By all accounts, Disturbed had emerged as one among rock’s shining new stars in only a very brief time and whereas they had been undoubtedly on high of their recreation, the street to the band’s third album Ten Thousand Fists was something however a straightforward haul.
The largest hurdle got here within the type of a lineup change. The band parted methods with bassist Steve “Fuzz” Kmak not lengthy after the completion of the second version of their Music as a Weapon tour. The spot remained vacant for the higher a part of a 12 months till the group discovered their new bassist in John Moyer, freshly free from early 2000s radio rockers Union Underground.
“He confirmed plenty of guts,” singer David Draiman stated of Moyer to Launch on the time. “He got here to the tryouts and waited according to all people else on his personal dime with out an invite. That stated lots. That he knew the fabric and performed it properly stated lots. That we vibed properly collectively onstage — you realize, all these issues concerned, and once we added them up and in contrast them to the remainder of the potential candidates, he received.” Drummer Mike Wengren later informed the Instances Chief, “He stepped up and it is simply been nice. He is added a brand new discovered power and pleasure to the band. He is been an awesome participant and we’re gelling very well onstage collectively.” However even with Moyer’s addition, the band nonetheless needed to rise up to hurry and it wasn’t till their touring for Ten Thousand Fists that the bassist was confirmed as an official member.
The band began recording in early 2005 at Groovemaster Studios of their native Chicago with longtime producer Johnny Ok. Whereas there was some sticking to what had labored prior, Disturbed expanded their musical palette with the Ten Thousand Fists album. From a musical standpoint, guitarist Dan Donegan welcomed the concept of incorporating guitar solos, whereas vocalist David Draiman pushed his vocals to incorporate “some extra Rob Halford-esque stuff.”
Talking concerning the inclusion of guitar solos, Donegan said, “After we began writing, we went again to the fundamentals of simply sort of jamming out riffs. That introduced us again to a few of our influences. It made the songs appear to be a few of them might use guitar solos. We simply thought we’d broaden on that. We’re making an attempt to contribute in our manner bringing this ingredient again to music.”
Whereas with reference to influences, one among them was Dimebag Darrell, who was gunned down onstage in December 2004, simply previous to the beginning of recording for the brand new album. The band performed a profit for the Dimebag Darrell Memorial Fund and made a dedication to Dime on the Ten Thousand Fists album. Donegan additionally said that the concentrate on including guitar solos was partially as a tribute to the late guitarist.
Disturbed, “Forgiven”
Lyrically, Disturbed went a bit of extra political for Ten Thousand Fists, protecting the aggression in place however opening as much as extra lyrical themes with their third disc. As well as, the band discovered that they had a rising fanbase within the army and penned the tracks “Forgiven” and “Overburdened” with troopers in thoughts. “We have now the utmost love and respect for the troopers,” stated Draiman to Chart Assault. “We have now pals who’re troopers, a few of whom have died within the strategy of this battle and plenty of of them will play our music going into battle as a way of empowerment, or stripping of their concern. We could not be extra proud. By no means let it’s misunderstood that as a result of we’re towards warfare — which I at all times can be — that we’re towards those that battle.”
As for the general sound, Draiman would inform Billboard, “It appears to fuse the brutality and darkness of The Illness with the added melodic nature and complexity of Consider. It is extra aggressive than the final report, and at instances, extra aggressive than the primary one.”
Disturbed, “Guarded”
On Sept. 20, 2005, the band launched their Ten Thousand Fists album. The group started promotion by issuing the preview observe “Guarded” in late June, however the tune took off proper out of the gate, reaching No. 7 on the Mainstream Rock chart. “‘Guarded’ was put on the market to only whet all people’s urge for food,” stated Draiman to Launch. “It is one of many extra aggressive tracks on the report, simply to remind all people the place we got here from and who we’re. Form of give again to the core a bit of bit. It is a tune that displays what selecting this life forces sure folks to do in a sure manner — you need to stay guarded on a sure degree.”
That early success of the preview tune did nothing to sway followers from “Stricken,” meant to be the primary single from the album. The observe arrived just a few weeks after “Guarded” and shot proper as much as No. 2 on the Mainstream Rock chart and likewise hit No. 13 Various. “Stricken” was one of many first songs ever in Disturbed’s historical past to have a guitar solo and it is private nature actually related with followers.
When it got here time to movie the video for the observe, the group used an deserted hospital for the shoot. The set could also be recognizable to followers because the set from the basic horror movie A Nightmare on Elm Road. Mike Wengren, particularly, shot a few of his scenes within the boiler room the place Freddy Krueger as soon as toiled. “I used to be anticipating to see some Freddy, for him to return out and kick my ass,” laughed the drummer. “He did not need to come out although. He is too scared. He is acquired the claws, however I’ve acquired drum sticks.”
Disturbed, “Stricken”
With two hits proper off the bat, Disturbed turned to the connection tune “Simply Cease” as their third single in early 2006. Draiman defined to Launch, “Ever been in a relationship scenario the place, for no matter motive, the opposite accomplice within the relationship is at all times making an attempt to do issues to make issues extra dramatic? For no good motive? And if they only loosen up and permit issues to be and simply develop and develop, that the whole lot could be a lot happier and extra peaceable. In order that’s the concept behind that tune.” “Simply Cease” would shoot as much as No. 4 on the Mainstream Rock chart, however their first chart-topper off the album was but to return.
That may be the band’s cowl of the Genesis basic “Land of Confusion.” David Draiman was initially towards the concept of doing one other cowl tune, however finally got here round. He informed the Battle Creek Enquirer that he preferred the concept of taking one thing that sounded nothing like Disturbed and making an attempt to make it their very own. As for the video, the band utilized scorching director Todd McFarlane, who wanted a while along with his staff to create the animations for the clip. “[This clip will be] a giant view of the company world and the way it all ties into only one large beast for me,” stated McFarlane to MTV. “That the world is run by one big factor which is pushed by greed and lust.” As said, followers embraced the tune because it peaked at No. 1 on the Mainstream Rock chart, and the band loved some minimal crossover success as properly.
Disturbed, “Land of Confusion”
Ending out the singles for the album was the stay anthem and title observe “Ten Thousand Fists,” which dropped simply earlier than the top of 2006. “It signifies power, unity, conviction, energy and the exhilaration you are feeling if you get to see that at one among our exhibits,” stated Draiman. “It is one among my favorites and other people know that I’ve an affinity for asking folks to place their fists within the air and it is simply, it is exhilaration to have the ability to see ten thousand raised fists or extra.” The observe would go on to be one among their hottest stay songs.
Disturbed, “Ten Thousand Fists”
Talking of stay, Disturbed actually turned one among rock’s high attracts throughout their touring of Ten Thousand Fists. After a headlining tour with Ailing Nino and 10 Years, the group noticed themselves headlining the Jagermeister Music Tour, staging the third Music as a Weapon Tour and serving as de facto co-headliners with System of a Down on Ozzfest 2006 when Ozzy Osbourne performed solely a portion of the run. Nonetheless, the band did must cancel some dates when Draiman bumped into vocal points as a result of extreme acid reflux disease, thus forcing him to re-examine how he approached life on the street.
Ten Thousand Fists turned the band’s second album to high the Billboard 200 Album chart and finally went on to be licensed platinum. It additionally turned out to be a key disc within the evolution of the band, laying the groundwork for his or her future. Draiman just lately mirrored with Loudwire, “That one was a really robust one for us as a result of we had been coming again with our new bass participant on the time, John, and we needed to sort of recover from the entire letting Fuzz go factor and all the luggage that got here with it and show to the world that we’re nonetheless right here, we’re nonetheless highly effective and nonetheless gonna kick your ass. So Ten Thousand Fists was a press release of our enduring capacity to knock doorways down.” Take a look at his full feedback on the disc within the video beneath.
