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Disturbed

Disturbed turned rhythmic metal, huge choruses and David Draiman’s unmistakable vocal style into one of modern metal’s most successful formulas — from Down with the Sickness to Stricken, Inside the Fire and their dramatic cover of The Sound of Silence.

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Formed
1994
Origin
Chicago, IL
Albums
8
Signature Song
Down with the Sickness
Latest Album
Divisive
Background

About Disturbed

Disturbed began in Chicago in 1994, originally under the name Brawl before David Draiman joined as vocalist and helped reshape the band’s identity. Guitarist Dan Donegan and drummer Mike Wengren were there from the beginning, building a tight, rhythmic heavy sound that leaned on precision as much as aggression. When Draiman arrived, his clipped phrasing, melodic power and instantly recognisable percussive delivery gave the band the final piece of its sound.

The debut album The Sickness arrived in 2000 and became a defining record of the post-nu-metal explosion. Down with the Sickness made Disturbed unavoidable, but the album also contained Stupify, Voices and The Game, songs that showed a band more controlled and hook-focused than many of their peers. Disturbed sounded angry, but they also sounded organised — every riff, vocal rhythm and drum hit seemed designed for maximum impact.

Across the 2000s, Disturbed became one of heavy music’s most commercially reliable bands. Believe, Ten Thousand Fists, Indestructible and Asylum all expanded the formula while keeping the core intact: big riffs, motivational anger, dark subject matter and huge choruses. Stricken, Land of Confusion, Inside the Fire and Indestructible helped turn them into an arena metal band rather than just a breakthrough-era act.

The band’s second life came with Immortalized in 2015. Their cover of Simon & Garfunkel’s The Sound of Silence revealed a different side of Draiman’s voice and brought Disturbed to a wider audience than many expected. Later albums Evolution and Divisive continued to mix heavy anthems with more reflective material, proving that Disturbed’s appeal was not just nostalgia for the early 2000s but a durable connection with metal fans who value power, clarity and catharsis.

Ranked

Top 10 Disturbed Songs

Ranked by songwriting craft, cultural impact, live power, vocal performance and how well each track represents Disturbed’s sound.

01
Down with the Sickness
The Sickness
Disturbed’s signature song and one of the most recognisable metal tracks of the 2000s. The “ooh-wah-ah-ah-ah” vocal hook became instantly iconic, but the song works because the riff, groove and chorus all hit with simple force. It is still the song most casual listeners associate with the band.
2000
02
Stricken
Ten Thousand Fists
One of Disturbed’s best pure metal singles. Stricken has a huge chorus, a sharp Dan Donegan guitar solo and one of Draiman’s strongest melodic performances. It captures the band at the point where they had fully moved from nu-metal outsiders into mainstream heavy metal power.
2005
03
The Sound of Silence
Immortalized
A cover that changed the public perception of Disturbed. Instead of turning the song into a metal track, the band leaned into orchestral drama and gave Draiman room to show the full scale of his voice. It became one of their biggest crossover moments and introduced them to listeners far outside metal.
2015
04
Inside the Fire
Indestructible
Dark, direct and built around one of the band’s strongest riffs, Inside the Fire is a standout from the Indestructible era. It combines personal darkness with arena-sized impact, and the chorus is one of Draiman’s most forceful performances.
2008
05
Stupify
The Sickness
Stupify was one of the earliest songs to show what made Disturbed different. The rhythms are tight, the vocal pattern is unusual, and the chorus has more melody than the aggression around it suggests. It remains one of the best tracks from the debut.
2000
06
Indestructible
Indestructible
Disturbed at their most motivational and militaristic. Indestructible is built like a battle anthem: pounding rhythm, clean structure and a chorus designed to be shouted back by thousands of people. It is one of their clearest arena-metal statements.
2008
07
Prayer
Believe
Prayer marked a more mature and darker step after The Sickness. The song has a stronger emotional weight than much of the debut and helped prove Disturbed could grow without losing their core sound.
2002
08
Ten Thousand Fists
Ten Thousand Fists
A definitive crowd anthem. Ten Thousand Fists is not subtle, but it does exactly what Disturbed do best: channel frustration into communal energy. It is built for live shows and remains one of their most effective open-air festival songs.
2005
09
Land of Confusion
Ten Thousand Fists
Disturbed’s Genesis cover worked because the band made it sound like one of their own songs. The riff-heavy version turned the original’s political anxiety into a modern metal anthem, helped by an animated video that became a major part of the song’s identity.
2005
10
The Vengeful One
Immortalized
Disturbed’s comeback single after their hiatus sounded like a deliberate reminder of what people liked about the band: precision riffs, sharp vocal rhythms and a chorus with immediate impact. It re-established them strongly before the unexpected crossover success of The Sound of Silence.
2015

For the full ranking see the best Disturbed songs guide.

Discography

Disturbed Albums: Where to Start

Key albums with honest notes on who each one is for.

2000
The Sickness
⭐ Best starting point: classic era
The debut contains Down with the Sickness, Stupify, Voices and The Game. It is the rawest and most era-defining Disturbed album.
2002
Believe
Start here if: you want the darker follow-up
Less chaotic than the debut and more serious in tone. Prayer and Remember show the band moving toward a more mature heavy sound.
2005
Ten Thousand Fists
⭐ Best starting point: arena Disturbed
The album where Disturbed fully became an arena metal band. Stricken, Ten Thousand Fists and Land of Confusion are essential.
2008
Indestructible
⭐ Best starting point: heavy 2000s peak
One of their strongest front-to-back records, with Inside the Fire, Indestructible and The Night. Heavy, polished and confident.
2010
Asylum
Start here if: you want a darker, heavier mood
A heavier and more intense album with Another Way to Die and Asylum. Best for listeners who prefer the band’s darker side.
2015
Immortalized
⭐ Best starting point: modern era
The comeback album that gave Disturbed a second life. The Vengeful One restored the heavy sound, while The Sound of Silence became a huge crossover moment.
2018
Evolution
Start here if: you want the softer experimental side
A more melodic and reflective album, mixing heavy tracks with ballads. A Reason to Fight is the key emotional track from this period.
2022
Divisive
Start here if: you want current Disturbed
A return to a more direct heavy sound after Evolution. Hey You, Unstoppable and Bad Man show the band leaning back into punchy, riff-driven material.
History

Disturbed: Key Moments

1994
Formation in Chicago
Disturbed form in Chicago, originally known as Brawl before David Draiman joins and the band takes on the name Disturbed.
2000
The Sickness breaks through
The Sickness turns Disturbed into one of the breakout heavy bands of the early 2000s, powered by Down with the Sickness and Stupify.
2002
Believe reaches number one
Believe gives the band a more serious and refined sound and confirms they are not a one-album success story.
2004
John Moyer joins
Bassist John Moyer replaces Steve “Fuzz” Kmak and becomes part of the long-running modern Disturbed line-up.
2005
Ten Thousand Fists makes them arena metal
Ten Thousand Fists produces Stricken, Land of Confusion and the title track, pushing Disturbed into a bigger arena-ready sound.
2008
Indestructible becomes a heavy peak
Indestructible gives the band one of their strongest albums, led by Inside the Fire and the title track.
2011
Hiatus begins
After years of constant touring and recording, Disturbed go on hiatus, giving members time for side projects and a reset.
2015
Immortalized and The Sound of Silence
Disturbed return with Immortalized. Their cover of The Sound of Silence becomes a massive crossover success and shows a different side of Draiman’s voice.
2018
Evolution changes the tone
Evolution adds more ballads and reflective material, showing a softer, more personal side of Disturbed.
2022
Divisive returns to heavier ground
Divisive brings the band back toward a more direct, riff-driven heavy sound with songs like Hey You and Unstoppable.
Test Yourself

Disturbed Trivia Quiz

Five questions — how many can you get right?

Where to Start

Best Disturbed Songs by Listening Mood

Not sure where to begin? Use this as your entry point.

First song ever
Down with the Sickness
Best metal single
Stricken
Biggest vocal moment
The Sound of Silence
Dark heavy anthem
Inside the Fire
Early classic
Stupify
Motivational anthem
Indestructible
Crowd energy
Ten Thousand Fists
Modern comeback
The Vengeful One
Questions

Disturbed FAQs

When did Disturbed form?
Disturbed formed in Chicago, Illinois in 1994. The band was originally known as Brawl before David Draiman joined and the name changed to Disturbed.
Who are the current members of Disturbed?
The current line-up is David Draiman on vocals, Dan Donegan on guitar and keyboards, Mike Wengren on drums and John Moyer on bass.
What is Disturbed’s most famous song?
Down with the Sickness is Disturbed’s most famous original song. Their cover of The Sound of Silence is also one of their biggest and most widely recognised recordings.
What is the best Disturbed album to start with?
The Sickness is the best starting point for classic Disturbed. Ten Thousand Fists and Indestructible are also strong choices if you want the band’s bigger arena-metal sound.
Did Disturbed cover The Sound of Silence?
Yes. Disturbed recorded a dramatic version of Simon & Garfunkel’s The Sound of Silence for Immortalized. It became one of their biggest crossover hits.
What is Disturbed’s latest album?
Disturbed’s latest studio album is Divisive, released in 2022. The band has also released newer standalone material since then.
Can I play a Disturbed guessing game online?
Yes — RockHeardle includes rock and metal tracks. You can also try Metal Heardle for heavier music.