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".
Prayer
Disturbed Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just to compliment your sorrow
Another life that I've taken from you
A gift to add on to your pain and suffering
Another truth you can never believe
Has crippled you completely
All the cries you're beginning to hear
Trapped in your mind, and the sound is deafening
Let me enlighten you
This is the way I pray
Living just isn't hard enough
Burn me alive, inside
Living my life's not hard enough
Take everything away
Another nightmare about to come true
Will manifest tomorrow
Another love that I've taken from you
Lost in time, on the edge of suffering
Another taste of the evil I breed
Will level you completely
Bring to life everything that you fear
Live in the dark, and the world is threatening
Let me enlighten you
This is the way i pray
Living just isn't hard enough
Burn me alive, inside
Living my life's not hard enough
Take everything away
Return to me
Leave me no one
Turn to me
Return to me
Cast aside
You've made me turn away
Living just isn't hard enough
Burn me alive, inside
Living my life's not hard enough
Take everything away
The lyrics of "Prayer" by Disturbed convey a sense of despair, hopelessness, and self-loathing. The first verse speaks of the singer's inability to make their dreams a reality, which only adds to their sorrow, along with the guilt they feel for taking away someone else's life, adding to their own suffering. The second verse continues this theme with the manifestation of another looming nightmare, the loss of love and the fear of the evil that they have created. These events have left them trapped in their mind, plagued by deafening cries that only they can hear.
However, the chorus, which is repeated twice in between the verses, reveals the singer's response to their feelings of despair - they pray. The way they pray is not the traditional way, as they seek to be burned alive, to have everything taken away from them, to be cast aside, to be left with no one, and to return to the darkness that surrounds them. This might seem like a paradoxical approach, but it suggests that to this person, life is not worth living, and they are ready to welcome death.
Overall, the lyrics seem to be an expression of the singer's inner torment and their search for release. They are fully aware of the pain they have caused and are ready to pay for it in any way possible.
Line by Line Meaning
Another dream that will never come true
It's another one of your dreams that will remain unfulfilled
Just to compliment your sorrow
I am doing this to enhance your sadness
Another life that I've taken from you
I have killed another person close to you
A gift to add on to your pain and suffering
This act is like a present to make you hurt even more
Another truth you can never believe
Here's another piece of information that you won't accept
Has crippled you completely
It has completely broken you down
All the cries you're beginning to hear
You're hearing all the screams and sobs in your head
Trapped in your mind, and the sound is deafening
They're all stuck in your consciousness, and they're overwhelming
Let me enlighten you
Allow me to educate you
This is the way I pray
This is how I worship and seek what I desire
Living just isn't hard enough
Simply existing isn't quite excruciating
Burn me alive, inside
Make me feel as if I'm on fire, within me
Living my life's not hard enough
My existence doesn't bring me enough pain
Take everything away
Strip me of everything I have and possess
Another nightmare about to come true
There's another horrifying reality that's about to materialize
Will manifest tomorrow
It will become real tomorrow
Another love that I've taken from you
Another romantic relationship that I have destroyed for you
Lost in time, on the edge of suffering
It's gone, and you're tormented and close to breaking point
Another taste of the evil I breed
Here's a small sample of the wickedness I instill
Will level you completely
It will knock you down entirely
Bring to life everything that you fear
Let all of your apprehensions materialize
Live in the dark, and the world is threatening
When you're in darkness, the globe appears more intimidating
Return to me
Come back to me
Leave me no one
Take everyone away from me
Turn to me
Come to me instead
Cast aside
Push away everything that doesn't include me
You've made me turn away
Your actions have made me look away from you
Living just isn't hard enough
Simply existing isn't quite excruciating
Burn me alive, inside
Make me feel as if I'm on fire, within me
Living my life's not hard enough
My existence doesn't bring me enough pain
Take everything away
Strip me of everything I have and possess
Lyrics © Boa Musica Europa, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAN DONEGAN, DAVID DRAIMAN, MICHAEL WENGREN, MIKE WENGREN, STEVE KMAK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@popularscofield
Here the Lyrics:
Another dream that will never come true
Just to compliment your sorrow
Another life that I've taken from you
A gift to add on to your pain and suffering
Another truth you can never believe
Has crippled you completely
All the cries you're beginning to hear
Trapped in your mind, and the sound is deafening
Let me enlighten you
This is the way I pray
Living just isn't hard enough
Burn me alive inside
Living my life's not hard enough
Take everything away
Another nightmare about to come true
Will manifest tomorrow
Another love that I've taken from you
Lost in time, on the edge of suffering
Another taste of the evil I breed
Will level you completely
Bring to life everything that you fear
Live in the dark, and the world is threatening
Let me enlighten you
This is the way I pray
Living just isn't hard enough
Burn me alive inside
Living my life's not hard enough
Take everything away
Return to me
Return to me
Return to me
Turn to me
Leave me no one
Turn to me
Return to me
Return to me
Turn to me
Cast aside
Return to me
Return to me
Return to me
Turn to me
Leave me no one
Turn to me
Return to me
Return to me
You've made me turn away
Living just isn't hard enough
Burn me alive inside
Living my life's not hard enough
They take everything from you
Living just isn't hard enough
Burn me alive inside
Living my life's not hard enough
Take everything away
@andoryuu3
@Jose Leonardo Lemus: Correct.
I remember hearing David Draiman say the video was supposed to be like a modern twist on Job’s story. I didn’t have high speed internet at the time, so I think I must have learned this from the video content on the Believe CD itself.
Having just read about his early life on Wikipedia, it makes a lot of sense why he would sing about something like this.
I wouldn’t consider myself a huge fan of the band, but I do very much admire David. This and “Liberate” are the two most memorable songs for me. So much wisdom in just two tracks.
Respect.
@Knights_Oath
I lost a brother in Afghanistan, we first bonded over our love of Disturbed and this was his favorite song. I could not understand why until after he died. We said we were going to go see Disturbed when we got home, I have seen Disturbed live several time now and they have played Prayer every time. When it plays I can feel he is there with me. Semper Fi brother, I will see you again one day.
@LoganLynch12
RIP your brother
@daleharris3809
Reading this on Memorial Day...as a former FMF Corpsman I'm honored to have been able to share the line with Marines. Truly the best of the best
@Knights_Oath
@@daleharris3809 I am glad you are still with us Doc.
@theironmarshmallowg3932
May he rest in peace
@Obinoe40
Bro. Much love.
@mossshannon6809
Whenever I'm feeling defeated, helpless, angry, I turn this song on. I've loved this song for years, and it still counts as my "prayer."
@trtryyggghj1245
8
@BabyWick351
💜🤘💜🤘💜🤘💜🤘💜🤘💜🤘💜🤘
@randybuja
Pray to Jesus fool