The Sickness: the 25th Anniversary
The Blind Eternities forum
Posted on Jan. 12, 2025, 8:33 p.m. by DemonDragonJ
This year is the 25th anniversary of The Sickness, the debut album by American alternative metal band Disturbed, and a major landmark in heavy metal history.
Disturbed arrived at the beginning of the new millennium, heralding a new wave of music for the people at a time of great change and transition; although many people regard Disturbed as part of the same wave of alternative metal or "nu" metal to which bands such as Korn, Slipknot, Limp Bizkit, and Linkin Park belonged, they quickly distinguished themselves from their brethren with a musical style that was closer to those of traditional metal bands, such as Judas Priest or Iron Maiden, and with lyrics that spoke very heavily of social and political issues; compared to the juvenile antics of Limp Bizkit, the adolescent angst of Linkin Park, or the furious rage of Slipknot, Disturbed followed the example of fellow alternative metal band System of a Down, who had released their own debut album a mere two years earlier, in being one of the most socially-conscious of heavy metal bands. Disturbed rarely delves into classic heavy metal staples, such as epic fantasy, extreme violence, or horror, instead focusing on very real-world issues, including warfare, political corruption, propaganda, discrimination, domestic abuse, and societal injustice, themes that are prominent in their debut album, and another major aspect of their music is vocalist David Draiman, who can switch from harsh and growling vocals to clean and soft singing, allowing him to rage about domestic violence at one moment while also expressing great emotional vulnerability in the next, as most notably demonstrated in their signature song, Down With the Sickness, a song that speaks of domestic abuse and how the victim ultimately retaliates against their abuser. The Sickness also contains a cover of Shout by Tears for Fears, which is, predictably, far more aggressive than is the original synth-pop version of the original, beginning Disturbed's trend of occasionally covering songs in their own style.
I was only 13 years old when The Sickness was unleashed upon the world, so this album has great sentimental value, for me, as it helped me to deal with the uncertainty that I felt, about the world, at that time, and I have remained a fan of the band ever since then, as they are one of the few bands where I have a copy of every album that they have released, thus far. The band is currently touring to promote the album's 25th anniversary, and I shall be seeing them, live, so I am very excited, about that!
What does everyone else say, about this? How do you feel about this year being the 25th anniversary of The Sickness?
Abaques says... #2
OH AH AH AH AH!
When it came out I was less into metal and more into hardcore punk so I didn't pay a huge amount of attention to that album but I did think Disturbed were among the better crop of alternative metal bands that came through back then. I preferred System of a Down at the time, but listening to them now I think I prefer Disturbed.
January 13, 2025 4:35 p.m.