Disturbed - The Sickness (2000)^{Release ID: 6542}

The most accurate scenario for one of the most iconic nu metal track openings would be something like this: You're at a high floor of a tall building when you feel rumbling going on like the start of an earthquake ("Can you feel that?"). Soon the shaking gets more violent and you try to find a way to escape ("Ah sh*t..."). You find the exit staircase, but the earthquake causes you to trip and fall down the staircase, through a window, out of the building, and onto a power line, electrocuting you ("OOH-WAH-AH-AH-AH!!!").

My brother is a big fan of Disturbed, and they kickstarted his rock/metal interest that would soon lead to mine. He prefers the band's modern alternative metal sound, though he likes a bit of the nu metal heard in The Sickness and, to a lesser extent, Believe and Ten Thousand Fists, including a certain popular hit. I like this album too with several songs deserving as much attention as that hit, though some other songs may come out as weak and forgettable. The nu metal aspects within the dark guitars, electronics, and vocals work quite well, and they would sort of pave the way to Linkin Park's rise to fame with Hybrid Theory later that year.

Raging opening track "Voices" is written in the perspective of a killing psycho. This anthem of a song have fun riffing and a catchy chorus. "The Game" works well with its simple formula. "Stupify" also has a simple structure in perfect rage that would get you hooked like my brother who really enjoys it. Now, "Down with the Sickness"... You know this as one of their most popular songs, starting with that aforementioned opening riff and vocalist David Draiman's memed-to-death primal shriek of "OOH-WAH-AH-AH-AH". The song has been used in many films, TV shows, and video games. This is Disturbed's true anthem! My brother likes it too, but he skips its disturbing bridge which has Draiman roleplaying as a kid being attacked by his abusing mother and ultimately fighting back. I've heard more disturbing sh*t than that, so I can handle that just fine.

Things start to deviate in "Violence Fetish" which starts causing the album's downfall in quality. "Fear" has killer heaviness despite the electronic overdose. "Numb" shows the band attempting to make a slower ballad, ending up in mundane numbness. Linkin Park's "Numb" is better! "Want" is just plain bad, with a laughable cry of "She wants me!"

"Conflict" makes another move at raging heaviness but falls flat on its face in forgettable repetition. "Shout 2000" is a cover of the Tears for Fears single "Shout", and it brings things back to classic status as the vocals and riffing pound through for your attention. "Droppin' Plates" has decent guitar riffing, yet Draiman's profane rapping makes it another atrocity. "Meaning of Life", despite having more electronic effect, has nice heaviness in the guitar and vocals throughout its structure. A great way out!

Although there are some songs that shouldn't exist, The Sickness is a decently enjoyable album. It has the blueprints for the more recognizable elements of Disturbed. Setting aside those filler tracks, their debut is a decent start for those willing to explore this band and nu metal....

Favorites: "Voices", "Stupify", "Down with the Sickness", "Fear", "Shout 2000", "Meaning of Life"

"Duh duh duh-duh-duh... Duh duh duh-duh... Oh wah-ah-ah-ah!!!"

Released in 2000, Disturbed's debut album came at just the right time as nu metal was creeping into the mainstream and making itself one of the biggest genres in the world (albeit, only briefly). With countless bands coming out of the woodwork and jumping on the bandwagon, only a few of them were able to transcend the sub-genre from which they came and become credible bands.

Disturbed are one of those bands.

You probably wouldn't have thought it back in the day, mind you. Musically this album fits right in with the nu metal fad. Heavy, groove-laden tracks, angst-ridden lyrics, de-tuned guitars with no solos in sight... So what set Disturbed apart from the rest?

With their hit single, 'Down With the Sickness' and it's legendary opening of "oh-wah-ah-ah-ah" that would go on to spawn countless internet memes, puns and pop-culture references, it was vocalist David Draiman's unique style that instantly gave the band their own identity. And it's stood the test of time, because Disturbed would go on to "oh-wah-ah-ah" their way to being one of metals most beloved bands.

Unfortunately, none of that was really all too evident in their debut release, as 'The Sickness', despite a few standout tracks, really suffers from the same mediocrity that a lot of groups suffered from back then. Sure, there's a few hits in here, 'Voices' is an absolute classic, and 'The Game', 'Fear', 'Meaning of Life' and the aforementioned 'Down With the Sickness' are all valid reasons for owning this record and really highlight the significance of Draiman's vocals. But then sadly, a lot of the other tracks just seem to be there to fill time, with special mention going to 'Conflict'... a song in which the word "enemy" (pronounced "en-na-may") is sung a staggering 52 times! Please, no more!

Overall 'The Sickness' is not a terrible record, it's just not really all that memorable either. Well produced and accompanied by a couple of hit singles, it did what it was meant to do and helped put Disturbed on the map.

"Oh wah-ah-ah-ah".