Ten Thousand Fists was the third studio album released on 20 September 2005 by American heavy metal band, Disturbed.
This energetic and powerful band burst onto the scene in 2000 with their debut album The Sickness, which won them well-deserved recognition and landed them at number 20 on the Billboard 200 chart. Upon the release of their second studio album Believe, they reached number one and the same success followed with the release of Ten Thousand Fists in 2005, selling 239,000 copies in its first week. The album soon went platinum and made the Disturbed name even more prominent in the world of nu-metal.
To date, they have sold more than 17 million records, making them one of the most successful rock bands of the 21st century.
The evocative album artwork for Ten Thousand Fists was created by comic book artists, Greg Capullo and Todd MacFarlane and depicts people of all backgrounds standing together with their arms in the air showing strength and defiance in unison. ‘The Guy’ leading the charge represents Disturbed and their efforts to unite people through their music.
The title track ‘Ten Thousand Fists’ explodes out of the speakers with such force and sets the mood and tone of the album. The lyrics “You will remember the night you were struck by the sight of ten thousand fists in the air” reflects in your mind the image on the cover.
Songs like ‘Stricken’ and ‘Overburdened’ contain some epic guitar solos which highlight the talent of lead guitarist Dan Donegan and adds something extra to these songs. The band have been known to cover some legendary songs, including Faith No More’s ‘Midlife Crisis’, Simon and Garfunkel’s ‘Sound of Silence’ and the one featured on this album, ‘Land of Confusion’ by English rock band, Genesis. This song fits perfectly with the theme of unity and the disruption of societal ideals. Lead singer, David Draiman, said the band wanted to cover this track as it was something they wouldn’t normally do and wanted to add the Disturbed-spin to it. Many fan sites label it as one of the best cover versions they’ve heard.
Looking back, the great thing about this album which has ensured its longevity over fifteen years is that the songs have strong messages which lead nicely into one another. Unlike Disturbed’s fourth album Indestructible, Ten Thousand Fists doesn’t have that intimate feel drawing you into the mind of Draiman. More simply, this record is just an epic, rock fuelled experience and the soundtrack to the youth of so many.
Words by Beth Rees
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