juggalotricksta
11-30-2004, 09:37 PM
Released: 2000 (Giant)
The Band:
Mike Wengren - Drums, Programming
Fuzz - Bass
Dan Donegan - Guitar, Electronics
David Draiman - Vocals
Tracklist:
1) Voices 3:11
2) The Game 3:45
3) Stupify 4:05
4) Down With the Sickness 4:38
5) Violence Fetish 3:22
6) Fear 3:45
7) Numb 3:44
8) Want 3:51
9) Conflict 4:34
10) Shout2000 4:16
11) Droppin' Plates 3:47
12) Meaning of Life 4:02
The Sickness was Disturbed's first release under Giant Records. I dont know anything about how it did on the charts or how many records it sold because I dont look that much into it. So I have very little hard evidence here. But what I know is that when these guys came onto the scene with the first single Stupify, they went from being virtual unknowns, to being everywhere. It was all I ever heard on my local hard rock station (Funky Munky for those in the area). Voices didnt quite do as well as a single, but after the release of Down With the Sickness, everyone knew who they were. They were playing Ozzfest, Hot Topic started carrying t-shirts, and everyone was talking about the guy with the crazy voice.
David Draiman is the lead singer for the band and his vocals are insane. Its a wonder this guy doesnt have larengitis at the close of every set. He probably has the most original voice in hard rock since Brian Johnson...and this album does a great job of showing off that vocal talent. From singing, to screaming (for lack of a better word), to scatting, they cover it all. Pretty well might I add. But one small drawback for me was that Draiman's vocals drive the music so much almost to the point of overpowering. Stronger than any of the instruments anyway.
So you can probably see where Im going with this. Musically this album is nothing spectacular. Not a lot of solos, and certainly no shredding, from Donegan. When Fuzz does anything fantastic (check The Game towards the end when Draiman is singing, is she really telling lies again) its usually mixed very low. Although Wengren does some nice work in the beginning of Down With the Sickness, and excellent cymbal work through the whole album. But for the most part its simple one or two chord progressions, with little variations mixed in. But lucky for the band, once Draimans vocals kick in, no one seems to care.
All in all, it works...and comes out to be a pretty badass album.
Positives for me have to be, first off David Draimans intense vocal stylings. I have to give the guy credit. He can actually sing pretty well, but when it comes to the screaming grunting monkey sounds we all know and love (see intros to Down With the Sickness and Voices) nobody does it better. I also like the way unusual techniques are thrown in. Like the scatting in The Game and the (Im not sure what to call it, but) almost indian tribal wailing or something in the "if I fail" lines from Stupify. Another positive is Fuzz's bass. He does some awesome slapping and plucking stuff (check The Game but you really have to listen for it). The Electronics on the album are done really well, especially in Meaning of Life. And lastly, their awesome cover of the Tears for Fears song Shout. I thought this version was much better than the original. I love how the harmonies are done in the verses, and how Draiman does the rapid chants toward the end.
Negative of the album...lyrics get pretty boring after the first few tracks, especially in Conflict (where nearly every line in the song ends with the word enemy) and Droppin' Plates. Draiman has an amazing voice, but thats all you really hear. He drives the band and without that voice, face it disturbed wouldnt be much. Consequently there is quite a lack of musicianship showing through from the axe-weilders. Donegans guitar playing leaves a little something to be desired (one or two chords- palm muted for the verses and open for the chorus) and Fuzz's bass playing is suprisingly good, but you never really get to hear it. Drumming is ok, but nothing spectacular.
In closing Im going to rate this cd a 3.5 out of 5. Most of the tracks on the cd are decent, but the ones that are good really hit the mark. I mean they ****ING ROCK. Its a great cd to have if youre into the newer heavy maintstream kinda rock. Not a good one to buy if youre not already into the genre. If anything check it out for the vocals, but thats about all you get. And I gotta say, Disturbed can rock the place live.
Recommended Tracks:
Voices
The Game
Violence Fetish
Shout2000
Skippable Tracks:
Numb
Want
Droppin' Plates
Final Rating: 3.5/5
The Band:
Mike Wengren - Drums, Programming
Fuzz - Bass
Dan Donegan - Guitar, Electronics
David Draiman - Vocals
Tracklist:
1) Voices 3:11
2) The Game 3:45
3) Stupify 4:05
4) Down With the Sickness 4:38
5) Violence Fetish 3:22
6) Fear 3:45
7) Numb 3:44
8) Want 3:51
9) Conflict 4:34
10) Shout2000 4:16
11) Droppin' Plates 3:47
12) Meaning of Life 4:02
The Sickness was Disturbed's first release under Giant Records. I dont know anything about how it did on the charts or how many records it sold because I dont look that much into it. So I have very little hard evidence here. But what I know is that when these guys came onto the scene with the first single Stupify, they went from being virtual unknowns, to being everywhere. It was all I ever heard on my local hard rock station (Funky Munky for those in the area). Voices didnt quite do as well as a single, but after the release of Down With the Sickness, everyone knew who they were. They were playing Ozzfest, Hot Topic started carrying t-shirts, and everyone was talking about the guy with the crazy voice.
David Draiman is the lead singer for the band and his vocals are insane. Its a wonder this guy doesnt have larengitis at the close of every set. He probably has the most original voice in hard rock since Brian Johnson...and this album does a great job of showing off that vocal talent. From singing, to screaming (for lack of a better word), to scatting, they cover it all. Pretty well might I add. But one small drawback for me was that Draiman's vocals drive the music so much almost to the point of overpowering. Stronger than any of the instruments anyway.
So you can probably see where Im going with this. Musically this album is nothing spectacular. Not a lot of solos, and certainly no shredding, from Donegan. When Fuzz does anything fantastic (check The Game towards the end when Draiman is singing, is she really telling lies again) its usually mixed very low. Although Wengren does some nice work in the beginning of Down With the Sickness, and excellent cymbal work through the whole album. But for the most part its simple one or two chord progressions, with little variations mixed in. But lucky for the band, once Draimans vocals kick in, no one seems to care.
All in all, it works...and comes out to be a pretty badass album.
Positives for me have to be, first off David Draimans intense vocal stylings. I have to give the guy credit. He can actually sing pretty well, but when it comes to the screaming grunting monkey sounds we all know and love (see intros to Down With the Sickness and Voices) nobody does it better. I also like the way unusual techniques are thrown in. Like the scatting in The Game and the (Im not sure what to call it, but) almost indian tribal wailing or something in the "if I fail" lines from Stupify. Another positive is Fuzz's bass. He does some awesome slapping and plucking stuff (check The Game but you really have to listen for it). The Electronics on the album are done really well, especially in Meaning of Life. And lastly, their awesome cover of the Tears for Fears song Shout. I thought this version was much better than the original. I love how the harmonies are done in the verses, and how Draiman does the rapid chants toward the end.
Negative of the album...lyrics get pretty boring after the first few tracks, especially in Conflict (where nearly every line in the song ends with the word enemy) and Droppin' Plates. Draiman has an amazing voice, but thats all you really hear. He drives the band and without that voice, face it disturbed wouldnt be much. Consequently there is quite a lack of musicianship showing through from the axe-weilders. Donegans guitar playing leaves a little something to be desired (one or two chords- palm muted for the verses and open for the chorus) and Fuzz's bass playing is suprisingly good, but you never really get to hear it. Drumming is ok, but nothing spectacular.
In closing Im going to rate this cd a 3.5 out of 5. Most of the tracks on the cd are decent, but the ones that are good really hit the mark. I mean they ****ING ROCK. Its a great cd to have if youre into the newer heavy maintstream kinda rock. Not a good one to buy if youre not already into the genre. If anything check it out for the vocals, but thats about all you get. And I gotta say, Disturbed can rock the place live.
Recommended Tracks:
Voices
The Game
Violence Fetish
Shout2000
Skippable Tracks:
Numb
Want
Droppin' Plates
Final Rating: 3.5/5