Divisive (album) explained

Divisive
Type:studio
Artist:Disturbed
Cover:Divisive (Disturbed album).jpg
Released:November 18, 2022
Recorded:2022
Genre:
Length:37:55
Producer:Drew Fulk
Prev Title:Evolution
Prev Year:2018

Divisive is the eighth studio album by American heavy metal band Disturbed. Produced by Drew Fulk, it was released on November 18, 2022, via Reprise Records.[1]

The first single from the album was "Hey You", which was released on July 14, 2022. In regards to the sound of the single, it is said to be similar to the band's earlier albums such as The Sickness and Ten Thousand Fists.[2] A promotional single called "Unstoppable" was released on September 23, 2022, along with the details for their upcoming album.[3]

Background and recording

As early as October 2020, frontman David Draiman stated that he wanted new Disturbed music to be "blisteringly angry", considering everything going on in the world with the COVID-19 pandemic.[4]

Back in April 2022, Draiman took to his Instagram page to a share a photo of a whiteboard to his fans and followers suggesting that the album has been completed, in that photo, which has now been deleted, a list of approximately ten songs can be seen, all marked with an "X" symbol, which had initially led to speculation by fans that the album is a covers album.[5]

Ann Wilson of Heart appears on the album on the song titled "Don't Tell Me". According to Dan Donegan, Ann is David's favorite female hard rock singer. After Ann sent out a tweet saying she was "inspired" by the band's cover of "The Sound of Silence", David reached out to Ann to thank her and they developed an online friendship. After the demo of "Don't Tell Me" had been recorded the band felt like it needed a female voice, and they thought Ann would be perfect. David reached out to her to ask if she would appear on the record, and the band was delighted when she said yes. In many interviews band members have stated they are "humbled" to have such rock royalty appear on the album.[6]

"Hey You" topped the Mainstream Rock Airplay chart.[7] A song titled "Bad Man" began radio play on Octane by November 15, and the song's meaning was inspired by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[8]

At 37 minutes and 55 seconds, Divisive is the shortest studio album to be released by the band.

Reception

Divisive received mixed to positive reviews from critics. In a review published on Wall of Sound, reviewer Ricky Aarons wrote: "Overall, Disturbed's new album is a pretty good record. Is it great? That decision may be divisive." He went on to praise the heavier approach on the album.[9]

Another review came from Kris Peters from Heavy Magazine: "Yes, Disturbed will always continue to do what they want musically, but don't ever think that means they are going soft. A welcome, if not completely triumphant, return!"[10]

Joe Daly of Metal Hammer gave the album a rating of 4 out of 5 stars in a review published on Louder Sound. He said, "Polarising or not, Disturbed have reasserted their claim to the modern metal throne and Divisive will surely delight their existing fans, while picking up a few more along the way."[11]

Blabbermouth.net gave the album a rating of 8.5/10.[12]

Track listing

All songs written by Disturbed, except where noted.

Personnel

Disturbed

Additional musicians

Additional personnel

Charts

Chart (2022)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[13] 5
Croatian International Albums (HDU)[14] 7
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[15] 7

Singles

YearSongUS
Main.

[16]
US
Rock
[17]
US
Hard
Rock
Digital
[18]
CAN
Rock

[19]
CZE
Rock

[20]
FIN
[21]
NZ
Hot

[22]

|-|rowspan="2"|2022|"Hey You"| style="text-align:center;"|1| style="text-align:center;"|6| style="text-align:center;"|2| style="text-align:center;"|32| style="text-align:center;"|2| style="text-align:center;"|97| style="text-align:center;"|33|-|"Bad Man"| style="text-align:center;"|2| style="text-align:center;"|7| style="text-align:center;"|10| style="text-align:center;"|32| style="text-align:center;"|—| style="text-align:center;"|—| style="text-align:center;"|38|-|rowspan="2"|2023|"Unstoppable"| style="text-align:center;"|1| style="text-align:center;"|7| style="text-align:center;"|1| style="text-align:center;"|29| style="text-align:center;"|—| style="text-align:center;"|—| style="text-align:center;"|—|-|"Don't Tell Me"| style="text-align:center;"|2| style="text-align:center;"|—| style="text-align:center;"|1| style="text-align:center;"|—| style="text-align:center;"|—| style="text-align:center;"|—| style="text-align:center;"|—|}

Notes and References

  1. Web site: DISTURBED Announces New Album 'Divisive', Shares 'Unstoppable' Single. September 23, 2022. Blabbermouth.net.
  2. Web site: Disturbed's new single Hey You is a 'wake up call': "We've become our own worst enemies". Rich. Hobsonpublished. July 14, 2022. loudersound.
  3. Web site: Disturbed announce new album 'Divisive', share new single 'Unstoppable'. Katie. Conway-Flood. . September 27, 2022.
  4. Web site: David Draiman: New Disturbed Material Will Be Blisteringly Angry. Lauryn. Schaffner. Loudwire. October 23, 2020 .
  5. Web site: DISTURBED Has Apparently Finished Recording A New Album. April 10, 2022. Blabbermouth.net.
  6. Web site: Blabbermouth . 2022-09-24 . DAN DONEGAN On DISTURBED's Collaboration With HEART's ANN WILSON: 'It Was A Really Magical Moment' . 2022-12-08 . BLABBERMOUTH.NET . en.
  7. Disturbed's Dan Donegan: Upcoming Album 'Divisive' a 'Bit of a Wake-up Call [to] Reflect on How Crazy We're All Acting']. Bryan. Reesman. . October 28, 2022.
  8. Web site: DISTURBED's New Song 'Bad Man' Was 'Heavily Influenced' by 'Situation in Ukraine' . November 14, 2022 .
  9. Web site: Disturbed – Divisive (Album Review) . November 11, 2022 .
  10. Web site: DISTURBED: 'Divisive' | HEAVY Magazine . November 11, 2022 .
  11. Web site: Disturbed's Divisive: David Draiman weighs in on the culture wars on powerful new album . November 11, 2022 .
  12. Web site: Divisive . November 13, 2022 .
  13. Web site: ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart. Australian Recording Industry Association. November 28, 2022. November 25, 2022.
  14. Web site: Lista prodaje 48. tjedan 2022. (21.11.2022. – 27.11.2022.). November 23, 2022 . hr. Top Lista. January 12, 2023.
  15. Web site: NZ Top 40 Albums Chart. Recorded Music NZ. November 28, 2022. November 26, 2022.
  16. Disturbed Chart History: Mainstream Rock . Billboard . January 22, 2020.
  17. Disturbed Chart History: Rock & Alternative Songs . Billboard . November 29, 2022.
  18. Disturbed Chart History (Hard Rock Digital Song Sales). Billboard. November 29, 2022.
  19. Billboard Canada Rock: Disturbed Chart History . Billboard . April 16, 2022.
  20. Web site: Disturbed - Hey You: CZ - Radio - Top 20 Modern Rock. hitparada.ifpicr.cz. August 7, 2023.
  21. Web site: Suomen virallinen lista – Artistit – Disturbed. Musiikkituottajat. November 22, 2022.
  22. Peaks on the NZ Hot Singles Chart: