JUST CALL THEM “DREK”
Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009 at 4:00pm by Axl Rosenberg
An interview with Disturbed’s Dan Donegan, from We Love Metal (by way of Blabbermouth)… the debate over what is or is not “nu metal” continues!
We Love Metal: A lot of people on the Internet call DISTURBED “nu” metal. Do you consider yourself nu metal?
Dan: Well, I think we got lumped in that category because we came out at the same time that category was added and a lot of these bands started to come out in the late ’90s is the same time that we got signed. We were fortunate to have outlasted that by riding that wave and showed that we have always been influenced by the classic metal bands, so there was nothing nu metal in our minds about what we were doing. Nu metal, to me, at the time was bands that were incorporating turntables and little bits of hip hop with metal guitars and drumming, and I respect some of those bands that did it… I was fans of some of those bands that did it, but the bands that inspired us to pick up an instrument were the first bands — BLACK SABBATH, IRON MAIDEN, JUDAS PRIEST, PANTERA, METALLICA, QUEENSRŸCHE — those were always guitar-based, riff-driven, double-bass, hard, slamming, powerful melodic vocals. Those are the ingredients that we have. I guess we have always just viewed ourselves as a metal band trying to expand and follow in the footsteps of the greats.
We Love Metal: I guess that’s why we asked it because a lot of people will group you in with KORN and SLIPKNOT… and respect for those bands but…
Dan: And there is respect. We have toured with those bands and are fans of them. KORN, at the time, was revolutionary in bringing the seven-string detuned guitars in. You know, that’s their thing and that was something new that they were bringing to the table and a lot of the newer bands were starting to follow that lead. SLIPKNOT, obviously, with nine members in the band is more of a chaotic show there and percussive. I mean that’s their thing, they had their own little niche, their own thing. With us, we were relying basically on what we were brought up on, and the fact that David [Draiman] is one of the only singers in my mind, one of the few singers that is very melodic and rhythmic in his vocal styles as well. I think a lot of nu metal bands didn’t offer much melody; there was a lot of monotone vocals and a lot of screamers. Some are very good at it, but our preference was to bring something you’re going to be able to hum the melody to when you leave a show or listen to an album.
So here’s the thing: a lot about what Donegan says here irritates me (e.g., calling Korn “revolutionary”), but I’m not really sure that he’s wrong – at least about the whole “nu metal” tag. Claiming Pantera and Queensryche as influences is just patently ridiculous.
Discuss amongst yourselves.
-AR
Disturbed is nu-metal. what is to discuss
I really have no problem with this band. I actually like them. I do not consider them metal. More like hard rock. I like groups like Shinedown more, but I would lump Disturbed into the same category (I know they are musically similar in the slightest) of things I listen to when I want something somewhat aggressive and simple but not really hard hitting.
I really think they are a decent band that it has become popular to hate on, simply because they are popular. I get the feeling that a lot of people within the metal community like to get cred by just assaulting music groups that are not aligned with their particular tastes…I mean I am guilty of it too sometimes. We would all like to see our little, less appreciated bands that no one knows about see the same success (For me Agalloch you should really check them out) but disliking what is popular will not change that.
With that said most radio rock does make me want to strangle a baby and take a bite out of it (but not in a good way)….well mostly Nickeback
people dont hate on disturbed because they are popular they hate because disturbed is awful. cmon dude their sing enters the stage strapped to a dolly wearing a straight jacket
People don’t hate on Disturbed because they are popular,
or because they have stage theatrics, like straight-jackets.
But, because they are an awful band, making awful music for fans of mediocrity.
They are the Nickelback of metal.
Word.
You are the fucking retard of metalsucks.
Word.
Word.
Disturbed Rules!
Word.
to me, “NU metal” is more in the attitude of the band. Play a group of pantera,skinlab,and helmet songs next to some disturbed,korn,etc songs, they might sound alike, but they are seperated by their attitude, and honesty with music, not just putting up a front to get money,etc.
Yeah, Korn was revolutionary, but revolutionary≠good.
If Draiman wants to classify Nu Metal as turntables & hiphop beats, then what does he call Sevendust? Staind? Seether? Finger 11? If they weren’t Nu Metal, what the fuck were they?
Secondly, ever notice how quickly bands like to namedrop Sabbath, Priest, Maiden, etc.? It’s the equivalent of a politician saying they stand for truth and integrity and puppies.
“Hey, you know those bands you like? Yeah, the ones that I’m sure you like because everybody likes them? Yeah, we’re just like them. Buy our record. Also, we’re just like pizza, cheeseburgers, tits, and sleep-in-Sundays. We’re everything you like.”
Woops. “Draiman” should say “Donegan.” Not that it matters.
dude I like pizza and tits as well! lets all hang out
Sevendust, Staind, Finger11, Seether… they are all hard rock bands
I don’t think it’s right to call them metal at all. Maybe, back when they first came out, but not anymore. Their current sound is pretty much a slightly heavy take on Nickleback.
You are a fucking retard.
word.
Disturbed Rules!
Spread the word
I agree, there more “hard rock” then anything else. Doesn’t mean there bad, just means there not metal. Whatever.
Who cares what they “are” either you like them or you don’t. Why does every band have to be classified into a catagory anyway. The sounds of “ROCK” have mutated into ALOT of different sounds. The catagory list grows into new names every day.. NU Metal? Is that like Metrosexual?
Disturbed is hard rock
nu-faggot metal more like it
noise rock FTW. Fuck Disturd.
Well, I like em. When I think nu -metal, I think Limp Bizkit. But this is one of those arguments that’s based soley on opinion. If you think metal is blast beats and growling vocals then clearly you won’t put Disturbed in that category. Also, it seems like when a band goes mainstream, they’re automatically not metal anymore. Anyhow, I like a broad range of metal – Disturbed is there if I’m in the mood for something not too aggressive.
On a side note, I saw them and All That Remains this past saturday; a solid show indeed.
I can enjoy some Disturbed, as long as I don’t take them too seriously. David Draiman has one of the more unique voices in hard rock/metal, and they’re certainly head and shoulders above most radio-rock bands. They’re pretty corny and cheesy, but there’s worse stuff out there.
Can we all please just fucking agree that numetal isn’t real?
A genre where half the bands lumped into it sound nothing alike (Incubus and Slipknot….), where none of the bands that are labeled in the genre accept that they’re part of it, and that is used as nothing more than a derogatory term to define bands that have mainstream appeal and fuel angry teenage aggression but could easily be put into a genre with more established musical characteristics is NOT a genre.
That being said, Disturbed is a hard rock band with a good deal of metal influence coming into play on their more recent works.
Whoa whoa whoa. This post made WAY too much sense. How the fuck did you actually post something with reasoning and logic and yet it will go ignored with all the other ignorant shit posted on this thread.
What does nu-metal even mean? Anyone?
WIN.
You win these fucking comments sir, you win them with gusto.
Their first album was heavily nu-metal, but after that they were mostly hard rock.
I dont think they should even be called Hard Rock. Hard Rock are bands like BLS or Clutch. Disturbed should just be lumped in with bands like Linkin Park and Limp Bizkit, Pop-Rock that has some how been affiliated with Metal.
You are yet another fucking retard.
Aren’t BLS stoner metal and Clutch stoner rock?
a.) Sounds to me like he’s conviently forgetting that their first album included a bunch of cheesy rapping and overall Korn ape-ry (oh-wah-ah-ah-ah im droppin plates on your wrists)
b.) I think the Pantera influence is obvious. They heard Walk and decided that neanderthal simple riffs were cool
c.) Nu-metal or not, this band still blows.
Disturbed are numetal because of their image, attitude, and the HORRIBLE vocals of David Draiman. If his vocals arent numetal, than i dont know what is. Take away their cheesy image and lame singer and they would be a decent metallic rock band. It is really their vocals that make them lame and their toughguy-have-no-credibility attitude doesnt help either.
What a fucking retard, have you heard a single fucking note of Believe? If you weren’t an ignorant meathead southern ape you’d know David’s vocal range is beyond any of his peers by leaps and bounds.
You heard fucking Corey try to sing? He sounds like Coheed’s singer on steroids, he’s awful, he can only scream.
Retard.
Had dime not been shot, it would not be so hip to name drop pantera in the same breath as ozzy and maiden and the classics. Pantera were and are an amazing band, but posers like this weren’t there for it when it was happening.. They came after the fact. Are disturbed nu-metal? I don’t know. If your definition of nu metal was finding some silly gimmick (grunting and makign money noises : check) dressing like you shop at hot topic (check) and writing lyrics about being weird/disturbed(no pun)/crazy (check), then this band certainly fit the mold. They’re certainly not leaders in metal setting new ground and openig new doors with thier “unique” sound. They were one step above the idiot in the first godsmack video wearing the “cooky” metal dr suess hat.
They were performing with fucking Pantera before he was shot.
You dumbass.
Axl, you just hate this band. Period. Pretty much anything they do or say will annoy the everlasting shit out of you – without fail.
And now that we have that sorted, I’d say we’re done here.
Love and Rockets,
Shinaain
This is a summary worthy of note.
I still like me some Korn from time to time. Regardless of the trend they set; Ignoring the shitload of copycat bands that came out in their wake, given the time and place, they were very revolutionary. Combining metal, funk, and hip hop elements to do their own thing.
How is claiming Pantera as an influence ridiculous? They basically set the stone for groove metal, and in turn, nu metal.
And Korn were pretty revolutionary.
Nu metal is/was often defined as a sub-genre of heavy rock (not heavy metal). I would probably define Disturbed as just heavy rock, but not nu metal (nor metal for that matter).
This fucking band should have all died when their bus crashed last year. Terrible.
He didn’t add that another reason they got “lumped” in with the nu-metal bands is because Disturbed’s lead singer makes those obnoxious noises like an orangutan on speed while singing (ala KoRn).
Korn does not do that, you fucking retard, and David hardly does those anymore, if the douchebag idiot apes that browse this site had heard a single fucking song but Down With The Sickness, i.e. you, they would know this.
Not a disturbed fan, at all.
I know this is going to piss some people off but Korn, was pretty revolutionary at the time. Whether it was a good or bad one is subjective, but they were doing things differently and inspired a lot of bands.
A lot of pretty brutal and revolutionary bands in their own right that I know of have cited Korn as an influence. You’d be suprised.
Disturbed uses lots of double bass, has kick-ass songs with lots of melody that are darker than most of the “metal” bands today. Now maybe on their first album they had a little of the “nu-metal” thing going on, but since then their songwriting has progressed on every album and they have these epic songs where if some asshole would call them “nu-metal” or hard rock (WTF!), just beacuse they don’t scream or growl a whole fuckin’ time, or because they don’t have the repetitive (and boring) metalcore sound, those kinds of people are just plain idiotic.
Well I think I’ve said enough, DISTURBED RULES!!!!!!!!!!!
P.S. Iron Maiden sounds more like rock to me than Disturbed
Sorry, but like their music or not, if you can’t accept that Korn were revolutionary then you need to stop writing anything having to do with music whatsoever. I don’t really care if you make no pretenses of being unbiased, but if you’re so small and egotistical that you think that music starts and ends with things that you like, then, seriously, meager blog site or not, hang it up.
As for Disturbed, the only reason that anyone would deny the extent to which they are influenced by classic metal like Maiden is because of nostalgia. There’s nothing false about anything he said in this interview.
Seriously, sometimes I wonder if you people realize how ridiculous you are in these arbitrary standards you’ve set up. It’s as though there’s no rhyme or reason as to what constitutes a “good” band in your eyes. I am convinced it’s nothing more than flock mentality at this point. Someone starts the wave online that Disturbed sucks or some other random band(probably because they’ve become popular, but that’s a discussion for another time) sucks and all you retarded sheep(who swear you’re soooo open minded and individual) rally around it. It’s really quite pathetic.
Kye, you my friend are absolutely correct. I’d like to buy you a beer.
This person is tied for winning these comments.
I find it so bitingly ironic these guys constantly attest to being the anti-sheep.
But here they are, flocking around a common point like the sheep they claim to detest, sometimes I think Vince or Axl should put up a completely and utterly terrible band post, praising them up and down, simply to see how many of the sheep agree.
That would be proof positive of the flock mentality.
Holy christ some of you need some perspective.
Metal is not defined by the bands that have come out in the last 20 years. Heavy metal, as a musical genre, was defined by Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, etc.
Sure, NOWADAYS a lot of that sounds tame, but when it came out, it scared the living shit out of people just as surely as a Cannibal Corpse album cover freaks out a senior citizen. You have to remember, bands like FOGHAT and Grand Funk were considered hard rock then, thats what the first metal bands set out to destroy. I understand that it’s hard to think of a band that your fucking DAD listens to as extreme, but they were, and the more recent bands STARTED with that, and took it further.
You guys all grew up in a world where Metallica, Slayer, and bands of that era were always around, shit for some of you, they were already ANCIENT by the time you got into this music.
As much as I hate Disturbed, and believe me I do, the SOUND of the guitars and drums etc. is metal, not hard rock. Guns and Roses is hard rock, for fucks sake old AEROSMITH is hard rock. I wont sit around and debate the nuances that separate death metal and grindcore etc, but this is patently ridiculous. They are metal, they’re just shitty, consumer oriented metal.
I swear I’m not trying to give you guys shit for being young, I think it’s fucking awesome that a whole new generation of people are so passionate about metal, but saying Maiden sounds like rock just made something SNAP inside.
OK, … let the flaming commence.
Dude you’re totally right, but the only reason I said that was because these people think that the only music that can be called metal are bands like CC etc. So I was trying to say that just like Maiden and Priest are from the greatest “heavy metal” bands out there, then why the fuck are Disturbed called “nu-metal” or even worse “hard rock” when they are pretty fuckin’ heavy when comparing them to Maiden!
Agreed.
“if you’re so small and egotistical that you think that music starts and ends with things that you like”
“Someone starts the wave online that Disturbed sucks or some other random band(probably because they’ve become popular, but that’s a discussion for another time) sucks and all you retarded sheep(who swear you’re soooo open minded and individual) rally around it. It’s really quite pathetic.”
So, basically, if we don’t like the bands that YOU like, we are small, egotistical sheep.
Oh, and pathetically arbitrary… does that about cover it?
No. I know, respect and associate with many people who’s musical taste I don’t share. Difference is, they aren’t so caught up in trying to boost their own egos and show their superiority within the pack that they forget to enjoy the music. If an attempt to call me a hypocrite(something you’ve failed miserably at) is all you could come up with then you obviously missed the entire point I was making.
To simplify it for you:
Liking or disliking a band/genre because of it’s popularity or lack thereof is pathetic.
Liking or disliking a band/genre because you enjoy it is a well formed personal opinion.
It just so happens that the majority of you window licking tards that post on this site(the bloggers themselves inlcuded) present yourselves in ways that point to you falling into the first category, in my opinion.
Ben, I completely understand your original point, and I happen to agree with you for the most part. But you like to state it in such an arrogant way, it undermines your message. You don’t need to simplify anything for me, but since you seem to be a mind reader, and know why people like or dislike things, I guess you feel you’re doing me a favor… so, thanks I guess?
When you continue to follow your well stated points like “because you enjoy it is a well formed personal opinion” with “you window licking tards”… who really looks as though they’re serving their own ego?
Being cuddly is obviously not his strong suite, and it isn’t mine either, you tend to become abrasive when dealing with a bunch of prickly window licking sheep, if I could put my spin on it.
Funny thing is that Nu Metal was HUGE in the late 90s early 00s.
Where are all the people I was moshing with at all the metal festivals back in the day?? Did you die?
. I WAS A NU METAL FAN!! I was KORN CRAZY!! Everyone was!! I must be from a lost generation. I am all alone.
By the way DISTURBED ARE TERRIBLE!!
METALSUCKS New Goatwhore album out on the 23rd!! Some info please!!
They hopped onto the next trend like a bunch of pathetic American Idol fans. Look around you, there’s a bunch right here.
Wow, lots of comments on this one! What I abhor most about blog comment areas like this one and B-mouth is that you can’t continue the discussion past the story’s short life. It is a very relevant question; “What is Nu-Metal” given the passionate opinions involved.
While most of that stuff is well behind us it seems to stick in the craw of many a metal head; almost as much as grunge (and how it killed metalas we knew it, OMG!!!) But seriously, it was a FAD! Corporate radio picked these bands up without having gone through the metal underground gauntlet and people are resentful. If the word “metal” was never attributed to these bands there really would be no stink. People would except them as they are…
And as they are I think Disturbed is the best band to come out of the “nu-metal” phase. They are heavy but melodic, catchy without being too trite. Given the state of corporate radio, what more can you really ask for??
Many typoes, ignore them. I’m drrunk
All this sub genre obsession, I can understand it to a certain degree for journalists and blog writers – they use it so readers have some idea of the ball park a band is in with their sound.
But sometimes it feels like a troupe of librarians arguing incessantly over where to file a book.
@nick
Actually I’m pretty sure deftones were the best band to come out of the nu metal era. Just my opinion though. But I certainly wouldn’t refer to them as such now
I don’t see how you guys can talk so much shit about bands like Disturbed and Korn, when at least one of you clams to be a Sevendust fan. Nu Metal of whatever the fuck you want to call it may not be the highest evolution of artistic expression but I’ll take it over Nickelback or Buckcherry any day of the fucking week…. I say this because the only reason I’m a fan of extreme music today is because of bands like Korn and Slipknot, and it’s not just me, thousands of kids out there (that may not want to admit it) are fans of more extreme metal today because of the “Nu Metal” explosion of the 90’s… With that being said, Donegan looks like a monkey and needs to be bitch slapped for starting shit with Dillinger…
This was a pleasure to do this interview. Dan was an awesome guy and very passionate about his music. He isn’t that concerned about labels, but opening discusses where people place Disturbed. Were huge fans of Metal Sucks as well so its nice to see it here.
Meh, I’d rather listen to Disturbed than most of the trendy shit out now – Suicide Silence, I Buttfucked a CareBear, all the other retard myspace metal – even though I don’t particularly like them. They’re not really great at anything, but then again they really don’t fail anywhere, either. It’s just another brand of radio-friendly “heavy music”, the way I see it. Some of the songs are catchy the way some Ludacris and Outkast songs are – I don’t really try to listen to it, but I’m not going to smash the radio if it comes on.
*shrug*
KORN, at the time, was revolutionary in bringing the seven-string detuned guitars in…………….has this man never heard of Morbid Angel or Shred dude Steve Vai or lovable loon Devin Townsend
You’re an idiot, none of those men would even say themselves that they made 7 string guitars popular. That’s what he was talking about. If we’re just talking about using a 7 string guitar, well, that goes back before there were even electric guitars.
True, but Korn primarily focused on using those heavy bass riffs mixed with the down tuned guitars, and they mainly used the bass strings on the 7 string, Townsend and Vai are primarily a musicians style music based on composition and structure, Korn was just trying to be heavy as all hell while those men could actually play guitar with melody and changing keys….either way, they’re all great musicians, (but Devin is the best!) SYL, Ziltoid, all of his individual projects…the man is a fucking musical genius! Especially his new Ki album…
Man, butt-fucked to the ends of the Earth with retards.
Yeah, go back to Sevendust and fucking Shinedown Axl, and shut the fuck up.
Jesus.
“Claiming Pantera and Queensryche as influences is just patently ridiculous.”
Are you a fucking idiot Axl? A fucking retarded goat-fuck douchebag cunthole?
Are you?
Pantera PERFORMED with Disturbed, Pantera THEMSELVES had spoken of this very fucking thing you laugh at.
Are you that fucking stupid? I could take an AC/DC fan, have them listen to three songs from each band, and he would point out that they sound somewhat similar, because Disturbed was heavily influenced by Pantera.
God, fuck you guys, sometimes you say the dumbest fucking shit I can’t even keep my composure, stop being fucking sheep.
Revrant you are the man!
Disturbed is an awesome band, and I am proud to say that I have seen them live, and they kicked some serious ass!
Fuck all of that labeling. DISTURBED IS FUCKING METAL!!!!!!!!!!
Long live the metal,
peace