news.com.au


Three number one albums in a row shows Disturbed are Indestructible
Jason Nahrung
August 07, 2008


THERE are shirtless men clambering on the timber rafters of Brisbane's Waterloo Hotel, sweating on the already sodden throng packed on the concrete floor below. The throng, almost universally in black, young and mostly male, is singing along to, of all things, a chugging rock cover of '80s hit Shout, by Tears for Fears.

The Waterloo's vaunted rock venue is no more, but the band that whipped that frenzied crowd to such humid, sweaty heights in 2003 is going stronger than ever, having joined the ranks of the few to have notched three No 1 releases in the US in a row.


ON a roll ... and coming to Australia. Disturbed, from left,
Dan Donegan, Dave Draiman, John Moyer and Mike Wengren have
landed there No1 albums in the US and their latest, Indestructible,
hit No1 in Australia, too.

Disturbed formed in 1996 in Chicago, securing a fan base with melodic metal that saw them branded as nu metal before leaving such labels behind. Even now, the dispute rages: are they heavy rock? Are they heavy metal, alternative metal?

Labels aren't important to the band, says bass player John Moyer, on the phone during a break in the Mayhem tour of North America.

"Whatever they decide to call us, there'll be another name for it next week. People like to pigeon hole things, the fact that we're not easily pigeonholed is a good thing because we stand out, we do what we do.

"We are what we would call heavy metal. When we were young, heavy metal was Ozzy Osbourne, Black Sabbath, Judas Priest and these are the bands that we grew up on. We don't think we're too far away from that kind of music, but you wouldn't call it heavy metal today. The titles change but the music is timeless.

"As long as it strikes a chord and the fans get it, you can call it what you want."

Getting Disturbed

Moyer joined founders Dave Draiman (vocals), Dan Donegan (guitars, electronics) and Mike Wengren (drums) in 2004, replacing Steve Kmak.

Moyer had played with Texas bands The Union Underground and Soak before auditioning for the job with Disturbed – on his first-year wedding anniversary.

"My wife was behind me, still is to this day, she understood it was a great opportunity for me. I went to Chicago and stood in line with about 280 bass players. Although I knew the guys, I decided to stand in line and wait my turn. After six or seven hours, I got my turn. They had so many people auditioning they had people playing just a verse and a chorus.

"So I walked in and played my minute and a half, and they asked me to come jam with them the next day. "The next week they told me I had the gig."

Moyer, who said he was attracted by Disturbed's live show and "the power that they have in their music", arrived in time for the band's third album, 10,000 Fists, and now their latest, Indestructible, which hit number one on the Australian charts as well as on the US Billboard chart, and is still in the Australian top 10 this week.

Indestructible

The album has recaptured the staccato delivery and power evidenced on the first album, The Sickness (and its killer single Down with the Sickness), notably in the single Inside the Fire, but retains the melodic elements that invite such genre confusion.

"We pushed ourselves musically," says Moyer. "There's a focus on attitude. With each song, we asked ourselves, does this song have the attitude and aggression that we want this album to have?

"David's very guttural and powerful. We wanted to get back to do what he did on the first record, aggressive raps and fast vocals that he's so good at. And he's still got the wide open choruses.

"David writes about a lot of things in his life as well as the state of the world. He has a lot of relationship issues to get through. He's the kind of guy who things can go right for him and it can go wrong for him at the same time. There's a little black cloud over him. He had his garage burned up, he laid down his motorcycle in the year we were putting this album together I think he had plenty of inspiration to write. He really put a lot of his personal issues into the material. It's probably vey hard but it's the best way to write."

The band made their second visit in 2006 supporting Korn, playing Brisbane's River Stage, and were a standout. This trip they're bringing P.O.D. and Alter Bridge, and hosting Aussies Behind Crimson Eyes on a full bill for lovers of the heavy end of rock.

"Alter Bridge are good friends of ours," says Moyer. "They're a powerful act. P.O.D. have some great songs, some powerful hits. It's not just us being there and like, whoever being the opening act. The acts add value to the ticket – it's a full evening of music for everybody."

Giving back to the fans is important to Disturbed who, like so many metal bands, have a lot of respect for their fan base.

"Here in the United States we've had three number one albums in a row and it's a tribute to our fans. They've stayed strong and they've stayed with us and hopefully we keep giving them what they expect from us and maybe a little more."

Disturbed play the Brisbane Entertainment Centre on September 2. Indestructible is out now through Reprise.