of someone who has given up on life, “releasing” it as if it is a weight too heavy to carry. This person is “alone again,” likely a reference to previous experiences of loneliness that have made them feel isolated from others. Despite seeking connection, they are unable to achieve it as they are “next to no one” and feel separate from the rest of the world.
The lyrics suggest that the person in the song has taken a dark path in life, one that has involved making difficult choices and giving in to negative influences. They have “judged” others, and perhaps themselves, harshly, leading them to believe a “lie” that they are unworthy or undeserving of love and friendship. However, the song also represents a glimmer of hope, as it suggests that even in the depths of despair, there is still the possibility of new life and new beginnings. The repeated lines “you breathe, alive” serve as a mantra, reminding the listener that even in the most difficult moments, there is still the presence of life and breathing.
In the chorus, the lyrics shift to focus on the singer’s point of view. They acknowledge that they are powerless to help the person in the song, even as they hear their cries for help. The chorus repeats the idea that the person is “joining with the goddamned world of the dead and the lonely” and that they will “never leave alive,” adding to the sense of hopelessness and despair.
Overall, “Breathe” is a powerful song that captures the feeling of being alone and adrift in the world, struggling to find a place where you belong. It speaks to the darkness that can overtake us at times, while also reminding us that there is always the possibility of hope and new beginnings.
Line by Line Meaning
You will release your life
You are going to give up your life willingly and let go of everything which is holding you back.
Forgetting what's forsaken the reason why
You have forgotten the reasons why you have lost what is dear to you.
You are alone again
You realize that you are back to square one, being by yourself without anyone to help you.
You will believe the lie
You will start to believe in something which is a false image of the truth.
Judging from what you've taken
You will be judged based on what you have taken from others and not what you have given.
You breathe, alive
The most basic yet the most powerful indication of being alive is your ability to breathe.
You are alone again
You still find yourself alone despite having tried to change your situation.
From the heart of darkness, You call to me
Your cry for help comes from the darkest parts of yourself, and you call out to others in search of someone to save you.
Spirit racing on
Your spirit is in overdrive, desperate to find a way out of the darkness you're in.
There is nothing I can do
Despite others being present, no one can truly help you but yourself.
For you are next to no one
You are essentially invisible to those around you, and therefore, alone.
Joining with the god damned world
You are joining a world of people who are damned or cursed, which will make your life difficult.
Of the dead and the lonely
You are joining a world of people who have nothing to live for and are isolated.
You'll never leave alive
You won't be able to escape from this world alive, you'll be trapped forever.
Now do you think you're too damn good
Are you so proud that you think you are too good for those who are less fortunate, those who are in dire straits.
For the killing kind
It's not just your physical survival that is in question, but your spiritual and emotional survival as well.
You will begin to cry
You will break down emotionally and start to cry.
Hearing the silence breaking
The breaking of the silence is the indication of the beginning of something new, bringing with it the hope of a better future.
But you are alone again
Despite the hope of a better future, you still find yourself alone.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Steve Kmak, Dan Donegan, David Draiman, Mike Wengren
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@wbs1O1
Disturbed - Breathe - Lyrics
[Verse 1]
You will release your life
Forgetting what's forsaken
The reason why
You are alone again
You will believe the lie
Judging from what you've taken
You breathe, alive
You are alone again
[Pre-Chorus]
From the heart of darkness
You call to me
Spirit raging on
There is nothing I can do
For you are next to no one
[Chorus]
You will release your life
Joining with the goddamned world
Of the dead and the lonely
You'll never leave alive
Now, do you think you're too damn good
For the killing kind
[Verse 2]
You will release your life
Forgetting what's forsaken
The reason why
You are alone again
You will begin to cry
Hearing the silence breaking
You breathe, alive
But you are alone again
[Pre-Chorus]
From the heart of darkness
You call to me
Spirit raging on
There is nothing I can do
For you are next to no one
[Chorus]
You will release your life
Joining with the goddamned world
Of the dead and the lonely
You'll never leave alive
Now, do you think you're too damn good
For the killing kind
You will release your life
Joining with the goddamned world
Of the dead and the lonely
You'll never leave alive
Now, do you think you're too damn good
For the killing kind
[Bridge]
You will release your life
Forgetting what's forsaken
You breathe, alive
You are alone again
[Chorus]
You will release your life
Joining with the goddamned world
Of the dead and the lonely
You'll never leave alive
Now, do you think you're too damn good
For the killing kind
You will release your life (Release your life)
Joining with the goddamned world
Of the dead and the lonely
You'll never leave alive (Leave alive)
Now, do you think you're too damn good
For the killing kind
[Outro]
Nothing I can do
Nothing I can do
@RammmFan
mindless hatred, anxiety or insanity and self loathing and insecurities the song brings YOU peace
@BrianAlexDavisMontana406
Right on💯🤘
@Rayonman31
Sometimes its not until you look back on something years later that you realise how good it actually was!! This song and this whole album…start to finish
@brendanstaff6117
That name fills me with the feeling you would make a great Designer, I am on quetiapine and I love me all the Rayon i can indigest
@spsmith6919
For fucking real! I only just rediscovered this album and fell in love with it all over again. This album is their finest, hands down.
@Rayonman31
@@brendanstaff6117 hahaha nothing wrong with a bit of rayon 🤣
@theoar
Thanks for bringing my childhood back.
@daveinjapan
I'm here because I dreamt about this song two nights ago, didn't remember what song it was, and couldn't stop searching YouTube until I found it
@eyelesscrown7346
This whole album is just amazing
@razorburn7745
Ah, high school memories, there you are. 🫡🤘🎸